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Recommend your favourite books on copywriting

Which copywriting books helped you learn the craft? Which books inspire you? Which books define you?

We’re creating a recommended reading list for copywriters – those books that can make you a better communicator, a better advertiser and a better marketer.

Please share your own favourites in the comments below.

You don’t have to choose books strictly about copywriting. You might want to recommend something about persuasion, digital media, content strategy, creativity – or any of the other skills that copywriters rely on.

So, what books would you recommend to copywriters?

Comments

31st October 2016

Helen Keevy

Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath is still one of my favourites

1st November 2016

Sarah Kelleway

‘Nicely Said’ by Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee

&

‘Copywriting: Successful writing for design, advertising and marketing’ by Mark Shaw

1st November 2016

Charlotte Fleming

The Freelance Writer’s Handbook by Andrew Crofts and Write to Sell by Andy Maslen have both been very helpful.

1st November 2016

Andy Nattan

The Human Freelancer – Chris Kenworthy
Write to Sell – Andy Maslen

1st November 2016

Derek Howie

A couple of people have already mentioned it, but I really liked Andy Maslen’s Write to Sell.

There have been countless others over the years, but two that stood out for me are Ogilvy on Advertising and Hey Whipple, Squeeze This.

1st November 2016

Mike Howell

Why I Write – George Orwell

1st November 2016

Leif Kendall

I love Ogilvy on Advertising,and Don’t Make Me Think, which is about web usability, but it’s incredibly relevant for copywriters working on the web.

8th November 2016

Marge Ainsley

Anything by Dave Trott.

10th November 2016

Clare Lynch

A Plain English Handbook: How to write clear SEC disclosure documents (free pdf)

Packed with useful business writing advice even if you aren’t about to submit a document to the US financial regulator. It’s also the source of our company name.

We’ve a list of the all the books and resources we recommend here:

https://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/38-powerful-writing-tools-and-resources/

9th February 2017

Mary Whitehouse

Another vote for Ogilvy on Advertising. A lot of it is very quaint now, but to learn about the craft of writing to sell, there’s no better guide. Great stuff from the age of Mad Men.

What do you think?

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