8 All-Time Sales Books You Need To Read

Damon Williamson

Copywriter

December 13, 2021

6 min read

The sales world can be intimidating to approach at first – after all, you’re surrounded by thousands of people who have learnt the art of reading people and the science of persuasion. However, on the first page of every sales book you’ll discover what all successful salespeople know – men and women of sales are made, not born. Begin cultivating yourself into a sales machine today – here are 8 must-read sales books to help you get ahead.

1. The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes

Everybody wants to be the ultimate sales machine and Chet Holmes’ managing, marketing and sales tips will turn you into a powerhouse of sales, a production line of selling. Holmes’ book is going to be especially valuable for sales newbies as he dismantles many of the sales myths you might have heard. By doing so, he clears the path for a new form of sales and takes you on a powerful and compelling journey towards success.

2. Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar’s an old school salesperson, but his success both in books, lecture tours and on the sales floor speaks for itself. This book comes from the heart and it’s packed full of real life anecdotes – Ziglar’s humorous tales from sales are always relatable and informative. Everything Ziglar learnt he put into practice and the secrets of his enviable career are hidden herein.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

First published in 1936, this book is still a bestseller precisely because it’s a masterful introduction into the timeless topic of human psychology. “This is essential reading for the budding salesperson looking to understand how personality and charisma can combine into a persuasive phenomenon”, says Zina Lynch, a writer at PaperFellows and Write My Paper. “You’ll be applying Carnegie’s advice on and off the sales floor to great effect.”

4. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino

Mandino’s stellar hit The Greatest Salesman In The World is for those who are truly on a rise to sales stardom. This book stands out through the compelling use of allegory to craft a powerful narrative about sales techniques – by following the young character Hafid on his journey from poor desert nomad to ultimately finding huge success, you’ll discover mirrors in your own story.

5. Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath

Selling isn’t all about standing on the shop floor, making eye to eye contact with your customer. Maybe in the old days, but those days have changed. Konrath provides the manual for updated sales in this book that’s all about selling to the big boys. Despite this focus, Konrath’s philosophy of transitioning from pusher to valued commodity is applicable to anyone no matter what they’re selling.

6. Solution Selling by Michael T. Bosworth

Speaking of the changing landscape, if you’re struggling with selling then Bosworth’s Solution Selling is an unmissable read. Subtitled Creating Buyers In Difficult Selling Markets, this book is packed with actionable advice about how you can transform the market from the inside out. Stop waiting for buyers to come to you and start creating the demand for your products or services.

7. The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer

Gitomer’s Little Red Book has been found in the back pocket of many successful salespeople in its time and despite its petite size, this book is bursting with wisdom. “The reason Gitomer’s book is returned to again and again is because of his skill in articulating sales techniques in a way that resonates profoundly with the reader,” says Sebastian Sampson, a sales blogger at OXEssays and LiaHelp. “Gittomer distills the essence of sales into this book.”

8. Spin Selling by Neil Rackham

Spin Selling modernizes sales techniques for the 21st century, turning away from the traditional medium of sales wisdom – guesswork and anecdotes – towards a cold, hard foundation of science for its premises. This persuasive book is based in human psychology, revealing the objective truth about how to get ahead in sales.

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The recipe for sales success involves a dash of science, a pinch of psychology and a whole lot of work to get it right. Take your first steps towards sales success with this essential reading list of sales techniques and history.

About the author: Katherine Rundell is a sales writer at Buy an Essay and Do My Coursework. She has published in print and digital media and runs sales seminars where she shares her broad understanding of the business world. You can find more of her fascinating work at Essay Writing Service.