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The Best Books On Marketing And Branding

Our Recommendations for Books of Branding and Marketing

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This article contains a list of our favorite Marketing and Branding Books that are easy to digest and learn from. Whether you are a beginner in this field, or looking to build on your knowledge these are the books for you.


Obviously Awesome by April Dunford

This product was recommended by Bethan Vincent from Bethan Vincent, Marketing Consultant

Positioning is a core part of successful marketing but is so often ignored in academic and general marketing books. Drawing on her successful career building world-class technology companies, in her book April outlines a clear methodology for creating solid positioning that resonates with customers and drives sales.


Contagious By Jonah Beger

This product was recommended by Darren Stewart from 93x

This book attempts to use science to explain why some things go viral and some things don’t. It takes a lot of what Malcolm Gladwell talks about in Tipping Point and applies science to provide a framework for Digital Marketing.


The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing By Al Reis

This product was recommended by Darren Stewart from 93x

An oldy but a classic, its’ written in the 90’s but the fundamentals remain the same. A great top-level view of how to go-to-market with a new product and what to focus on with your marketing strategy.


Hooked by Nir Eyal

This product was recommended by Muhammad Mateen Khan from PureVPN

There’s a pattern to which products and services catch attention and become essential for consumers and which, and Hooked answers how to to do just that. Nir Eyal’s book, culled from years of behavioral design research, is a must-read and one of the best marketing books for entrepreneurs looking to create and market products that consumers keep coming back to.


Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

This product was recommended by Muhammad Mateen Khan from PureVPN

Nike. Knight’s memoir is loaded with lessons and insights on how to not just articulate a coherent brand vision, but to also live it. Understanding the mechanics and theory of marketing is important, but Knight’s book is able to provide a case study that teaches how to implement these tactics extremely well.


Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuk

This product was recommended by Muhammad Mateen Khan from PureVPN

In one of the best marketing books of 2019, New York Times bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk dissects how with an entrepreneur’s own personal brand, they can help their entire enterprises, gain attention, reform their ethos and ultimately succeed.In one of the best marketing books of 2019, New York Times bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk dissects how with an entrepreneur’s own personal brand, they can help their entire enterprises, gain attention, reform their ethos and ultimately succeed.


The Brain by David Eagleman

This product was recommended by Shayan Fatani from PureVPN

I am suggesting this book because it is a fun and informative guide into the science of how complex we are as human beings. The book scratches the surface of neuroscience not making it too complex to comprehend and helping the reader understand and digest the information provided. As a marketer, it helped me understand consumer behavior and how mere decisions can make a huge impact. One example of this is Priming, where you can use associations made in the user’s subconscious to drive a decision for example if you play french music in your retail outlet, it may increase the sales of french wine.


Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits by Debbie Millman

This product was recommended by William Taylor from VelvetJobs

Before you start developing branding strategies, it’s helpful to have a conversation about what branding is and is not. What, exactly, is a brand? Is it a shiny logo, a clever mascot, a catchy slogan? Why should a company care about branding, and why should consumers care about branding? This book, written by expert design visionary Debbie Millman, of the popular podcast “Design Matters,” is a collection of interviews in conversation with leaders in their field, and examines these questions and more.

After reading this book, you’ll have a better understanding of the state of modern branding, why it’s done and how consumers are impacted by the branding decisions of large companies (and vice-versa). You’ll also have a better idea of the underlying philosophies that motivate consumers to gravitate towards certain brands and motivate companies to execute their strategies in a certain way.


Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World by Jay Conrad Levinson

This product was recommended by Shel Horowitz from Going Beyond Sustainability

Businesses already have to be green because customers demand it. In the next few years, customers will demand social entrepreneurship: using business to fix things like hunger, poverty, war, and catastrophic climate change. The road map is the award-winning book Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World by Jay Conrad Levinson and Shel Horowitz (New York: Morgan James), endorsed by Seth Godin, Chicken Soup’s Jack Canfield, the Executive Director of GreenBiz.com, and many others.


How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp

This product was recommended by Faizan Fahim from Bookaapi

How Brand Grows is surprising and it peels away accepted truths. The book portrays a more rational picture of customers as uncaring cognitive misers. Byron Sharp provides evidence-based answers to the key questions asked by marketers every day. Tackling issues such as how brands grow, how advertising really works, what price promotions really do & how loyalty programs really affect loyalty. This is an amazon book that helps you to unlearn various myths, and offer an analytical solution.


