3 of My Favorite Marketing Books—Have You Read Any of These?
Malcolm Gladwell has said, “The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are desperately lacking in the latter.”
That got me thinking. There are a million books about marketing. The problem is, I happen to agree with Gladwell. Plowing through a million marketing books may be 999,000 too many. I don’t just need knowledge though, I want understanding.
Maybe you feel the same way.
With all those choices, you’re drowning under the surge of potential knowledge. But understanding marketing feels elusive.
Well, here’s your life vest.
To keep you from drowning, I’ve picked three of my faves out of the ocean of options!
Don’t Drown in a Sea of Knowledge. Start with These 3 Marketing Books And Head Straight For Understanding
Since I got my start in marketing, a few great books have become some of my best friends. They’ve helped me like an wise mentor. They’ve helped me avoid some common pitfalls. And they’ve given me confidence to do help clients grow their businesses and brands.
These are some of my recent favorites. So whether you’re looking for a fresh source of inspiration, education, or just plain entertainment, consider checking these out.
Again, there are tons of great titles out there, but these have been really meaningful to me.
Book 1: All Marketers are Liars (Tell Stories)by Seth Godin
An underground classic that explains how marketing really works. In this short, powerful read, Godin reveals why authenticity is the best marketing tool of all.
One of my favorite quotes from this book:
“If you care about the future of your company, your nonprofit, your church or your planet, marketing matters.” —Seth Godin
In this powerful book, New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller uses the seven universal elements of powerful stories to teach readers how to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses. As a lover of story, I couldn’t agree more. Everyone understands story. And this is how you use the principles of story to power your marketing.
One of my favorite quotes from this book:
“The more simple and predictable the communication, the easier it is for the brain to digest. Story helps because it is a sense–making mechanism.” —Donald Miller
Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller You can get it on Amazon here.
Book 3:Ogilvy on Advertisingby David OgilvyThis classic serves as an indispensable primer on all aspects of advertising from the man Time magazine called “the most sought after wizard in the business.”
Ogilvy speaks with candor and generosity, as he shares:
The secrets behind advertising that worksHow to write successful copy—and get people to read itEighteen miracles of researchWhat marketing can do for charitiesAnd much, much more.
One of the quotes I love is something I share with literally every client:
“Down with committees…Committees can criticize, but they cannot create…Search the parks in all your cities. You’ll find no statues of committees.” —David Ogilvy
Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy Get this classic now on Amazon right here.
Discover More on My Current List of Recommended Books