A Marketer’s Ultimate List of 16 Must-Read Books

Growing up, I used to hate reading.  And not in a typical all-kids-hate-books fashion.  I would actually avoid reading at all costs.

For book report assignments, I would purposely choose books that had movie adaptions.  Anyone ever read Hook… I mean, Peter Pan?

When I was 19 years old, I read a book that literally changed my life (listed below).  It had such a profound effect on me that it forged a habit of reading that I’ve carried out to this day.

Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of must-read books that have had significant effect on my life, both professionally and personally.

I’m happy to be sharing them here with you.

Business

1. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It – Michael E. Gerber

If I could go back in time and give my younger entrepreneur self any book, this would be it.  The E-Myth is an absolute must for anyone who wants to truly understand how to scale and automate.

2. The Magic of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz

Excellent primer on how to configure your mindset for success.  I read this book once per year.

3. The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk – Al Ries

This quick-read is a hidden gem.  The lessons taught about marketing are timeless and will always apply, no matter what business you’re in.

4. Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets – Michael Bosworth

This book was huge for me as it introduced a concept I apply on a daily basis: The Sales Cycle.

5. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

Recommended by my best friend, who is an absolute boss at team management.

6. CRUSH IT! – Gary Vaynerchuk

Highly motivating book for anyone interested in branding oneself and taking advantage of the incredibly fast and agile marketing environment we currently live in.

7. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done – Peter F. Drucker

Key takeaway from this one: your most important asset is time.  Track it, manage it, and don’t give it out without consideration.

8. A / B Testing: The Most Powerful Way to Turn Clicks Into Customers – Dan Siroker

If you’re into conversion rate optimization (CRO), then get this book right away.  Breaks down split testing simply, yet effectively.

9. Convert!: Designing Web Sites to Increase Traffic and Conversion – Ben Hunt

Every page on your site should have a purpose.  This book, combined with Solution Selling (#4), will help you tell a story with your website that visitors will relate to.

10. Start Your Own Corporation: Why the Rich Own Their Own Companies and Everyone Else Works for Them – Garrett Sutton

If you don’t have an LLC or have never considered incorporating, after you read this, you’ll be filing the next day.

11. Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes – Tom Wheelwright

I shit you not.  This book saved me $50k last year.

Check this video below, to get a list of 10 more books that will change your life.

Personal

12. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Steven Covey

This is the book that changed my life.  My parents died when I was young.  Needless to say, it affected me very harshly.  This book opened me up to the possibility that I’m actually in control of how I feel.

13. Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl

Written by a profound psychologist whom was incarcerated in three Nazi internment camps during WWII.  Frankl found happiness, despite his environment, through purpose.

14. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Really interesting take on the functioning of the human mind.  Once you understand the idea of a “flow state”, try to seek it everyday.

15. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment – Eckhart Tolle

Probably the best modern spiritual book that I’ve ever read.  Whether you believe in a higher power or not, this book will simply make you a better human.

16. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel – Rolf Potts

Learn how to evolve from a “tourist” to a “traveler” by immersing and getting lost in the uncertainty and character of long term travel.

Matt is the founder of Diggity Marketing, LeadSpring, The Search Initiative, The Affiliate Lab, and the Chiang Mai SEO Conference. He actually does SEO too.