The best 83 Sales books

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.

Services represent a significant and growing portion of the modern economy, yet marketing them remains a mystery. Selling the Invisible (1997) serves as a guide for promoting the intangible. It outlines how to set up a marketable service company, and how that business can then be advertised and promoted.

The Long Tail challenges existing notions of the market and the entertainment industry by looking at the massive influence of the internet on the economy. Due to new modes of content creation and distribution, it can be more profitable to offer a large number and wide variety of products that appeal to niche consumer groups rather than one certain “hit,” e.g., a blockbuster or bestselling book.

Trust Agents describes how anyone can use the web to become a trust agent – meaning someone who is well-versed in the tools of the web and who is very influential and trusted because of this.

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.

This book shows you how to craft messages and ideas that stick in the minds of your audience because they are Popular, Original and Pithy. Author Sam Horn offers a highly adaptable and systematic approach to creating pitches, titles and taglines that grasp people’s attention and win them over to your brand, product or idea.

The Ultimate Sales Machine offers twelve key strategies for improving how we do business, as well as other methods and tools to help you work smarter and more effectively in all aspects of your business, from management to marketing and sales.

In The Greatest Salesman in the World, you’ll learn the unconventional secrets to becoming the best salesperson you can be. It turns out that the path to reaching sales targets doesn’t actually involve studying salesbooks or copying the methods of others. Rather, it’s about developing healthy habits and becoming a better person overall.

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.

In Agile Selling, you’ll discover how to boost your productivity and learn to thrive in any kind of sales environment. The book explores the strategies of great salespeople and how they adapt to new circumstances, and offers practical advice on how you too can become more adaptive in your business.

Sales strategies have changed. Instead of shilling “one-size-fits-all” products, today’s top sales reps excel by providing a customized solution to a unique problem. To do this, these sales reps follow the “challenger” selling model. In this book you’ll learn what this model is and how it can revolutionize your sales organization.

In Truth, Lies and Advertising (1998), leading account planner Jon Steel shares an insider’s insight into the world of advertising. For Steel, the creation of great ads is all about understanding the consumer, and his compelling behind-the-scenes anecdotes illustrate the role account planners play in developing a successful campaign.

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.

Predictable Revenue (2014) breaks open the secrets of the hugely successful SalesForce.com. You can’t bid for more investment if your future sales are a mystery, so follow the steps in these blinks to anatomize and optimize your salesforce and create real – and forecastable – leads that keep on coming.

Conversations That Sell (2013) reveals the changing nature of sales as its focus shifts away from waxing lyrical about a product to demonstrating a commitment to the needs of the buyer. From preparation to problem solving, these blinks guide you to a winning sales conversation and a strong sales career.

The Sell (2015) teaches you how to become a top seller in any business – and how to get ahead in business and life, too! The book is based on the author's own experiences of working his way up to becoming the number one real estate agent in New York City. Being successful isn't just about getting ahead at work – it's about living a positive and healthy life as well. These blinks will teach you how.

SPIN Selling (1988) distills the author’s 12 years of research and 35,000 sales calls into a coherent and applicable sales strategy that is guaranteed to bring success to any diligent salesperson. You’ll learn why traditional sales methods are limited while exploring the benefits of the SPIN strategy when approaching small and large sales opportunities.

These blinks explain how compensation can be optimized to motivate sales representatives and ensure the growth of the company. It offers advice on finding the right people, crafting a strong sales compensation plan that drives your team to hit their targets, and implementing that plan effectively.

Coaching Salespeople into Sales Champions (2008) is the sales manager’s guide to coaching salespeople and learning how to build powerful connections among your sales force. You’ll learn how to empower your team, let go of your fears and become a highly effective sales coach.  

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.

It’s hard to sell to people that you don’t know. Buyer Personas (2015) gives you the tools you need to truly understand your customers – their motivations, their quirks, their reservations – so that you can fine-tune your messaging to become a maximally effective seller.

Pricing For Profit (2013) is a practical strategy guide for pricing. These blinks use real world business examples to paint a comprehensive picture of how to optimize your pricing and maximize your profits.

Connect (2015) lays out the most effective ways to use LinkedIn’s potential to kick-start your marketing success. With the help of case studies, you’ll learn how to use LinkedIn as a valuable sales tool, host great webinars and turn your enthusiastic audience into new clients.

New Strategic Selling (1995) teaches you how to close sales in the most positive, beneficial way for both you and your buyer. Long-term success in sales is all about building relationships, satisfying your customers and identifying the key factors that influence the sale, and these blinks will set you on your way.

The Psychology of Selling (2004) will school you in the psychology of consumption. These blinks reveal the techniques used by outstanding salespeople – techniques that you can use to increase your sales performance in any market.

