The phrase “Knowledge is Power” is usually attributed to Thomas Hobbes. However, variants of it stretch all the way back to the 10th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi and even the Book of Proverbs. Regardless of the phrase’s origin or age, it is absolutely true. Knowledge is the best tool in any marketer’s arsenal, which is why we have come up with our list of the top must-read marketing books of 2025.
Some of the books on the list are classics, while others are much newer. However, they all offer valuable lessons and insight into effective marketing and brand growth. We also tried to include books on a wide range of marketing subjects for a more well-rounded approach. Even if you are not a CMO or in a marketing department, they are still worth a read to understand what is a vital part of any business. So, without further ado, here is our list of the top must-read marketing books of 2025:
- How to Launch a Brand
- Dotcom Secrets
- Unreasonable Hospitality
- This is Marketing
- Play Bigger
- Epic Content Marketing
- The 1-Page Marketing Plan
Read on below for more detailed information on each book. All are available on Amazon, and we are not affiliate marketers, so we receive nothing from their purchase. We just want you to start off the year right, armed with the knowledge to up your marketing game.
How to Launch a Brand
“How to Launch a Brand” by Fabian Geyrhalter is a great read for entrepreneurs just starting out. When launching a business, many focus only on the nuts and bolts of products and supply chains. However, Geyrhalter hammers home the importance of building a strong brand identity early on. The book then guides the reader through a step-by-step process for creating a solid identity for their brand. While “How to Launch a Brand” was initially published in 2013, its lessons are still sound. With brand identity playing a stronger role in customer purchasing decisions than ever, it is also timely. Read our blog post for more on why building an authentic brand identity is so important.
Dotcom Secrets
Most new business launches are completely e-commerce or have a strong online sales component. If yours is among them, “Dotcom Secrets” by Russell Brunson is worth reading. Instead of providing a bunch of questionable “hacks” on increasing web traffic and conversion rates, Brunson zeroes in on the importance of your sales funnel. Creating an effective sales funnel or fixing an existing one is a vital step, and “Dotcom Secrets” walks readers through how to build one. It is an excellent must-read marketing book for any entrepreneur about to launch a business or looking to increase revenue. For a quicker read, check out our blog post on optimizing your digital sales funnel.
Unreasonable Hospitality
To the uninitiated, Will Guidara’s “Unreasonable Hospitality” might seem solely focused on the restaurant industry. After all, it inspired the television series “The Bear,” which revolves around his experience transforming Eleven Madison Park. However, the book offers important lessons about service and leadership that apply to any business. At its core is the notion that we are all in the hospitality industry and can transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences for our customers. Regardless of our position at a company, we can find magic in what we do for ourselves, the people we work with and those we serve. While the book isn’t a how-to or filled with tips, it will definitely generate the right mindset for creating a customer-focused business.
This is Marketing
Seth Godin has been publishing books for years, but “This is Marketing” has become a cult classic among marketers. The book’s biggest reason for success is its message. Instead of using customers to solve a company’s problems, Godwin says marketers (and companies) should solve customers’ problems. True marketing is about building genuine connections with people, identifying their problems and giving them solutions. While that might sound a bit fluffy, we have found it is truly the best way to create long-term customers and increase sales. For that reason, “This is Marketing” lands on our list of must-read marketing books for 2025.
Play Bigger
“Play Bigger” is unique because it was written by the four founders of the Silicon Valley category design firm of the same name. Its central tenet, creating your own category and dominating it, is also unique. The authors of “Play Bigger” say the key to radical success is finding or creating a new marketing category, developing it and then dominating it. Giants like Ikea, Amazon and Uber have all used this concept to great effect. Instead of trying to beat the competition at an “old game,” they created a new one. “Play Bigger” is definitely worth reading, as we have seen multiple startups enter a crowded market, struggle to differentiate themselves and ultimately fail.
Epic Content Marketing
Here at Kahn Media, we are big believers in the power of content marketing. In fact, we have an entire in-house team dedicated to creating epic video, photographic and written content that connects with your customers. Joe Pulizzi is another big believer in content marketing as one of the best ways to attract and build genuine connections with your customers. He wrote “Epic Content Marketing” back in 2013, and it still provides a solid base of knowledge for understanding the power of content marketing and SEO. Geared for entry-level marketers, it is an ideal marketing book for any small business owners or entrepreneurs.
The 1-Page Marketing Plan
We can’t stress enough the importance of having an over-arching marketing strategy instead of a series of random marketing acts. In fact, strategy development is among the most popular services we offer. Allan Dib agrees, and the importance of having an overall marketing plan is central to his book, “The 1-Page Marketing Plan.” Creating a marketing plan can be a long and complex affair, leading to a bloated effort that never gets effectively enacted. However, Dib throws that “big-business” process out the window and says the simplest marketing plans are usually the most successful. As its title suggests, “The 1-Page Marketing Plan” divulges strategies on how to greatly simplify your marketing plan to make it fit on one page. It is a great marketing book to read in 2025 for anyone looking to keep their business nimble and profitable.
We Can Help
Another great resource for marketing professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders is “The New Rules of the Road: How to Navigate the Rapidly Changing Marketing Landscape.” Written by our founder and CEO, Dan Kahn, it draws on his 20-plus years of marketing experience and is an effective guide to the constantly changing modern marketing landscape. Available on Amazon, it is an excellent read for anyone looking to elevate their marketing efforts in 2025. Read our blog post for a preview of the many changes currently affecting the marketing landscape.
Reading multiple books might not be the best strategy if you need marketing help right now. At Kahn Media, we are here to help. As a full-service marketing agency, we can assist your brand with public relations, influencer relations, social media management, content creation, digital marketing, experiential events, strategy development and more. We have in-house teams that are experts in their fields and can assist with individual services or act as a turn-key marketing department. Contact us today to see what is possible.