Books I’ve Reviewed And Rated As Worthy Of FIVE Stars
I read a lot of business books but I am a harsh reviewer.
I know the biggest investment you make in a book is not the money it costs to buy (unless it’s one of the Jay Abraham’s specials) but the time it takes you to read the book.
This cost is called an “opportunity cost” because it relates to what else you could have been doing with your time instead of reading.
It’s seems nearly every “expert” has now written at least one book or, at least, every one except me. There is now so much choice at Amazon that it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.
My aim is to narrow down your choice and for me, these five stars books are the “crème de la crème”. Five stars means excellent and these are very highly recommended to the appropriate people.
Not all of them are suitable to business owners because they are too specialised or too academic but my reviews try to make this clear when it’s appropriate.
This is a big category – Here are the links to page 2 – page 3 – page 4 – page 5 – page 6 – page 7 – page 8 – page 9
by Paul Simister
on February 8, 2019
The full title of this book by Dan Kennedy is
Magnetic Marketing: How To Attract A Flood Of New Customers That Pay, Stay, and Refer
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a Five Stars rating. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
Another tasty morsel from a master of direct marketing
Magnetic Marketing is the name of the author’s most famous premium priced course and it’s the one that has helped make his excellent reputation.
Kennedy didn’t invent direct response marketing – its origins go back at least as far as the late 19th century – but he’s done a great job of bringing it to the attention of business owners and entrepreneurs along with others including Jay Abraham. I’ve always felt Kennedy was stronger on the initial aspect of attracting new customers while Abraham was better at expanding the backend, that is the ongoing business with the customers. Books by both deserve a place on the bookshelf of a well read business owner. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on February 2, 2019
The full title of this book by Craig Simpson with Brian Kurtz is
The Advertising Solution: Influence Prospects, Multiply Sales, and Promote Your Brand
In my review of the book posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
I wish I hadn’t ignored this excellent book for so long after buying
I’m ashamed to say I bought this book in November 2016 and hadn’t even opened my Kindle copy until January 2019. Why? Well I tend to go on buying binges and there’s the constant risk I start my next buying binge before I’ve worked my way through my last purchases.
The problem was I don’t like the main title – The Advertising Solution – or the subtitle if I’m getting picky because it mentions brands. After I’d bought it, I’d forgotten it was based on the work of six direct response marketing legends. Nor did my unfamiliarity with the main author – Craig Simpson – help me. It became a book to read some time, not next [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on January 11, 2019
The full title of this book by David Garfinkel is
Breakthrough Copywriting: How To Generate Quick Cash With The Written Word
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
Important new structures for copywriting
I started listening to the author’s excellent weekly copywriting podcast because I thought I’d enjoyed his book. Then he started referring to ideas I was unfamiliar with and I discovered I’d bought the book several years ago but not actually read it.
I’ve quickly put this mistake right and I wish I hadn’t allowed myself to get distracted. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on September 13, 2018
The full title of this book by Michael Masterson and John Forde is
Great Leads: The Six Easiest Ways to Start Any Sales Message
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of 5 Stars. This means it is excellent and very highly recommended.
Here is my book review.
Very revealing guide building on Eugene Schwartz ideas
I was a fool. It has taken be more than 5 years to read this excellent copywriting book after buying it.
I’m struggling to justify it to myself. I read widely, not just copywriting or even marketing books but that’s no real excuse. The title perhaps undersells it and, back in July 2013, the book didn’t have all these glowing reviews. I buy a lot of books and kindle books can quickly drop outside of my eyesight unlike a physical book which nags away, demanding to be read. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on August 31, 2018
The full title of this book by Michael Masterson is
The Architecture of Persuasion: How to Write Well-Constructed Sales Letters
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my review.
Very interesting with an emphasis on the teaser, headline and lead
I read a lot of business books and especially about marketing. I have to admit many of them are quite dry and only appeal to my inner geek who wants more knowledge and understanding.
Thus book is different. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on July 9, 2018
The full title of this book by Sandy Steinman is
The Small Business Turnaround Guide: Take Your Business from Troubled to Triumphant
In my review of posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Five Stars. This means it is Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my review.
A very good book for helping under performing businesses
I feel this book gets off to a bad start by trying to be funny about a bad situation. It doesn’t create the right impression. It immediately corrects itself by saying there is nothing funny about a failing business.
Many turnaround books are written about big businesses but this one is aimed at owner managed businesses. It starts by giving you a pep talk. It’s going to be tough to turnaround your business but you can do it. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on July 1, 2018
The full title of this book by Hugh Davidson is
Offensive Marketing: Or How to Make Your Competitors Followers
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 5 Stars. This means it is Excellent.
Here is my review.
The first great marketing book I read
Back in the mid 1980s, this was the first great marketing book I ever read and I must have read it half a dozen times in total. I’ve also bought the two updates of the book.
This is the book that taught me the POISE acronym for marketing: [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 30, 2018
The full title of this book by Drayton Bird is
How to Write Sales Letters that Sell: Learn the Secrets of Successful Direct Mail
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my review.
An excellent book for people interested in copywriting
When I first became self employed, I decided I wanted to split my time between small businesses and bigger businesses who had challenging projects. My problem was how to reach the key executives in these bigger companies. LinkedIn didn’t exist back then and my answer was direct mail. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 6, 2018
When I reviewed this book by Jon McCulloch,
Why Your Copywriting Sucks
on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it a rating of Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
A fascinating book split into two parts
The author concedes too many copywriting books and courses are sold through hype and admits that the copywriting isn’t as important as the offer, the people who get to see the offer and any existing relationship.
The book is split into two sections and it’s almost as if these are two different books rammed together, the first for beginners the second for more advanced copywriters. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 3, 2018
The full title of this book by Constantinos Markides is
All The Right Moves: A Guide to Crafting Breakthrough Strategy
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
Should be seen as a classic strategy text
I bought this book when it came out and thought it was excellent.
I’ve recently gone back to it and hadn’t realised just how influencing it had been in my thinking about business strategy and development. [continue reading…]