Words That Work (2007) is a guide to getting your point across more efficiently and effectively. These blinks explain the power of language and how it can help you in any number of situations, from business to political discussions to getting out of a traffic ticket.

Smart Calling (2010) is all about the art of cold calling, an important business practice that even seasoned salespeople dread. Many of us tend to associate cold calling with call center cubicles, boredom or manipulative strategies – but it doesn’t have to be this way. These blinks explain how you can overcome the challenges of cold calling to create a more pleasant and fulfilling experience for both you and your prospective customer, funder or employer.

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent (2004) is your guide to success in the real estate business. These blinks detail practical strategies for building a real estate empire from the ground up and keeping it profitable.

The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing (2010) reveals the fundamental importance of how you price your products. By exposing common misconceptions, explaining the three dimensions of effective pricing and the five steps you can take to achieve it, these blinks are an essential guide to maximizing your profits through clever pricing.

Targeted (2014) takes you on a journey from the early days of internet advertising to today’s complex online ad exchanges. On the way, the author reveals the vital importance of harnessing the power of Search Engine Marketing or SEM to target the consumers you need to make your company grow.

UnMarketing (2009) lays out a new approach to marketing that goes beyond typical methods like cold calling and ads. These blinks explain how, with the help of new, more sophisticated tools, businesses can build relationships with their customers to engage them in a more natural and effective way.

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.

Predictive Analytics (2016) provides a helpful introduction to a complex and fascinating field. Learn how data gets crunched so that people can make more informed decisions, a practice that has drastically altered the way the world conducts its research and runs its businesses. Siegel offers an enlightening glimpse at the wide-ranging areas that have been forever changed, from marketing to health care, banking to artificial intelligence.

What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School (1984) is an introduction to everything your professors don’t and can’t teach you at business school. Learn tips and tricks that only people with real job-market experience have in their arsenal, like how to make a good impression and how to leverage the concept of fear when making sales.

Sales Management. Simplified. (2016) takes a critical look at today’s troubled sales departments and offers a comprehensive plan on how to inject energy and vitality into your sales team. It runs through the most common and chronic problems and provides practical advice that any manager can follow to avoid pitfalls and turn a sleepy sales department into a strong and unified team.

Never Lose A Customer Again (2018) is full of sage advice for businesses seeking to provide superior customer experience. Whether your business is big or small, global or local, author Joey Coleman has got some words of wisdom for you. In addition to explaining why customer experience is so important, he details the many ways it gets overlooked. As Coleman makes clear, understanding the desires, fears and emotions of your customers will allow you to retain them and benefit from their support – and that will pay off in the form of major dividends.

The Heart of the Deal (2017) offers ambitious real estate agents guidance on how to make it in the industry. It’s packed with examples from the author’s own experiences so that you too can learn how to win over clients and achieve similar levels of success.

We’re thrilled to announce that the author has worked together with Blinkist to create this book-in-blinks for you.

Fanatical Prospecting (2015) is full of home truths and tips and tricks designed to help salespeople up their game – it’s the ultimate no-nonsense guide to salesmanship. The message is simple: If you want to make it as a sales superstar, you have to keep your pipeline full of leads. After all, no one’s going to hit a home run if they haven’t even made it up to the plate. Achieving this approach is exactly what these blinks will teach you how to do.

Talk Triggers (2018) reminds us of a truth so obvious it’s often forgotten: nothing drives customers through your doors as effectively as word-of-mouth recommendations. The trick is to strategically steer the conversation your way with carefully crafted talking points that set you apart from the competition. In these blinks, you’ll learn how to do this.

Objections (2019) explores the secrets behind turning around common sales objections. Drawing on insights from both the business world and psychology, it shows how you can transform even the most reluctant prospect into an eager buyer. 

Free Prize Inside (2004) provides practical answers to one of the most pressing questions facing marketers, entrepreneurs, and business owners today: In a world where people no longer pay attention to traditional advertising, how can you stand out from the crowd and reach your audience? Seth Godin shows that by tapping into the power of small-scale innovations, you can make your product, service, or company so remarkable, it will generate enough buzz to break through the noise of modern life. 

Profit First (2014) lays out the practical steps entrepreneurs can take to immediately see a positive difference in their bank accounts. These blinks explain how traditional accounting stands between businesses and the profits their owners dream of, and proposes a new approach that guarantees consistent profitability.   

Flip The Script (2019) helps you up your sales and negotiation game. Sales is all about the art of persuasion but we all know that nobody likes to feel manipulated. In order to sell your idea or product in today’s world, your buyers need to feel like they’re making that decision on their own terms. Flip The Script provides techniques that allow you to subtly convince anyone that your idea is the right one.

Every Job Is a Sales Job (2019) outlines why the art of selling is integral to your career, regardless of your profession. These blinks explore the benefits of integrating sales techniques into your daily interactions, and explain how to uncover hidden opportunities for selling.

