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.

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

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

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

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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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.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters

Great copy is the heart and soul of the advertising business. In this practical guide, legendary copywriter Joe Sugarman provides proven guidelines and expert advice on what it takes to write copy that will entice, motivate, and move customers to buy. For anyone who wants to break into the business, this is the ultimate companion resource for unlimited success.

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.

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

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.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

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…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Fortune Cookie Principle: The 20 Keys to a Great Brand Story and Why Your Business Needs One Bernadette Jiwa

The Fortune Cookie Principle by Bernadette Jiwa is a marketing book that emphasizes that brand success is about creating a unique, inspiring story. It guides readers on crafting a strong brand message that resonates with audiences and builds a loyal customer base.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

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

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

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