Here’s a list of 70+ top business reads for your convenience.

I’ve divided these books into the following categories:

1. Sales
2. Mindset
3. Principles
4. Efficiency
5. Marketing
6. Copywriting

As you’ve realized, books in the “mindset” and “theory” sections don’t have business as their focus. However, the lessons learned are directly applicable.

• (You can download the entire list for FREE here)

Let’s get started by looking at sales.

Sales

Ultimate Selling Power and Unlimited Selling Power by Donald Moine

Don’t know where to start? Ultimate Selling Power and Unlimited Selling power are a fantastic intro to sales.

Packed with unique and high powered content, these aren’t your typical sales books. Even sales veterans can learn something new.

Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy

Ready to take your selling to the next level? Mr. Tracy will show you the way.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, step your game up with “Advanced Selling Strategies”.

Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got by Jay Abraham

This has to be one of the most *actionable* books ever made. Jay walks you through the process of creating a fantastic business plan. He also reveals how to identify and dissolve problems.

Be sure to do all the exercises in the book to get the most out of it.

How to Sell Yourself and How to Sell Anything to Anybody by Joe Girard

The first step of selling anything is selling yourself to the prospect. These books break down the process into clear and simple methods.

How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger

Discouraged with initial failures? These techniques and guides will turn you into a selling success!

The Lazy Man’s Way To Riches by Richard G. Nixon

Don’t let the title fool you, “The Lazy Man’s Way To Riches” is chock-full of actionable advice. It isn’t so much about being “lazy” as it is about being *efficient*. While this book primarily talks about finance, it also gives important tips about self-development.

The main takeaway is: you aren’t truly rich until you have all your areas of life in check.

Every Word Has Power by Yvonne Oswald

As you’ve realized, your words have tremendous power over your life. They frame the limits of your perceived possibilities. When you create better pictures through higher-quality words, you create a better life.

Descriptions create metaphors. Metaphors paint images. Images become reality.

• Click here to read more.

Words That Sell and More Words That Sell by Richard Bayan

You’re aware of the power of words, but do you know which ones sell best?

Richard Bayan adds ammo to your persuasive arsenal with high-value speech patterns.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher

The key text on problem solving negotiation.

Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways To Be Persuasive, Pre-Suasion, and Influence by Robert Cialdini

Cialdini is one of the world’s foremost experts on persuasion. His book “Influence” is an absolute classic.

“Pre-Suasion” is a newer release, detailing the importance of *posture* in preparing the grounds for a decision.

As you know, persuasion is an 80/20 skill. When you master the material in these books, you’ll be thousands of steps ahead of the pack.

Winning Through Intimidation by Robert Ringer

This highly unique business book explains the brutality of the real estate jungle. The bottom line is, there’s a huge difference between EARNING and RECEIVING a commission.

“Winning Through Intimidation” offers unique insights into negotiation, professionalism, and business posture. It tells you how to qualify clients, dodge “deal sabotage”, and use authority to your advantage.

It’s entirely your responsibility to guide your commissions through to the finish line.

Mindset

How Rich People Think by Steve Siebold

What are the key principles of the rich mindset? Steve Siebold tells all.

Are you living your life by these principles? The answer will surprise you.

How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell

Success is more than a destination. It’s a mindset.

So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport

This book debunks the myth of “follow your passion”.

The real key lies in combining passion + market need.

No B.S. Wealth Attraction In The New Economy by Dan Kennedy

Dan breaks down all the emotional mental blocks keeping people poor.

• You can read more about it here.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell’s magnum opus is a must-read for any leader. As you’ve realized, the essence of leadership is setting a valuable example with your own life. People gravitate towards strong personalities.

The lessons also apply to non-leaders.

Mental Discipline: The Pursuit of Peak Performance by Michael Livingston

Ready to run on all cylinders? “Mental Discipline” will tell you how.

Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson

No matter if you’re starting a business or developing one, “Ready, Fire, Aim” gives you important tips for every step of the way. You can simply skip what doesn’t apply. Notable sections include:

• Developing superstars
• Coming up with ideas
• Managing systems
• Selling products
• Taking action

A Whack On The Side Of The Head & A Kick In The Seat Of The Pants by Roger Von Oech

Feeling stuck or drained of creative juices?

These books show you several new ways of looking at problems. As you know, framing is everything. Asking a different question can give you a drastically different answer. Roger Von Oech is guaranteed to shake your concepts of possibility.