They Ask You Answer (2017) describes a transformative new marketing philosophy. Rather than relying on flashy ads and keyword-stuffed articles, author Marcus Sheridan encourages companies to embrace quality online content that truly seeks to educate customers and win their trust.

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.

Follow Up and Close the Sale (2020) unpacks the psychology behind why buyers buy and the power of the follow-up to make more sales. It explores tried and true selling techniques for any sales situation, providing tools anyone can use to close the sale.

Marketing Made Simple (2020) is a handy guide to growing your brand. This practical manual teaches a five-point system for effectively funneling new customers to your business.

New Sales. Simplified. (2012) is a guide for those charged with finding new business. It takes a look at the fundamentals and offers actionable advice and techniques to the aspiring new business salesperson.

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.

How to Grow Your Small Business (2023) is your six-step flight plan to guide your business as it takes off. When Don Miller started to take his business to the next level, he realized no-one had written a reliable, step-by-step playbook for growth. Since then, his small home content business has expanded into a $20 million dollar company, so he wrote the book he wished he’d had. 

The 1-Page Marketing Plan (2018) is a streamlined, step-by-step framework for developing your own customized marketing strategy. With only one page, businesses can build and implement a marketing plan that attracts new customers and drives growth.

Unreasonable Hospitality (2022) illustrates how surpassing expectations can take your service-based business to the next level. Through a collection of anecdotes and firsthand experiences, it imparts valuable insights into customer service, as well as employee management.

$100M Offers (2021) is a guide to creating Grand Slam Offers – big-ticket products or services that sell themselves. By breaking down the psychology of pricing and perceived value, Alex Hormozi teaches readers how to differentiate and optimize their offer until it’s irresistible. 

The JOLT Effect (2022) promises to shatter your understanding of sales techniques. Grounded in decades of research, this enlightening guide reveals how tackling customer indecision, not status quo bias, holds the key to sales success.

Traffic Secrets (2023) reveals an explosive truth: your dream customers are primed and ready. Learn how to analyze your target audience, locate their hotspots, and capture them with evergreen growth-hacking strategies. This game-changing guide unveils precise techniques for driving consistent traffic to your funnels, laying the foundation for unstoppable online growth.

Expert Secrets is an accessible, intelligent roadmap to building a business using your unique knowledge and skills. Think you don’t have the qualifications, degrees, or certifications you “need” to start a business? You’re not alone, but you are wrong –⁠ in fact, anyone with the right amount of passion can start and run a thriving business, with the helping hand of a few expert secrets.

Sell Or Be Sold (2011) delves into the concept that everyone is involved in sales, regardless of their profession. It outlines strategies and mindsets that can transform both seasoned sales professionals and everyday individuals into persuasive communicators and successful negotiators.

Sell Like Crazy ( 2019 ) is a comprehensive guide that unveils step-by-step strategies for attracting your ideal customers and converting them into loyal, high-paying clients. It presents a proven blueprint for escalating your customer acquisition efforts and outlines a consultative approach to significantly enhance conversion rates.

Gap Selling (2019) challenges traditional sales techniques that have frustrated generations of salespeople. Dispensing with platitudes, it advocates techniques that create value and establish influence throughout the sales process. Liberating salespeople from the role of order-takers beholden to capricious buyers, it provides a bold new framework for sales success in the modern era. 

80/20 Sales and Marketing (2013) hands you a magic lens so you can zoom in on what truly matters in your business. Uncover how to focus just 20 percent of your efforts to unlock 80 percent of your profit. Get ready to amplify your impact and ditch the grind.

Elite Sales Strategies (2022) is a guide designed to catapult you from being a typical salesperson to a trusted consultant. It dives into the One-Up strategy that not only sells but also connects and provides value to clients.

$100M Leads (2023) is a proven playbook for attracting more leads than you’ll know what to do with. Through step-by-step frameworks and cutting-edge tactics, it shows you how to build self-sustaining marketing machines that convert at record rates.

Competing Against Luck (2016) challenges you to rethink innovation and growth through what is known as the jobs to be done theory. This transformative concept invites you to understand on a deeper level why customers make the choices they do, thereby helping you shape how you develop and market your products or services. Dive into a world where success hinges not on luck but on a profound comprehension of your customer’s true needs and desires.

Sales Pitch (2024) emphasizes the importance of distinctive marketing in a competitive marketplace. It offers guidance for entrepreneurs, salespeople, and business leaders on crafting compelling sales narratives – and provides a step-by-step method to help build a sales pitch structure that supports confident customer decisions and solid market positioning. 

Power Questions (2012) equips you with strategic questions to transform conversations, redefine problems, and forge deep connections in both professional and personal realms. It presents real-life dialogues with CEOs and influential figures, each demonstrating the impact of incisive questions – and teaches you to harness questioning as a tool for influence, understanding, and meaningful engagement.

