The best 37 Neuromarketing books

Influence (1984) explains in detail the fundamental principles of persuasion. How do you get people to say yes? How do other people get you to say yes? How are you manipulated by sleek salesmen, clever marketing folks and sneaky confidence tricksters? These blinks will help you understand the psychology behind their techniques, enabling you to unleash your own persuasive powers, while also defending against their tactics of manipulation.

Smarter Not Harder (2023) is a guide to biohacking your metabolic, neurological, and epigenetic systems. It will show you how to maximize your well-being by making your Meat Operating System, or MeatOS, do what you want it to do by doing less – by doing things smarter, not harder.

In Fascinate, author Sally Hogshead helps us realize our potential for fascination. By explaining in vivid language exactly how fascination works and how you can trigger it in others, Fascinate provides you, your company and your brand with the tools to fascinate. These “seven triggers of fascination” can help you to increase the odds of success, both in your personal life and in business.

Influencer (2007) distills the essence of how influence works. In addition to providing examples of real people who are highly adept at affecting change, the authors present information rooted in psychology research and give you the tools you need to increase your influence over others.

To Sell Is Human explains how selling has become an important part of almost every job, and equips the reader with tools and techniques to be more effective at persuading others.

These blinks explain why traditional marketing no longer works, and why to be successful you need to build Purple Cows, remarkable products and services that stand out of the crowd. They also explain how you can reach your target market once you’ve found your own Purple Cow.

Selling with Noble Purpose (2013) is about finding the right balance between making money and doing something meaningful with your life. It allows you to reframe your work by focusing your intention on the customer and how they truly benefit from your product. It’s a perspective that also keeps employees happier, more motivated and effective. Selling doesn’t have to be focused on profits and greed; it can also be about making the world a better place.

The Science of Selling (2016) is a detailed handbook on the science of making a sale. Combining insights from neuroscience and social psychology, this guide presents an evidence-based approach to making a convincing pitch.

Made to Stick explains why some ideas become popular, while others wither and die.

The book lays out the most important characteristics of “stickiness”; that is, what makes ideas “stick” in the mind, and how to make them work for you.

Subliminal (2012) shows us as we are, under the bonnet. It’s about how the unconscious mind is in charge, working away like an efficient yet imperfect machine, while we go on with our lives unaware. The reader finds studies, examples and anecdotes about the peculiarities of the unconscious mind, such as the pitfalls of memory recall, choosing a mate, buying a stock or scheduling a project. These are mined from historical events, science experiments and the authors’ own experiences, as well as from his friends in the scientific community.

Branding Between the Ears (2021) explores how marketers can apply the latest scientific insights to their branding strategy. It explores how the human brain responds to advertising, and how consumers really make the decision to buy or not to buy.

Alchemy (2018) makes a case for irrational thinking in a world enraptured by logic. Drawing on his first-hand knowledge of the advertising industry and insights from behavioral psychology, Rory Sutherland argues that the world is far too complex to be viewed through a single lens. To solve everyday problems, we must move past superficial analysis and open ourselves up to even the most seemingly nonsensical ideas – which often turn out to be very powerful. Only then can we be true alchemists. 

The Art of Influencing Anyone provides detailed information on how to influence people to do what you want. An invaluable read for salespeople, it is also useful for anyone who wants to learn how to sound more convincing and persuasive.

Unconscious Branding (2012) reveals how marketers can tap into our subconscious, encouraging our participation in and support of company brands. In just seven steps, you’ll discover new strategies to guide your own company toward developing a brand with which customers can build a genuine relationship.

All Marketers Are Liars explains how telling your customers authentic, meaningful stories about your business helps you sell your products and build a strong, long-lasting relationship with them.

Brainfluence (2012) explores the unconscious thoughts and motivations that influence our decision-making process, and offers tips and tricks on how savvy marketers can exploit them. By understanding the mechanisms that cause us to buy (or not buy), you can increase your sales while keeping your customers happier.

The Science of Why (2015) is an insightful and sometimes surprising guide to a question that only the best marketers can answer: why does a customer buy? Read through these blinks to explore the various types of consumers in the marketplace, and give your own marketing greater depth and perspective.

Day in and day out we’re bombarded by thousands of brand images, logos and commercials enticing us to buy their products. However, only some ads actually motivate us to whip out our wallets. Why? Using cutting-edge neuromarketing methods, Buyology answers that question and explores the hidden motivations behind our purchasing decisions.