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ Demarco

This book offers a quick and easy-to-digest mental model of financial success. It was the spark that started me on the journey to self-sufficiency. Now it can do the same for you.

• You can read an in-depth review here.

Principles

Antifragile by Nassim Taleb

What does it mean to be “Antifragile?”

Simply put, it’s the opposite of “fragile”. Crazy as it sounds, the absence of stressors (exercise, challenges, etc) actually leads to long-term losses. True strength can only be developed through struggle.

This book helps you focus on the macro by framing the winner’s path as an investment.

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

This book dives deep into the various systems of decision-making. While neither system is “better” than the other, each can be used as a unique tool. When you master the different forms of thought, you expand your options (increasing the chances of an accurate outcome).

The Art of Thought by Graham Wallas

Curious about the creative process? Graham Wallas’ magnum opus gives you step-by-step descriptions of how you can come up with better ideas.

This is one of the greatest works on creativity. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to sharpen their creative energies.

Tao Of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee

While primarily a book about fighting, there are many important business lessons within. “Tao Of Jeet Kune Do” deals with rhythms, spheres, competence, and more.

Lee’s philosophy benefits any business-minded person.

The Psychology of Judgement and Decision Making by Scott Plous

“The Psych of Judgment and Decision Making” is simply phenomenal. It’s one of the best books on human psychology ever written. As you know, psychology trumps economics in the business world.

Personal Power by W.W. Atkinson

“Personal Power” has to be one of the most comprehensive books I’ve ever read.

This book puts everything into perspective.

• Spirituality
• Reasoning
• Character
• Creativity
• Faith

Efficiency

Time Management by Brian Tracy

Feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? “Time Management” helps you get more done with less. After all, the name of the game is *efficiency*.

The main point is to focus on the essential and drop the irrelevant.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

You’ve probably heard of “the power of 1%”. The basic idea is, consistency leads to massive developments. Every sum is greater than its parts. It isn’t a “put-together mixture”, but rather a new item altogether.

Habits = Lifestyle.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

What is “Deep Work” and how does it impact your life?

Cal Newport exposes the harm of multi-tasking. He also details the importance of single-minded focus. You see, entering a flow state makes permanent changes to your mental structure. It’s the only way to effectively increase your skills.

Marketing

Selling The Invisible by Harry Beckwith

Salesmen don’t sell products, they sell *solutions*. In “Selling The Invisible”, Harry Beckwith explains the importance of informing your prospect about how your product or service can fulfill his needs.

People don’t care about products and services, they care about *results*.

Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

Method Marketing by Denny Hatch

Denny Hatch describes how 8 multi-million dollar businesses were built.

No B.S. Marketing to the Affluent by Dan Kennedy

Who has money to spend regardless of boom or bust?

That’s right, the affluent.

When you design products or services to fill their needs, you’ll never be broke ever again. What’s more is they treat you better than those who nickle-and-dime you to death. Even better, affluent markets understand the value of quality.

Viralnomics by Jon Goodman

What are the makings of viral content?

Hint: It’s not what you think.

Impossible To Ignore by Carmen Simon

A great follow-up to “Viralnomics”, “Impossible To Ignore” expands on the makings of memorable content.

When your offering is intriguing, interesting, and entertaining, even your haters will find it hard to ignore you.

The Purple Cow and All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin

“The Purple Cow” is THE book on USP. What exactly is USP? It’s the distinguishing trait of your business. This book will explain how you can make your business stick out in a sea of forgettable faces. The writing style is simple and clear.

The secondary title of “All Marketers Are Liars” is “All Marketers Tell Stories”. I’ll let you in on a little secret, storytelling is the most persuasive means of advertising. People need stories to make sense of the world. When you add intriguing stories into your own ads, you give your readers something to relate to.

You Are The Message by Roger Ailes

The first step of selling anything is to get the salesman in order. YOU represent your product or service.

Launch by Jeff Walker

What’s the best way to release a product, service, or brand?

Jeff Walker explains the groundwork that must come before any successful release.

• (Fact: Multiple media empires have been launched with the lessons in this book).

Positioning by Jack Trout

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone running a brand. No matter if you’re the head of an international corporation or a solo-preneur, “Positioning” will show you how to distinguish yourself.

Whether you’re using 7-up’s “Un-Cola” approach or making yourself synonymous with the market like Jell-O, this book helps sharpen your distinctions.

