Top Copywriting books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Copywriting books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Copywriting

Understanding the concepts of Copywriting starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

The Advertising Solution: Influence Prospects, Multiply Sales, and Promote Your Brand Craig Simpson

Distilling the wisdom of the world's greatest advertisers, direct marketing expert Craig Simpson delivers an education on how to create best-in-class direct marketing and advertising copy that creates brand awareness, sells products, and keeps customers engaged.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a 2011 popular science book by psychologist Daniel Kahneman. The book's main thesis is a differentiation between two modes of thought: "System 1" is fast, instinctive and emotional; "System 2" is slower, more deliberative, and more logical.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Breakthrough Advertising: How to Write Ads that Shatter Traditions and Sales Records

This is not a book just for copywriters and other advertising experts but a book for every business owner, marketing expert or anyone who needs to increase sales. The reason why is because it deals with how to channel the forces in the marketplace which control sales.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Advertising Secrets of the Written Word: The Ultimate Resource on how to Write Powerful Advertising Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters and Mail Order Entrepreneurs Joseph Sugarman

Explains how to write advertising copy for a mail order advertisement. The opening section covers the principles of copywriting including the graphic elements of an ad, the first sentence, and creating the perfect buying environment. Section two explains copy elements such as typeface, paragraph headings, and anticipating buyer objections, and psychological triggers such as honesty, credibilit…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Great Ads

The Classic Guide to Creating Great Ads. Short Summary: The nuts and bolts of the ad creation process from ideation to execution and the art of client servicing. An inside view of how the advertising world functions with great examples of advertising peppered throughout the book.

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Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade

What separates effective communicators from truly successful persuaders? With the same rigorous scientific research and accessibility that made his Influence an iconic bestseller, Robert Cialdini explains how to prepare people to be receptive to a message before they experience it. Optimal persuasion is achieved only through optimal pre-suasion. In other words, to change “minds” a pre-suader m…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Copywriting Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Copywriting, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Scientific Advertising

In the book, Hopkins outlines an advertising approach based on testing and measuring. In this way losses from unsuccessful ads are kept to a safe level while gains from profitable ads are multiplied. Or, as Hopkins wrote, the advertiser is "playing on the safe side of a hundred to one shot".

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir by American author Stephen King that describes his experiences as a writer and his advice for aspiring writers. Originally published in 2000 by Charles Scribner's Sons, it was King's first book after he was involved in a car accident a year earlier.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost Your Sales. Dan Kennedy

In the age of e-mail and instant communication, great sales copy is indispensable to closing a deal. But too many sales letters end up in the junk file or the wastebasket. In this new edition of his top-selling book, author Dan Kennedy explains why some sales letters work and most don't. And he shows how to write copy that any business can use.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Copy Book: How Some of the Best Advertising Writers in the World Write Their Advertising

In 1995, the D&AD published a book on the art of writing for advertising. The then best-selling book remains an important reference work today—a bible for creative directors. D&AD and TASCHEN have joined forces to bring you an updated and redesigned edition of the publication. Regarded as the most challenging field in advertising, copywriting is usually left to the most talented professionals—…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

On Writing Well

On Writing Well by William Zinsser is a guide to improve writing style, emphasizing on clarity, simplicity, and humanity. It offers practical tips, examples, and exercises to connect with readers on an emotional level.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Made to Stick

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath is a business book that explores the six principles needed to make ideas memorable and compelling. It offers real-world examples and practical tips for creating ideas that resonate with your audience.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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