Top Copywriting Books... Ever

[jayguy]

Ideapro,

I have the greatest respect for David Ogilvy - his Rolls Royce ad is one of my all time favourites. He actually went to the factory and talked to all the craftsmen there so he could convey just what went in to making these cars. Sales went through the roof.

[NyceGuy]

I read "Direct Mail Copy That Sells" back in 2006 and even after bumping on many other ebooks, courses and books that talk about writing sales letters, I think it remains to be my most favorite.

However, it took me a long time to figure the basics, even after reading the book three or so times.

The PROBLEM, however was not the book itself. I was the problem. I wasn't practicing. You got to do it for you to "get" it.

You have to get a arbitrary product and start practice writing a sample copy as if you were actually selling the product.

I am not perfect currently, but I am waaaay better than I was back then. I have sold products using my own sales letters. I only use the "pros" for big ticket items. Not so much though.

My experience, however, is that if you can get serious and practice writing copies, then it will way better than hiring others, coz only YOU know and understand your product better than anybody else, and because of this, you will know the exact emotions to ignite though the copies.

[pikachu]

Also a great book worth checking out - Ca$hvertising by Drew Eric Whitman.

[mph]

Yes, John Carlton's "Kickass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel" is definitely a GREAT book. That guy has a way of hitting the nail on the head - it's a no-nonsense book that manages to teach you the "how"...and it's written in a very engaging tone.

Definitely in the top 3.

[MissEvonne]

These are my 3 favorites with an emphasis on the 1st one.

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

2. The Copywriter's Handbook, Third Edition: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly

3. Web Copy That Sells: The Revolutionary Formula for Creating Killer Copy Every Time by Maria Veloso

[rygone]

Several have listed the Architecture of Persuasion by Michael Masterson as a "top" book on copywriting...

It looks like the AWAI is selling it for $24.95...

Is this an ebook or printed book?

Is this the SAME content as in the AWAI course?

Anyone have any reviews of this book?

Is it available for sale used (cheap)?

[Paul McQuillan]

Technically 1 person brought it up (from what I saw). I am not even sure that is someone who writes copy.

There is a reason why there are 3 pages of favorite books/courses and Masterson is mentioned once.

Why are you so excited about it? Have you bought any other books/courses on the subject yet?

Originally Posted by rygone

Several have listed the Architecture of Persuasion by Michael Masterson as a "top" book on copywriting...

It looks like the AWAI is selling it for $24.95...

Is this an ebook or printed book?

Is this the SAME content as in the AWAI course?

Anyone have any reviews of this book?

Is it available for sale used (cheap)?

[TPL001]

Not all (the below are) necessarily on copywriting, but Halbert's list is great (I think this is similar to what Maximillian stated Halbert recomended). Abraham's lists are just as good. (I have not read all of those on these lists, but I am working through them.)

The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joe Sugarman is apparently the same as Advertising Secrets of the Written Word, only cheaper.

Being Direct by Lester Wunderman. He is Mr Direct Marketing, and he tells the story of his development of direct marketing in the US. This is direct marketing in action. He laid such a great foundation. Joe Sugarman's Success Forces is also good.

Jay Abraham reckons he has read Scientific Advertising, by Claude Hopkins, many times. (Was it 30?) David Ogilvy reckons you should read Scientific Advertising at least seven times (and something to the effect that he would not hire anybody unless they had). This reminds of Warren Buffet's statement, that he had read Benjamin Graham's Security Analysis about 11 times.

These men know the value of reading the classical literature in their field; they know that they need to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before them. Even Dan Kennedy reckons you should listen only to those who have walked the talk, and not just spoken about it (e.g. Robert Collier). Okay, I know it is not relevent to this post, but it is to my point. If you want to understand economics, and can afford to read only one book, read Human Action by Ludwig von Mises. A simpler introduction is Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt.

Gary Halbert_hands_on_experience
•Scientific Advertising, Claude Hopkins
•The Robert Collier Letter Book, Robert Collier
•Tested Advertising Methods, John Caples
•How To Write A Good Advertisement, Vic Schwab
•The Gary Halbert Letter (all back issues), Gary Halbert
•The Boron Letters, Gary Halbert
•The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches, Joe Karbo
•Breakthrough Advertising, Eugene Schwartz
•7–Steps To Freedom, Ben Suarez
•The First Hundred Million, E Haldeman–Julius
•My Life In Advertising, Claude Hopkins

Books recommended by Jay Abraham on website
•Reality in Advertising, Rosser, Reeves
•My First 65 years in Advertising, Sackheim, Maxwell
•My Life in Advertising, Claude Hopkins
•Communications on Advertising, Burnette, Leo
•Ogilvy on Advertising, David Ogilvy
•Your Money Back, Eicoff, Alviin
•The Albert Lasker Story as He Told It, Lasker, Albert
•With All Its Faults, Cone, Fairfax

