On March 10, 2026, the 5th annual National Quarter-Hour of Reading will take place. For fifteen minutes, all across France, the idea is to put aside whatever you’re doing and take the time to open a book (and we’re all for that!).

Want to take a break from screens? Looking for a book about SEO, the web, or digital marketing?

To mark the occasion, Assonance has put together a selection of books on SEO and web-related careers. These books will help you better understand organic search, fuel your thinking, and continue learning about a field that’s constantly evolving.

Have you heard of the National Reading Quarter-Hour?

Launched in 2019 by the National Book Center, the National Quarter-Hour of Reading encourages us to take a break during the day to read. Schools, businesses, and organizations—everyone is invited to join in.

In the web industry, screens are obviously part of everyday life. But taking a few minutes to flip through a book can also be good for you—and even boost productivity. A mystery novel, a feel-good book, a comic book, a documentary, a magazine… or why not a book on SEO? The main thing is to take the time to read, which isn’t always easy given our often very busy schedules.

And if you don’t have anything planned for March 10, don’t worry: here’s a selection of books to discover or rediscover—in just fifteen minutes… or longer!

Our selection of books to discover or rediscover

SEO in 500 Questions - Daniel Roch and Olivier Andrieu

The title says it all: 500 Questions About SEO. Suffice it to say, there’s plenty here to explore organic search from every angle. In this book, Daniel Roch and Olivier Andrieu address the questions that naturally arise when working on a website’s visibility: How does Google work? What should be optimized first? How can you improve your content, technical aspects, or popularity? The question-and-answer format makes it easy to move from one topic to another. You can read a chapter in one sitting or flip through a few questions as you go… perfect for a quick 15-minute read.

246 pages, published by Eyrolles (2nd edition published in 2024)
→ Publisher's website

Storytelling in Marketing - Seth Godin

In *Storytelling in Marketing*, Seth Godin explores the role of stories in brand communication. The book explains how narratives, symbols, and imagery influence the way a product or service is perceived. The author examines the evolution of marketing and how certain companies build their messaging around a narrative, an identity, or a brand universe. He also demonstrates how these stories circulate, are shared, and contribute to the relationship between a brand and its audience. This book approaches marketing from a narrative perspective and may be of interest to those working in content creation, digital marketing, or SEO.

160 pages in the edition by MAXIMA L MESNIL (2011)
→ Available for loan at the library

The Guide for Freelance SEO Web Writers - Lucie Rondelet

This book is intended for anyone interested in web writing and SEO, and in particular in a career as a freelance writer. In it, Lucie Rondelet provides an overview of the industry: how web writing works today, what skills are expected, and how this profession is organized in practice. Throughout the chapters, the book covers everything from the basics of SEO and web writing techniques to the more practical aspects of freelancing: finding clients, structuring your service offering, and managing your business. This book provides a deeper understanding of the realities of working as an SEO web writer, both from an editorial perspective and in terms of freelancing.

174 pages in the Eyrolles edition published in 2021
→ Available only as an e-book

SEO from Scratch - Nelly Kempf

Are you looking for a book to help you understand SEO by starting from the very basics? That’s exactly the idea behind *SEO from Scratch* by Nelly Kempf. The book takes you through the world of organic search step by step: how search engines work, what influences a website’s visibility, and the fundamental concepts you need to know to find your way in this field. And for those who like to stay up to date on the latest developments in the industry, another release is scheduled for March 26, 2026: SEO—Become a Must-See on the Web: How to Be Chosen by Google, AI, and Your Customers?. A book that explores online visibility in the age of search engines and AI—a must-have for your bookshelf!

211 pages, self-published (2023)
→ Available on Amazon

SEO Without the Headache - Amandine Bart

With “SEO Without the Headache,” Amandine Bart is pursuing a goal she’s been working toward for several years: making organic search engine optimization more accessible. Through her content, training courses, and now her book (always accompanied by her otter mascot 🦦), published on February 12, 2026, she offers an educational approach to SEO, designed for those who want to understand the basics without getting lost in overly technical jargon. How search engines work, keywords, content structure, best practices… The key principles of SEO are covered to help readers better understand how to improve a website’s visibility. This book is aimed at both beginners curious about SEO and web professionals looking to brush up on the fundamentals.

212 pages, published by Diateino (2026)
→ Publisher's website

From Zero to Hero: Building Your Influence on Social Media - Caroline Mignaux

What if online visibility weren’t just about SEO? In *From Zero to Hero*, Caroline Mignaux examines another essential aspect of the web: social media. In this book, the author explores how to gradually build an online presence: understanding the platforms, developing an editorial strategy, posting regularly, and building a relationship with your audience—all topics that form the foundation of today’s content strategies. The book also addresses issues of influence, personal branding, and content creation in the age of social media. It’s a read that broadens your perspective on online visibility, going beyond organic search.

254 pages, published by Eyrolles (2024)
→ Publisher's website

When Machines Learn - Yann Le Cun

In *When Machines Learn*, Yann LeCun (Turing Award winner), one of the most influential researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence and deep learning, explores how machines learn today. A Franco-American researcher, he received the Turing Award in 2018—considered the Nobel Prize of computer science—for his work in artificial intelligence. In this book, the author explains how advances in machine learning have enabled the emergence of technologies that are now ubiquitous in our daily lives: image recognition, voice assistants, machine translation, and more. Yann LeCun also shares his vision for the future of artificial intelligence and the questions it raises.

400 pages, published by Odile Jacob (2019)
→ Publisher’s website

Mikrodystopies - François Houste

With *Mikrodystopies*, François Houste set himself a rather unique writing challenge: to tell stories in 280 characters or fewer—the length of a tweet. Over time, these micro-stories published on Twitter (now known as X) have grown into a collection of more than 300 short stories. Each story explores a situation related to our digital world: ubiquitous technology, algorithms, social media, and surveillance. What do we love about it? Readers are also invited to respond to the stories or write their own, adhering to the same brevity constraint. So, who’s brave enough to take the plunge and write their first dystopia?

170 pages, published by C&F Éditions (2020), with original photographs by Nicolas Taffin
→ Publisher’s website

You may have already come across it on social media or in a bookstore— **the** **Hypertexte magazine**, published by Studio Euphonie, dedicates its first pilot issue to careers in the web industry and beyond. Inside, experts share their experiences, work methods, and reflections on the uses of digital technology across all fields.
The magazine *Hypertexte* explores the behind-the-scenes world of the Web and the people who shape it.
An ideal read if you like to understand “how things work,” take a step back from the digital world, or simply learn from others’ experiences with digital transformation. Add it to your TBR (To Be Read, for those unfamiliar with the term) without hesitation!

The magazine is available at participating bookstores, by special order, and directly here.
→ 35 euros, free shipping via Lettre Verte for mainland France

SEO & Web Marketing Books: Check Out Our Selection