Drunk Tank Pink probes the hidden psychological and social influences that shape the way we see, think, feel, and act in the world.

By drawing from brain research and innovative marketing techniques, Neuromarketing (2002) offers insights into how we make buying decisions. Understanding the brain’s ancient decision-making processes will equip you with the tools necessary to close deals and motivate people.

Cashvertising (2009) shows how you don’t need a million dollar ad campaign to bring in the customers. All you need to know is how and why we make buying decisions. Full of instantly actionable tips, this book tells you everything you need to know about how to turn your ads into profits.

The Brain Sell (2013) reveals innovative tactics that’ll help marketers draw in customers by using the powers of neuroscience. These blinks explore strategies of psychological marketing, body language and sensory allure that every retailer should know, and that every customer should know how to avoid!

How can you get people interested in your brand in an age of ad-blockers, vanishing attention spans and colossal consumer choice? Paid Attention (2015) discusses the fast-changing media landscape, and maps out strategies for success that reach beyond banner placement and pop-ups.

Small Data (2016) is a guide to utilizing minor details about people’s lives to connect with them and sell them on your brand image. These blinks incorporate observations of cultures all over the world to point to the emotions and desires that help brands become household names.

The Hidden Psychology of Social Networks (2020) describes how brands can create effective and authentic content by understanding the basics of human psychology. Drawing on Freudian psychoanalysis, it gets to the bottom of our online habits and shows brands how to connect with people on a deeper level.

Guy Kawasaki’s Enchantment teaches you how to change the hearts, minds and actions of the people around you, turning them into spirited advocates of your cause. It also provides key steps on the path to building a lasting fascination with your product and company, as well as useful advice on how to resist the enchantment of others.

Eating the Big Fish (2009) gives a strategic overview of how second- and third-tier brands can challenge industry leaders and climb to the upper echelons of the business world. These blinks are full of concrete advice to help emerging brands make a name for themselves in competitive markets.

You May Also Like (2016) dives into the ever-changing world of taste, or what you like and why you like it. Trying to guess whether a consumer will enjoy a movie or buy a product is both tricky science and big business, as a myriad of different factors influences the decisions you make daily.

Why We Buy draws on observations of real shoppers' behavior to understand the way people make purchases. It presents advice on how to design and tweak stores to optimize the shopping experience for customers, and thereby increase sales.

Priceless (2010) explores the psychological reasons behind the value and price we give to things. Through numerous experiments and case studies in pricing, the author explains how prices influence our purchasing decision and exposes companies that use pricing to increase profit.

Brandwashed explains the different psychological effects that influence our buying decisions and shows how marketers use them to sell their products. Brandwashed reveals the marketing tricks of the world’s largest companies, which play an increasingly important role in our everyday lives. Lindstrom’s exposé will help you to avoid manipulation the next time you go shopping.

The Global Code (2015) is about a recent worldwide phenomenon: a global unconsciousness, or code, that contains a new system of values, beliefs and principles. This code is formed and shared by the Global Tribe, a highly mobile and cross-cultural group of people who are setting trends, shaking up the old status quo and becoming the target demographic for global luxury brands.

The Attention Merchants (2016) details the history of the fascinating field of advertising. These blinks will teach you all about the “attention industry,” offering a historical account of how advertising has arrived at its modern incarnation.

Twitter Is Not A Strategy cuts through the mess of hashtags and handles to get to the meat of effective marketing, outlining the core principles that make up the foundation of a successful company brand. Although social media is all the rage, this book shows that traditional marketing still matters, and that the secret to success is – as it always has been – having a good brand idea.

Cool (2015) explains how a social desire to fit in and be acknowledged propels humans to consume. Drawing on everything from neuroscience to evolutionary biology to economics and history, Cool explains why the drive to buy is natural.

Cheap is an investigation of the prices we truly pay for low cost items. It outlines the history of America’s obsession with finding bargains and cheap goods. Cheap also explains how humans are irrational, and how companies manipulate us into buying things we don’t need or even want. Our thirst for cheap products is hurting the entire globe; we need to educate ourselves, stand up and do something about it.

Youtility (2013) goes against the grain of accepted marketing methods by declaring that information, not promotion, is the way to win customers. Counterintuitive and refreshing methods are presented, repositioning the relationship between businesses and consumers. The book outlines examples from a wide spectrum of companies, big and small, driving home the message that by helping people and being useful instead of chasing sales, companies can prosper in the long-term.