Emotional Design by Donald Norman

As you’ve realized, people have few needs but many wants. How does this relate to design and creation?

Many products emerge because they fill an emotional want. This “want” could be a function in and of itself.

Look at tables for instance. They have a straightforward purpose. However, every design has a different impact on its *emotional environment*. When base needs are easily fulfilled, people become more selective with their purchases.

The question is, “how does this product reflect on you?”

This book provides lots of food for thought regarding market opportunities.

Dot Com Secrets by Russell Brunson

What are the secrets to making money online?

Dot Com Secrets tells you how to build effective sales funnels. Making a few small adjustments will help you get more traffic and increase your conversion rate.

This is less a book about online marketing than it is about business *structure*.

The Hero And The Outlaw by Margaret Mark

This book is all about archetypes. It tells you how you to position your brand by aligning it with patterns of the collective unconscious.

Having a hard time defining your brand’s position? “The Hero And The Outlaw” might just give you the breakthrough you need.

Crystalizing Public Opinion and Propaganda by Edward Bernays

What exactly is “propaganda” and how does it relate to public opinion?

Even though the book “propaganda” is regarded as “propaganda about itself”, it contains many useful insights.

Both these books are a collection of observations about market forces (emotion).

The Crowd: A Study Of The Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon

In the same vein as “Propaganda”, “The Crowd” details the rhythm and whims of groups.

• (Bonus Fact: Mussolini kept this book at his bedside table.)

How To Design Effective Store Advertising by M.L. Rosenblum

This book is about store design (both on and off line). It’s an absolutely essential book to have in your business library.

Looking Good In Print by Roger C. Parker

This book is all about layout and design. You see, high-yield ads have a certain rhythm to their format. When you grasp the underlying mechanism, you heighten interest.

Raise The Bar by Jon Taffer

Great book about market research. Mr. Taffer lays out his no-nonsense strategy to get emotional reactions from your target audience.

Copywriting

Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz

The best book on copywriting ever written.

Triggers and The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman

What psychological triggers cause people to buy? Joseph Sugarman tells all.

The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert Bly

A classic guide to copywriting.

(It even has a co-sign from copywriting legend David Ogilvy).

How to Write a Good Advertisement by Victor Schwab

This phenomenal guide details the core elements of effective advertising.

Advertising Ideas, Tested Advertising Methods, and Making Ads Pay by John Caples

These books are highly comprehensive.

They include tips on:

• non-profit advertising.
• building a business with limited revenue.
• optimizing headlines, illustrations, and layouts.

The Robert Collier Letter Book by Robert Collier

This book is a collection of successful ads written in a polite and straightforward tone. It puts an end to the myth of the “loud and obnoxious salesman”.

Looking for some ads to trace for your swipe file? “The Robert Collier Letter Book” is an excellent resource to increase your copywriting skills.

The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert

This is the seminal work of the archetypal copywriter Gary Halbert. The book lays out a series of challenges which aim to make you a better copywriter.

• Fact: Gary recommends many of the books on this list.

Ogilvy on Advertising and Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy

The “James Bond” of the advertising world lays it all out. Having mastered his understanding of human nature as a secret agent in WWII, he used his knowledge to become the king of Madison Ave. Ogilvy pioneered key principles such as:

• “Treating the customer as intelligent”
• “Basing ads off info about the consumer”
• And “Recognizing the function of advertising as sales”

These 2 books explain his valuable philosophy. His influence is still felt today.

Scientific Advertising and My Life In Advertising by Claude C. Hopkins

As you know, advertising is a science. The principles of direct mail aim to test, measure, and refine results.

• You can get both for less here.

Direct Mail Copy That Sells by Herschell Gordon Lewis

Direct mail is the foundation of advertising. This book pays great attention to detail and its contents are universally applicable.

The 100 Greatest Advertisements by Julian L. Watkins

Looking for some ads to trace? “The 100 Greatest Advertisements” is an essential read for any copywriter.

This book will keep you busy for quite some time.

Systematic Approach To Advertising Creativity by Stephen Baker

A classic look into the mind and practice of the advertiser.

Cashvertising by Drew Whitman

The info in this book gets you results. PERIOD.

P.S. Easily save this entire list by downloading it onto your computer, tablet, etc and read it later when you have some free time or while on the go. Simply click on the book below to download now.