Ever wonder what kind of books book marketers read to sharpen their skills?

Marketing your book isn’t some talent you’re either born with or not. It’s not just about tactics or step-by-step blueprints, either. The truth is, marketing runs deeper than that.

Sometimes you need to take a step back and figure out what kind of marketer you are. Other times, you just need a better grasp of how readers think and what actually gets them to buy.

At different points in my career, I’ve leaned on all of the above. And along the way, I’ve picked up some excellent books that helped me grow as both a marketer and a self-published author.

So I pulled together a list of my favorites for you. They fall into three categories:

• Self-reflection and personal growth
• Practical book marketing tactics
• Broader marketing strategies that move books

Each one has something to offer, whether you’re just getting started or trying to level up. Because when it comes to marketing, there’s always something new to learn.

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Self-Reflection: Personal Growth as a Marketer

These aren’t your typical marketing books. They won’t walk you through launch plans or show you how to run ads.

Instead, they’ll help you figure out why you’re holding back from doing those things in the first place.

Fear. Doubt. Perfectionism. Imposter syndrome. Most of us deal with them at some point. And until you face that stuff head-on, it’s hard to market with confidence.

The books in this section helped me ask better questions, get unstuck, and show up like a real author-entrepreneur. If you feel like something’s in your way, they’re a great place to start.

Real Artists Don't Starve

Have you ever doubted yourself and your writing?

Thought sure, other people were successful, but you might not be capable of it?

I have…many times.

However, thanks to Jeff Goins, this book will help you see the value of your art, which builds more confidence in your product (which ALWAYS leads to better book marketing).

This is a must read for any artist out there.

Show Your Work and Steal Like An Artist

Yeah, these are two different books by Austin Kleon, but both are insanely valuable for the creative types struggling with the business mind.

Both books are amazing at helping you mend the bridge between art and business.

I have both next to my bedside as they are easy reads and full of fun visuals. I even bring them on camping trips to stash under my pillow.

Honestly, they help recharge my creative juices.

I Must Write My Book

I Must Write My Book by Honoree Corder is the exact book that my mother-in-law read and is using to get her over the hump and start writing.

Writing a book can feel like an incredibly difficult project and this fear will lead to losing traction.

We all come up with excuses or reasons to stop writing, but this book will help keep you on target and ensure you finally get that book inside you written!

Book Marketing Tactics

Ah, here comes the fun part: Book Marketing.

But rather than throw a bunch of general marketing books at you, I narrowed this list down with intention.

First, I included my go-to book for authors… the one by Tim Grahl. It’s practical, easy to follow, and tailored to what we’re trying to do.

Then, I added other picks that each focus on a specific tactic or channel. Email. Ads. Social. Positioning. Things that matter if you want to sell more books without wasting your time.

These aren’t meant to be read all at once. Skim the list. Pick the ones that match what you’re working on right now. And treat each one like a playbook, not a textbook.

Your First 1000 Copies

I've got to start with my all-time favorite book on Book Marketing 101 – Tim Grahl's Your First 1000 Copies.

Tim is a great book marketer who's worked with Hugh Honey and Daniel Pink to help promote and sell their books.

This is a very well designed book that gives actionable advice to help you sell your first 1000 copies, whether you're a beginner or advanced.

Write to Market

This book is a book after my own heart.

I'm a strong believer of Chris Fox's approach to the market and believe this particular tactic to book marketing research can help you get your book discovered by more readers, regardless of whether you're fiction or non-fiction.

This isn't about not writing the book you want, but it's about making sure you've got the right market in mind.

Prosperous Writer's Guide to Finding Readers

This is sort of a complete approach to platform building and fan gaining – something all authors should think about as they grow.

Starting with legit author branding tactics, developing fan relationships and exactly how to find the right fans to attract to your book.

Fully or great strategies as well as actionable advice created by three highly talented marketers, Honoree Corder, Brian Meeks and Michael Anderle.

Book Marketing is Dead

Years ago, when I first started self-publishing, I found this book by Derek Murphy.

I remember reading it in my apartment in Busan, South Korea and thinking “YES! This guy gets it.”

It was a unique way of breaking away from traditional book marketing tactics and looking at the ebook world in a new way.

It was instrumental in getting me started, and I think you should check it out as well.

How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis

You've probably seen me mention this book multiple times throughout Kindlepreneur articles, like how I used it to rewrite L.Ron Hubbard's book description or how to craftily create back book covers.

Well, there's a reason.

This is the best way for you to quickly master book descriptions.

And believe me, your book description plays a HUGE part in your conversions and sales.

Mastering Amazon Ads

You've probably seen my free course on Amazon Marketing Ads, and this book is the next step.

As a beta reader before it launched, I know firsthand that this book is worth getting.

Brian Meeks is a master at ads and has devoted a large portion of his time experimenting.

Be sure to join his Facebook group on Amazon Ads too.

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Marketing 101

These books aren’t about book marketing specifically. They’re about marketing, period.

But if you’re serious about selling books (or building any kind of online business), these principles matter.

Each book in this section covers a foundational concept that applies across industries. You’ll learn how to position products, influence decisions, understand buyer behavior, and think like a real marketer.

They may not talk about book launches or reader magnets. But once you read them, you’ll start seeing connections everywhere and you’ll understand why they belong in every author’s toolkit.

Tribes

One mistake many authors make is believing people become their fans just by writing good books.

But that's not true.

In order to build a ravenous following of superfans, it's not enough to just build a good product or book. You need more, and that's exactly what Seth Godin covers in this book.

It is real game changer and something I use in my email system, bio… pretty much everything about my online business.

This book will have you up at night referencing into the wee hours, so be sure to have your book light handy.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

This has quickly become my #1 recommended reading for anyone involved in marketing of any sort.

By diving deep into the things that make humans do things, we as marketers can start to see what ‘triggers' the buyer response.

Elements from this book are instrumental in creating book descriptions that sell, as well as autoresponders and landing pages that convert.

See My Book Recommendation in Action

It's a little old, but the video below (where I go into each of these books in more detail) is a great complement to this article if you'd like to learn more.

Want more videos like this? Then click HERE to subscribe to my YouTube channel

Did I Miss Any Must-Read Book Marketing Books?

As an avid reader, I'm always looking for new and better books to read or listen to. This, of course, is in-between my typical Sci-fi military book or Lit-RPG.

But if you know of any books I didn't mention above that I should consider, tag me at @Kindlepreneur on X/Twitter and let me know.

I'll check them out and update accordingly.