Books recommended by Jay Abraham in Stealth Marketing pp. 114–5
•Think and Grow Rich, Napolean Hill
•The Greatest Direct Mail Sales Letters of all Time, Hodgson, Dick
•Direct Mail and Mail Order Handbook, Hodgson, Dick
•How to Make Money in Mail Order, Melvin Powers
•Secrets of a Successful Mail Order Guru: Chase Revel, Ron Tepper
•Successful Direct Marketing Methods, Bob Stone
•How to Make Your Advertising Make Money, John Caples
•Writing that Works, Roman & Raphaelson
•Direct Marketing Success: What Works and Why, Gosden, Freeman
•Maxi–Marketing, Rapp & Collins
•Taken at the Flood, John Gunther

Books recommended by Jay Abraham in his book, Getting Everything…
•How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
•The Seven Habits of Highly Effective people, Stephen Covey
•Out Of Crisis, Edwards, Deeming
•Managing in a Time of Great Change, Drucker, Peter
•Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten, Harvey Mackay
•Thriving on Chaos, Tom Peters
•A Technique for Producing Ideas, Young, James W
•The art of scientific investigation, Beveridge, William
•Language in thought and action, S.I. Hayakawa

Glad to see "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy is recommended here. I read a few pages and was pretty impressed. I'm gonna nab this one for sure.

Will have to add "The Greatest Direct Mail Sales Letters of all Time " by Richard Hodgson to my list.

You can never have too many weapons in your arsenal.

[Matt Jutras]

Originally Posted by jettvero

Will have to add "The Greatest Direct Mail Sales Letters of all Time " by Richard Hodgson to my list.

Oh...you won't regret that purchase. I promise.

[Marcel Hartmann]

Originally Posted by mph

Yes, John Carlton's "Kickass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel" is definitely a GREAT book. That guy has a way of hitting the nail on the head - it's a no-nonsense book that manages to teach you the "how"...and it's written in a very engaging tone.

Definitely in the top 3.

I've heard great things about this book. John Carlton's story is very interesting, too, having come up the way he did and shifted the paradigm and standard of advertising in niche magazines.

[ShaneJohnston]

Not really Copywriting books, but along the same psychology of persuasion as Cialdini's Influence, some of my recent reads/recommendations are;

Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely
Sway, The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

I would also second the vote for Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point.

[Bullett]

If I had to pick one that has had the biggest impact over my freelance career, it would be Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz.

It's hard to really understand but if you can "get" it you'll create grand-slam promos.

[bulldawg13]

Stephen King's "On Writing" and Bob Bly's.

[netwiseprofits]

Just thought I would add to the list

Here is a great book called

Words That Sell by Richard Bayan it has more the 60,000 words and phrases to promote your ideas, services and products.

It's a great book for creating headlines

To Your Success
Leo

[SuzanneR]

I have to add my vote to Joe Sugarman's Adweek Copywriting Handbook.

I have a number of copywriting books on my shelf...and that's been the one where I've gotten the most applicable tips that have stayed in my memory.

One well known copywriting coach gave his students some advice about studying methods and books that I thought was particularly good: Study and absorb one teacher at a time-- and stick with the principles until you know them...instead of trying to cram your head with every copywriting philosophy out there.

[Gallardo]

Wow this is indeed a very useful thread especially for people like me who is learning the rope! Just wondering why no one mention about Yanik's Instant Sales Letters?

[Ledward Kooper]

I'm new here and want thank everyone for such excellent copywriting resources! I'll chime in and add a suggestion. It's an "oldie" that I've found useful: Maxwell Sackheim's Billion Dollar Marketing. This book is part instruction, part history, and full of old swipes. I'm not sure you can still get it but it's published by Towers Club-aka Jerry Buchanan.

All the best,

Ledward

[Intrepreneur]

I've just finished reading a short and concise copywriting book that was very easy to understand and will certainly help you to start a good pitch from scratch. This coupled with also reading Getting Everything You Want Out Of All You've Got by Jay Abraham. (AWESOME Book).

Was A Super Learning Experience.

I think for a person with copywriting struggles trying this reading formula will help you a lot.

Jay Abraham: Getting Everything You Can Out Of All You've Got
Andy Maslen: Write To Sell

A great little formula to read one after the other.

Of course it's not the end of the line because there is lots to learn but in my opinion purchasing then reading these 2 books is a huge confidence builder for you.

Enjoy.

[Agnes Lyle]

A top marketer (can't remember which one for the moment) said that Robert D. Boduch's "Great Headlines Instantly" is in any serious marketer's copywriting library. I think it's well worth reading.

[PowerRay]

The Elements of Style
by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

Not a copy writing book per say but one of my most value resources for writing.

For under $10 it is an invaluable resource I view as the holy grail of writing.

[Dainis]

This isn't a book, but John Carlton's SWS coaching program is really opening my eyes. I find it empowering and functional. By that, I mean, 3 weeks into the program, my sales are starting to go up, and I'm just barely starting to implement the skills I've learned.