How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This product was recommended by Andrew Laws from Andrew Laws Associates Ltd

Although it may not appear so on first glance, ‘How to win friends and influence people’ by Dale Carnegie is a brilliant marketing and branding book. In order to write great marketing copy you need to understand your audience; in this classic book the author unravels the shield that we all place between ourselves and the people we interact with. Understanding the fundamentals of ‘How to win friends and influence people’ will directly improve your marketing strategies.

Read the book and you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why big brands present themselves as they do. When you have digested this great book you will also start to identify which brands are handling themselves really badly! I first read this book years ago and have re-read it many times. In my opinion ‘How to win friends and influence people’ is a solid foundation for all marketing strategy.


Influence by Robert B. Cialdini PhD

This product was recommended by Yen Yee from Loud Kitchen Singapore

It’s old but gold. Marketers are in the business of influencing decisions, the six ‘weapons of influence’ covered in this book are fundamentals that continue to drive human decisions today. Be warned, the style of writing may be old and ‘Influence’ does not make for an easy read. However, the lessons remain relevant today. I have re-read this book at least thrice and continue to pick up new insights each time.


This is Marketing by Seth Godin

This product was recommended by Isil Simsek from Social Thyme

A must-read for anyone working in marketing. Seth Godin focuses on the importance of focusing on the smallest viable audience rather than trying to market to everyone and how we can earn attention, trust and ultimately action. It is an eye-opener in our noisy world. A book I have read a few times now and love going back to from time to time.


Athletes are brands too by Jeremy Darlow

This product was recommended by Pat Clarke from Clutch Kicks LLC

Mr. Darlow does a great job of providing readers thought provoking questions and detailed steps on how to build one’s personal brand. Athletes are used as the primary example, but the majority of information listed can be used by anyone looking to construct their personal brand. You will become educated on the importance of a well built personal brand, and how that can affect your influence over people. As a 5 year professional football player and entrepreneur, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to build your brand and platform to influence people. This book was the first personal branding book specifically for athletes that I ever came across, and I still use it as a reference point when making personal branding decisions today.


Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

This product was recommended by Joe Bailey from My Trading Skills

Applying the tenets of this book will have a huge impact on how to make your brand message simple, clear, and something that your customers will care about.


Hello, My Name is Awesome by Alexandra Watkins

This product was recommended by Joe Bailey from My Trading Skills

Giving your brand a name that sticks makes your brand have a lasting impact on your customer, and they are more likely to remember you. This book teaches you how to name your brand effectively.


Developer Marketing and relations by SlashData

This product was recommended by Sophie Conner from HaloITSM

I was given this book by my manager when I started my first Product Marketing role at a SaaS company. Co-authored by the leading developer marketing practitioners in some of today’s largest technology companies, they give insights on principles, realities and case studies to help you learn the fundamentals of developer marketing. This book was a great resource when starting as a new hire as the industry can be a minefield. Even if you’re already working in the domain you will pick up new and deep insights.


This is F*cking Sh*t by Dan Kelsall

This product was recommended by Sophie Conner from HaloITSM

Written in a weekend, Dan Kelsall gives a witty insight into marketing during the COVID-19 epidemic. He provides solid arguments as to why we shouldn’t stop marketing even though the world has stopped turning. This is a great, short, easy to read book on what’s changed, what not to do and tips on creative (low-cost) ways to get through this ‘unprecedented’ time. On top of this, all proceeds go towards essentials for the elderly in the UK during the pandemic.


The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib

This product was recommended by Fredrik Rosenborg from Gaffla

The 1-page marketing plan is an excellent start for those working within other professions than marketing or those that have just started out within marketing. The book gives you a model that’s really simple to follow and you’ll also get ideas as well as practical advises on how you could increase your business through marketing.


Eating the Big Fish By Adam Morgan

This product was recommended by Naheed Mir from RugKnots

Throughout my career in marketing and branding, my favorite book hands down have been the Eating the Big Fish by Adam Morgan. The book is handy for those who are in the branding and marketing industries. The beauty of the book is that it will teach you the ways to make a difference in a low budget. Adam Morgan explains the ways for smaller players who can challenge the top competitors with their creative marketing strategies. This book will help you to think a little differently about branding. It also provides a viewpoint on how to define the brand and how to compete by providing practical advice and ways to show how your brand can get noticed and can steal customers from your competitors.


