The Best Sales Books of All Time: Top 1O Reads for Sales Professionals

Whether you’re embarking on a new sales career or are a veteran looking for ways to sharpen your skills, one of the best pieces of advice is to learn from those with more experience.

And when it comes to learning, you can never go wrong with a good book!

 

Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best sales books of all time for your perusal. From psychology and data science to finding new prospects and shaping new sales strategies, this list covers it all.

Read on for some great recommendations!

 

 

Top 10 Books on Selling

The following list is composed of some of the most highly-rated titles from Amazon and Goodreads, each covering a distinct part of the rich tapestry of sales.

In this list of top sales books, we’ve included short summaries of each so that you know what to expect.

 

You may not find that every title on this list appeals to you specifically. Nonetheless, we hope that you’re able to find at least one good read in this list of the world’s greatest sales books.

 

1. To Sell Is Human, by Daniel H. Pink

If you’re searching for insightful books on how to sell, you can’t go wrong with To Sell Is Human. 

Pink’s practical advice will help you not only as a salesperson but in life, helping you to communicate yourself more clearly, increase your influence, and persuade others to see your point of view.

 

This book is filled with groundbreaking sales solutions that will soon become an integral part of your toolkit.

To hear more about this must-have book from the author himself, check out the below interview!

 

2. The Science of Selling, by David Hoffeld

Another fantastic entry on this list of the best books for sales, The Science of Selling encourages an approach to sales based on psychology, behavioral economics, and more.

The best salespeople are the ones who have a thorough understanding of the human mind; they know how their customers tick, and they use that knowledge to their advantage.

 

And, with a little help from David Hoffeld, you’ll be able to make the most of it, finding ways to overcome objections, reduce competition, and secure customer loyalty, all using science.

 

3. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Dr. Robert B. Cialdini

Dr. Robert Cialdini’s Influence is another entry with a heavy focus on the power of psychology in sales, but its lessons can be applied in everyday life, too.

Knowing how to influence a person is an essential part of being in sales.

 

And in his national bestselling book, Dr. Cialdini describes exactly how this can be done, providing a thorough explanation of how psychology drives our decision-making process.

After reading this book, you’ll feel as if you truly know your prospects and will be better placed to sell to them.

 

4. The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Anthony Iannarino

No list of the best books about sales would be complete without Anthony Iannarino’s The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need; according to countless reviews, this bestseller is exactly what it says on the tin!

Iannarino’s book acts as a comprehensive guide to the world of sales, covering everything from increasing your own resolve and determination to navigating the sales discovery process, and much more.

 

With over two decades in sales himself, Iannarino is the perfect guide, making his book an essential addition to your bookshelf.

 

5. Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal, by Oren Klaff

The pitch is one of the most important parts of the sales process. It allows you the opportunity to make a connection with your prospect and demonstrate to them that your product is precisely what they need to fill their needs.

As such, this list of good books for sales wouldn’t be complete without Oren Klaff’s Pitch Anything. Klaff outlines a scientific approach toward the sales pitch, providing you with a formula for success.

 

After reading this book, you’ll never again be at a loss during a product presentation.

 

 

6. Little Red Book of Selling, by Jeffrey Gitomer

If you’re not a big reader, then Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Red Book of Selling is the perfect entry in our list of best-selling books on sales.

Keeping things short and sweet, with punchy little chapters and charming illustrations, this fantastic little book holds a wealth of advice on:

 

• Handling complaints;

• Getting meetings with decision-makers;

• Networking;

• Coming up with creative sales pitches.

 

The Little Red Book of Selling is an absolute must-have for those looking for a quick but insightful read to help sharpen their sales skills.

 

7. Own Your Niche, by Stephanie Chandler

Finding your niche is an essential part of sales. When you know who your target audience is, you can market yourself more effectively, generating exposure and increasing the likelihood of drawing in a loyal clientele.

But how do you go about branding your company?

 

In Own Your Niche, this is the question Stephanie Chandler sets out to answer, as she teaches you how to make the most of internet marketing and essential sales tactics.

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to get to grips with marketing in the age of the internet.

 

8. Heart and Sell, by Shari Levitin

Handling objections is one of the most challenging parts of being in sales, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t include a book on this topic in this list of the best books about selling.

In Heart and Sell, Shari Levitin draws on years of sales experience to demonstrate how salespeople can handle objections effectively, without losing sight of that all-important human connection.

 

Levitin combines this approach with powerful objection resolution strategies that will help you handle practically any complaint. 

 

9. Sell or Be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and in Life, by Grant Cardone

Grant Cardon is without a doubt one of the biggest names in the sales business.

In Sell or Be Sold, he shares a few tips of the trade that helped him reach that position while also demonstrating how you can apply these techniques to your life more broadly.

 

Indeed, this book won’t just help you become a better salesperson; it will also help you further your career, and can even help your success in love.

Want a sample of Cardone’s wisdom before committing to a purchase? Check out the talk below.

 

10. Winning with Data, by Tomasz Tunguz and Frank Bien

As our technology develops and fields such as data science grow by leaps and bounds, it’s no wonder that the sales sphere is becoming increasingly data-driven—and with good results.

In Winning with Data, our final entry on this list of top sales books of all time, authors Tunguz and Bien talk you through all you need to know to help you build a successful data-driven company.

 

With their help, you’ll learn how to make powerful, effective decisions with a solid basis in facts and statistics.

 

 

Which of These Books About Selling Intrigues You the Most?

No matter how experienced a salesman you are, you should always be looking for ways to hone your craft.

One of the absolute best ways to do so is by hearing from those with more experience than you and learning what has and hasn’t worked for them over the years.

 

With that in mind, this list of best books for salespeople is a great place to start! Any of these suggestions would make a great addition to your bookshelf and would be bound to greatly improve your sales game.

The only question is—where will you start?