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.

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.

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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.

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The Boron Letters

Boron Letters is FILLED with nuggets of wisdom for email marketing, sales copy, and life. Not everything translates to the modern world, but much of it does. It was interesting to read because it is all letters written from prison, and I felt like that kept my attention much better than a lot of dry marketing books.

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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.

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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.

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Confessions of an Advertising Man

Managing an advertising agency is like managing any other creative business. Ogilvy articulates the ten anchors that underpinned the corporate culture of his agency’s 497 employees in 1963: they work hard, combine intelligence with intellectual honesty, put passion in what they do, do not suck up to their bosses, are self-confident, do not hire their spouses but future successors who they buil…

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Additional Copywriting Reading

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

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…

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Finding the Right Message: How to Turn Voice of Customer Research Into Irresistible Website Copy Jennifer Havice

Imagine if you could connect with your website visitors the moment they landed on your website. They understood exactly what kind of value your product or solution provided. And they were eager to join your email list, start your free trial, or hit the buy button. What would that mean to your business? Jen Havice, messaging strategist and customer-driven copywriter, walks you through how to as…

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Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley is a comprehensive guide to writing quality content that resonates with an online audience. It covers the importance of grammar, storytelling, and honing a personal writing style, and provides practical tips for creating compelling copy across multiple platforms.

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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.

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The Well-fed Writer: Financial Self-sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months Or Less Peter Bowerman

Businesses Need Writers, and Will Pay Handsomely For Them... Attention: Aspiring writers, career-changers, at-home Moms, journalists, staff writers, recent college grads, 55+ or anyone else who loves to write, knows they're good at it, and wants to make a GOOD living at it. Here's your roadmap to hourly rates of $50-125+ and a writing lifestyle most can only dream of in the lucrative field of …

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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Hi! I'm Darren, and you're awesome. I lead Zillow's Cloud HQ Experience. Prior to Zillow, I led workplace strategy and operations at GitLab, the world's largest all-remote company to go from startup to IPO. I hold a Guinness World Record in writing and communications. I was featured in Forbes' Future …

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