What You Should Read (If You Care About Copy)

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck

I believe excellent copy is just communicating with people in the most relatable way possible. You can learn strategies and techniques from all sorts of places, but the best thing to do is become an avid lover of humanity. Understand the mess of what it is to be a person living on the planet today and be curious about how to meet people where they’re at.

Mark Manson does this REALLY well.

This isn’t about copywriting, but it is about life (which just happens to be what inspires great writing).

Influence: The Psychology Of Persuasion

Handed to me by a business associate and initially sat by my bedside, unread, for months. I’m pissed I took so long to read it, but thanks to divine timing, it turned up just as I launched my TikTok account, and there are more than a few techniques in here that I’ve identified people using to go viral *cough—"Like for Part 2!”*

I’ve also linked to the Audiobook, which I hope makes it easier for you to find the time to digest this because it’s a fully-fledged meal of meaty tidbits, such as the art of ‘Buying People Lunch’ (i.e. creating a feeling of reciprocation) and building a sense of authority.

Damn Good Advice (For People With Talent)

A short, sharp read full of anecdotes from one of the fathers of the advertising’s Golden Age.

Buy for a nostalgia hit, looking back at major campaigns of yore and also for the tips about how to establish your value as a creative.

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be

I’ve thrown this in because it represents the power that one perfect line can have.

That title. How can you resist it? It grabs you by the eyelids and doesn’t let go.

My copy of this sits in my guest bathroom, which isn't a sledge on Arden's literary prowess.

Rather, it's a testament to my love of this book that I've positioned it so almost everyone who enters my home has no excuse for not at least glancing through it.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Want to:

Know what content people are more likely to share (and why?)

That’s in here.

Find out how to instantly make your audience happier without saying a single thing?

That’s in here.

Learn how to quickly make your customer (the audience) the ‘hero’?

That’s here to.

Essentially everything you need to become the next [insert current viral star of the last 20 seconds] is all here in this book.

And I’ve got the Audible link for you because I KNOW you’re multi-tasking right now.