[Nathan Alexander]

Does anyone else skip around with who their "current" favorite is? I always have one or two, then I read this thread and go home and change my mind because I get all excited again about those resources.

Definitely Joe Sugarman's stuff. His book "Triggers" I think it's called is also somewhat contained (if not almost entirely) in the Adweek book.

I going through Robert Collier's book slowly. That seems to be something you have to stay with to keep "in it" or I get lost.

Great stuff though.

[STKING]

My fav was mentioned at the beginning, "Tested Advertising" by Caples. This book will give you many ideas on headlines and how to write about anything to make it appealing. I've used it several times for articles and press releases. I hate to write, but you gotta in this biz.
In fact, I need to read it again b/c I get something new each time.
Happy writing.

[dwilk12]

I've read alot of great books but this one comes close to the best. Presented in an easy to read format and chapters that unlock the next as you read.


"The Lazy Man's Way to Riches"

-by Joe Karbo

[igorhelpsyousucceed]

I highly recommend "Ogilvy on Advertising" by David Ogilvy

and also "The Ultimate Sales Letter: 3rd Edition" by Dan Kennedy

Great and affordable. Tons of Value

Igor

[TrinitydelaCruz]

Haha, what a boat load of book recomendations.

I know Gary Halbert speaks so highly of fictional books to improve copywriting skill. And there was this one series that he read pretty much religiously. Can anybody help me remember it pls? Thx!

[Kym Mulcahy]

Hi Everyone

Wow. What a great list of reading material! I am a great believer in life-long learning and this thread alone gives us enough resources to keep us busy for years.

I am currently reading Joe Vitale's Hypnotic Writing (been around forever, but is constantly revised and up to date), and can thoroughly recommend it. Joe encourages you to write from a positive perspective and also teaches you how to tap into your 'inner' writing talents. As many creative writers are aware - this is the secret to harnessing your natural abilities and enabling your words and story to flow easily.

Another good resource I refer to is John Carlton's blog (marketingrebel.com) He gives away plenty of free information such as mini tutorials and extra bonuses to his subscribers. Well worth checking out.

Happy Reading Guys!

[vinild]

What do you guys think about Marlon Sander's program on salescopy at salescopy.com?

Never heard of anyone mention him on this forum.

[jasondinner]

Originally Posted by dwilk12

I've read alot of great books but this one comes close to the best. Presented in an easy to read format and chapters that unlock the next as you read.

"The Lazy Man's Way to Riches"

-by Joe Karbo

The Lazy Man's Way To Riches really works. Especially when you couple
it with its companion, The Roadmap To Riches Workbook.

Talk about great copy.

"Only 23 Steps To Success" lol

Makes it sound so easy.

Plus, it's right in line with "the all time must read once a year for the rest of your life" book,

"Think AND Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill

If you have never read that, get it now on amazon.

If you've read it, read it again.

The audio book of the revised edition is great too.

- Jason

[debukur]

Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye

Joe Sugarman's books have a more modern feel to them
than many of the classics mentioned here - even though
he wrote them in the days before the internet he
was dealing with technological innovations. One
year he was selling calculators for $200 a pop and
the next year better calculators were $40 - kinda
like the Internet Marketing phenomenon where information
that sells for $1000 today is given away next year.

Loren, are you refereeing to Sugarman's "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook" or "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word"?

[Loren Woirhaye]

Originally Posted by debukur

Loren, are you refereeing to Sugarman's "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook" or "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word"?

They are the same book. I've read that the Adweek handbook has some
newer content, but it's only available in paperback. "Advertising Secrets"
is one of the nicest bound books I have - it's really a pleasure to own
and handle and read over and over. If you are just after the information
and don't take much pleasure in nice books, get the "Adweek" paperback.

[Loren Woirhaye]

I recently read Drayton Bird's "How To Write Letters That Sell" -
it's quite good for letters - not space ads, not the sort of thing
here you have to scream for attention. Very old-school in many
ways, but very insightful too. A good companion to Robert
Collier's "Letter Book"

Recommended, but it doesn't focus much on headlines like
a lot of copywriting books that are more applicable to space
ads (like Sugarman's and Schwab's).

The line between letters and space-ad methods is somewhat
blurred on the internet. You should really learn about both
styles IMO.

[frankgotgame818]

One book that has helped me is more about direct mail but with enough copywriting tips that made it worthwhile for me. Secrets of Successful Direct Mail by Richard V Benson, available via bottomlinesecrets.com

Recently in a used book store I found an old book by Marcia Yudkin called Persuading on Paper. The book is slightly over 10 years old but still has enough copywriting ideas & concepts that I have found useful and helpful.

[TPL001]

Another recommendation is Wunderman, Lester: "Being Direct: Making Advertising Pay". he calls himself Mr Direct Marketing. This is a business autobiography, similar to Claude Hopkin's "My Life in Advertising". And it is full of great gems. It is just that the lessons are not systematically laid out like any of the above mentioned books on copywriting.