If you’re doing anything Web related, this is one book to read, or at least get inspired by:
Getting Real details the business, design, programming, and marketing principles of 37signals. The book is packed with keep-it-simple insights, contrarian points of view, and unconventional approaches to software design. This is not a technical book or a design tutorial, it’s a book of ideas.
AJAX and rounded corners are nice and all, but to make a difference you need to deliver value. And you need to put it in front of users and help them kick ass. In a reasonable budget so you can keep doing what you’re good at. Simple lessons, that are so often overlooked.
37signals knows how to do that, repeatedly. Definitely worth a read.