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.

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.

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The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered. This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to…

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The Idea Writers: Copywriting in a New Media and Marketing Era Teressa Iezzi

The Idea Writers guides both new and experienced copywriters through the process of creating compelling messages that sell. It shows readers what it's like to work in the fast-paced world of an agency while providing practical adviceplusdetails oncreatingaward-winning multimedia ad campaigns.

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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…

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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

Additional Copywriting Reading

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

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…

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Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence

This guide reveals how writers can utilize cognitive storytelling strategies to craft stories that ignite readers' brains and captivate them through each plot element. Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed.

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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

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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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—…

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The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-by-step Guide to Writing Copy that Sells Robert Bly

This thoroughly revised third edition includes all new essential information for mastering copywriting in the Internet era, including advice on Web- and e-mail-based copywriting, multimedia presentations, and Internet research and source documentation, as well as updated resources.

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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