The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
by Strunk and White

I first read this beautiful little writing manual when I was a journalism and advertising major at Temple University. It is a classic in the field, and it will teach you how to write with precision and effectieness. It is truly a timeless guide that should be on the desk of anyone who writes as part of their job. (And yes, the second author is E.B. White, who wrote Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little and other great books.)

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

Clear, concise guide to writing ads, direct mail, brochures and more. Includes helpful checklists and other resources. I refer to this before writing any major promotion piece, including direct mail, brochures and even banner ads.

Quotable Quotes
by Reader's Digest

People love reading quotes! And this handy, thorough guide contains over 200 pages of quotes you can use in your ads, newsletters, direct mail and e-mail signatures. Arranged and indexed by subject, making it easy to tie quotes directly to your topic.

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
by WIlliam Zinsser

I often ask writers whose work I admire who their favorite author is of books on writing. William Zinsser's name is the one who comes up most often. This is an excellent book for improving your overall writing skills, and will help you write your marketing materials as well. Plus: It's a fun read!

Comedy Writing Secrets, 2nd Edition: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It
by Mel Helitzer

Some of the funniest ads I ever wrote for Lapidary Journal marketing were inspired by reading this gem. It teaches you why people find specific things to be "funny," and how to spike your writing with the elements of funny material.

Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing
by Harry Beckwith

If you've read any of my material, you know I believe that successful selling involves understanding why people value what they buy. This absolute GEM of a book teaches you how to make a memorable impact on your customers. This is the first in a series of books by Harry Beckwith that I have read and highly recommend.

What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business
by Harry Beckwith

Another phenomenal book by Beckwith. In this book, he focuses on helping you learn more about what clients truly value in those they buy from. It changed my mind about how I was approaching the marketing of my products and services, what kinds of people to hire, and can help you take massive action to build your business.

You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself
by Harry Beckwith

When you recognize that prospective clients are buying YOU along with the products and services you sell, you will be well-prepared to take advantage of all of the wisdom in this perfect book. I've listened to the audio book twice, and read the book once -- I've made many times the purchase price by following the excellent advice in this book.

Guerrilla Marketing for the Nineties: Revised Edition
by Jay Conrad Levinson

Good primer that will teach you specific tactics for accomplishing a variety of typical marketing tasks. Covers things like face-to-face selling, advertising, direct mail, classified advertising, signage, newspaper and magazine advertising and more. The affiliated website is www.gmarketing.com.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen Covey

Learn why goal-setting is so important, how to plan, how to schedule a busy life with many roles and more. The business-related website is www.franklincovey.com.

How to Win Friends & Influence People
by Dale Carnegie

One of the best-selling books of all time on how to relate effectively with others. This will teach you how to listen better to your customers and motivate your employees if you have them. It is also an essential guide on how to handle conflict. I credit this book with helping me directly grow my business, and I use it in my coaching of others, as well.

The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
by Timothy Ferris

When a trusted friend told me to go out and buy this book, I thought he was crazy. A four-hour workweek? While I haven't gotten there yet, I did read this book cover to cover in one day, dog-eared many pages and have used the bits of wisdom in it to radically transfrom how I go about every hour, every day and every week. It is highly recommended.

Think Big, Act Small: How Americas Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive
by Jason Jennings

The author of this book (I used the audio version and that's what is shown at left) is one of the best business writers and thinkers of our time. I first came across one of his articles about the success of companies who did NOT lay off employees in bad financial times, and his analyes of what makes companies great is inspiring, relevant, helpful and true. Enjoy this gem.

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
by Spenser Johnson, MD

I have to admit that I resisted buying this book for a long time after it came out. And then I read it on the beach one day and it truly changed how I think about change. I highly recommend it because, in the author's classic style, you will learn, quickly and easily how to recognize, accept and smoothly adapt to the inevitable changes of business and life.

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of Americas Wealthy
by Thomas Stanley and William Danko

This book impressed me so much I told my friends about it. Almost all of them already had read it! Outstanding summary of the surprising research on high net worth people, how they get that way, and how they stay that way. I listened to the audio book, and that's what I'm recommending to you.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
by Robert Kiyosaki

What The Millionaire Next Door discusses as an academic study, Robert Kiyosaki covers through autobiographical stories and the "case study" method. He is the hugely popular and successful author, speaker, and creator of a game that teaches personal finance. The book made a tremendous impression on me and makes an excellent case for focusing on correct financial thinking and principles to get ahead and stay there.

Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised
by Napoleon Hill

This is the classic book you've heard about. Napoleon Hill studied the most successful businesspeople of his time, and this book are the secrets of how the wealthy aquire wealth and grow their businesses. There is excellent information in this classic on how to set goals, and focus the correct activities on making them happen. Includes information on forming a "MasterMind" group.

The Courage to Be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance
by Suze Orman

I am a big fan of Orman's approach to personal financial management and wealth building. There is a lot of common-sense advice contained in this book that will impact you on both a personal and a professional level. The discussions about the emotions behind money management, and the exercises she provides are all worth many times the cost of the book.