Contagious by Jonah Berger

This product was recommended by Andres Giraldo from The Skyline Agency

There are a lot of great marketing and advertising books out there. I’m a big fan of books that also talk about the science and include social psychology and human behavior. One author that I follow a lot is Jonah Berger. He’s a professor and a speaker on the subject and has quite a few published pieces under his belt that I’ve enjoyed. One that I recommend a lot is Contagious. Berger analyzes and translates ‘the why’ behind human behavior and how that shapes what becomes popular versus what doesn’t. I think that anyone interested in these subjects would do well to read his work.


Sticky Branding by Jeremy Miller

This product was recommended by Stephanie Lane from SafeSpaceHub

This best-seller is based on a decade of research looking into what makes companies successful. Sticky Branding is an essential guide for any company looking to create better branding that will allow your company to stand out and attract customers.


Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits by Debbie Millman

This product was recommended by Manny Hernandez from Wealth Growth Wisdom, LLC

This book is fun to read and provides a great understanding of the concept of branding. Each chapter presents a branding expert’s take on the subject. Brand Thinking gives the reader a backstage pass to the great design minds behind varied industries and global brands. It is most definitely worth the read (and re-read) for marketers who are looking to find a different angle on what ‘branding’ is all about. It may even resonate in the avid consumer of today’s society as brands affect everyone, whether we realize it or not.


Start With Why by Simon Sinek

This product was recommended by Paul Chittenden from PaulChittenden

Start with Why is a simple concept popularized by Simon’s TED talk. It outlines how most companies start their marketing with What they are selling, leading the product or service into a commodity space. He argues that the best companies, Start with Why. Customers buy into the mission or purpose, and then they worry about What you are selling. The book cites Apple’s Think Different as the greatest example of Starting with Why, and shows how they’ve beat competitors by their founding ethos.


How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This product was recommended by Maria Grace from Maria Grace LLC

Although this is an unconventional marketing book, it is incredibly value. It will teach you how to talk to human beings – which, easy as it is to forget, is exactly our target market when it comes to selling. This book uses basic principles and practical advice to show exactly how to influence people when it comes to making friends, building your platform, and more.


Power of Moments by Dan Heath

This product was recommended by Jason Reed from Suppwise

The Power of Moments talks about how to integrate your business into the high points of your customer’s lives. I found this to be really powerful. If you can connect your business to a great experience your customers are having, they’ll have a positive association with working with you.


Aesthetics Intelligence by Pauline Brown

This product was recommended by Kate Obert from KateObert

As a Brand Strategist, Aesthetics Intelligence is my all-time favorite book when it comes to branding because it forces you to think differently when it comes to marketing & branding. Aesthetics isn’t just about the way something looks, it’s about the entire experience. As a brand, it’s no longer good enough to be just visually aesthetically-pleasing, you must be a full-sensory experience in order to stand out!


The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin

This product was recommended by Joseph Piñeiro from 360training

The Icarus Deception, by Seth Godin, instructs readers to treat marketing and branding like the art form they are. Rather than seeing marketing as merely a talent developed through hours of practice, Godin advises us to also view it as an attitude we can all adopt. The principal determinant of this mindset is being brave enough to take risks.


Touchpoints By Adam Stoker

This product was recommended by Colby Remund from Relic Agency

Touchpoints is a holistic guide to help destinations evaluate their brand and create a plan of action to improve each of its elements. The author, Adam Stoker has been working with destinations for close to a decade and this book is a distillation of all his experience. He’s also the host of Destination Marketing Podcast and he draws on the insight and wisdom of other seasoned industry experts who have appeared on his podcast to support his ideas and advice. As the book breaks down each piece of the marketing puzzle that destination marketers need to address, it gives insight and clear direction on what they can do to strengthen their brand while allowing for innovation and creativity in the process.


The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries

This product was recommended by Nate Shivar from ShivarWeb

This concise, easy to read book outlines timeless principles of marketing that any business from a solo startup to Fortune 500 can learn from. It is full of relatable examples that will help anyone put the principles to immediate use.

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