Uncommon Service (2012) unveils an innovative approach to conquering the business world. It emphasizes excellence in customer service by making strategic trade-offs and focussing on what the customers value most.

Better Brand Health (2023) draws on decades of extensive academic research on brand management to offer practical insights and strategies for assessing and improving brand health.

Email Marketing Demystified (2015) is a comprehensive guide to building a substantial mailing list, crafting compelling copy, and generating increased sales through email marketing. It delves into strategies for capturing email addresses, engaging with subscribers effectively, and optimizing key metrics such as open rates and click-through rates to maximize marketing success.

CMO to CRO (2021) presents a groundbreaking approach to transform the role of the Chief Marketing Officer into a powerful force for driving revenue growth and delivering exceptional customer experiences. It offers a roadmap to breaking down departmental silos, aligning customer-facing teams around a common goal, and harnessing the power of CX technology to gain a competitive edge in today’s ever-changing business landscape.

Coach Builder (2024) presents an essential guide for professionals aspiring to transition into the coaching and consulting industry, offering an 8-step strategy designed to ensure success. It’s particularly valuable for those who have realized their current careers don’t offer the security or fulfillment they seek and are looking to leverage their expertise into a profitable consulting career. It outlines practical steps to establish a consulting business, from creating a service menu and attracting ideal clients to setting realistic goals and building supportive communities, making it an indispensable resource for aspiring coaches.

Linked (2022) offers practical advice on how to use LinkedIn effectively for career development. It provides strategic tips on optimizing profiles, engaging with the right networks, and unlocking new job opportunities through the platform. The guide emphasizes the importance of a well-curated online presence in today’s digital job market.

Quantum Marketing (2021) explains the revolutionary marketing strategies necessary for businesses to remain relevant in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. From managing the explosion of data to forging strategic partnerships, it offers a thought-provoking guide to navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by this new era of business.

Day Trading Attention (2024) explores innovative advertising strategies tailored to the digital age, emphasizing the importance of social media in building a brand. Geared toward helping you leverage content creation and distribution, it focuses on practical steps for harnessing the power of social media platforms to gain consumer attention effectively.

How to Master the Art of Selling (1979) provides a comprehensive guide to effective selling techniques and strategies. It emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics of selling to achieve success in the profession. 

Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT (2024) opens up new possibilities for online business using AI to streamline tasks and spark creativity. It shows you how ChatGPT can assist in automating your marketing, generating fresh ideas, and increasing productivity. This guide is your key to transforming AI into a valuable business partner.

Sell Like a Spy (2024) reveals how the clandestine strategies used by intelligence operatives to master the art of persuasion and negotiation can be applied to sales and client relations. It offers a unique blend of espionage lore and practical advice, transforming ordinary interactions into powerful opportunities for influence and success. 

Hook Point (2020) explores strategies for capturing attention in a world dominated by micro-attention spans, where content has only three seconds to make an impact. It introduces the concept of “hook points,” which are succinct, attention-grabbing messages that help brands stand out amidst the daily barrage of digital stimuli. Through real-world examples, it provides tools to effectively communicate and market content, ensuring sustained growth and brand recognition in both digital and offline spaces.

Hope Is Not a Strategy (2003) offers a strategic framework for handling complex sales, emphasizing that success depends on more than just closing skills. It outlines a six-step process for identifying prospects’ needs, qualifying opportunities, and building competitive advantages, all aimed at increasing sales effectiveness.

The Brand Benefits Playbook (2024) is a strategic guide tailor-made for organizations looking to harness brand benefits for a competitive edge in the marketplace. It emphasizes the crucial role of recognizing and clearly expressing both the tangible and intangible benefits a brand provides. Focusing on these benefits can greatly boost customer loyalty and strengthen brand positioning.

Cold Calling Sucks (And That’s Why It Works) (2024) equips you with practical strategies to conquer your fear of cold calling and thrive in sales. Through a step-by-step breakdown, industry-specific examples, and real-world data, you’ll learn how to master the first 60 seconds, overcome objections, and book more meetings. Embrace the challenge, and you might just find yourself among the top performers who succeed where others give up.

Etsy Empire by Eric Michael is a comprehensive guide to building a successful business on Etsy. It offers practical tips and strategies for creating a standout shop, optimizing product listings, and effectively marketing your products. Whether you're a seasoned seller or just starting out, this book provides valuable insights to help you grow your Etsy empire.

How to Become a Rainmaker by Jeffrey J. Fox is a practical guide for anyone looking to excel in sales and business. Filled with valuable insights and actionable strategies, this book teaches you how to identify opportunities, build relationships, and close deals like a true rainmaker. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this book will help you unleash your potential and achieve extraordinary success.