8 Business Writing Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Discover Business Writing Books recommended by Dan Schawbel, Kami Huyse & Lee Odden for clearer, persuasive communication

Dan Schawbel
Kami Huyse Social Media Strategist
Lee Odden
Douglas Burdett
Dickie Bush
Jeff Bullas
Updated on June 28, 2025
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What if I told you that mastering business writing could transform your career more than any other skill? In today’s fast-paced professional world, clear and persuasive writing is your gateway to influence, credibility, and success. Whether you’re crafting emails, proposals, or marketing copy, how you express ideas matters more than ever.

Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author, highlights the impact of practical tools like those found in Danny Rubin’s Wait, How Do I Write This Email?, which offers over 100 templates to boost networking and job search communications. Meanwhile, Kami Huyse, a community builder and PR strategist, praises Ann Handley’s Everybody Writes for its fresh take on digital content creation. Lee Odden, CEO at TopRank Marketing, underscores the value of Ann Handley’s guidance for anyone serious about business writing, emphasizing authentic audience connection.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific industry, experience level, and communication goals might consider creating a personalized Business Writing book that builds on these insights. Tailored content bridges general principles with your unique challenges, accelerating your learning journey.

Best for digital content creators
Lee Odden, CEO at TopRank Marketing and a seasoned digital strategist, endorses this book as a foundational resource for anyone serious about business writing. His expertise in content marketing underlines why Ann Handley’s guidance on creating clear, empathetic, and effective digital content resonates with professionals aiming to connect authentically with their audiences. Alongside him, Douglas Burdett, host of The Marketing Book Podcast, adds weight to the book’s authority within the marketing community. Together, their recommendations highlight the book’s practical impact on refining your writing skills for better marketing results.
KH

Recommended by Kami Huyse

Community Builder and PR Strategist CEO

@MarketingProfs I love that your book is SOLD OUT 🔥🔥@MarketingProfs Cue 🎶 This Girl is On Fire (from X)

Drawing from her extensive background as the world’s first Chief Content Officer and principal at MarketingProfs, Ann Handley reshaped how marketers think about writing in the digital age. This book breaks down the nuances of crafting content that not only attracts but holds your audience’s attention, offering updated frameworks and examples that reflect today's fast-evolving content marketing landscape. You’ll learn how to tailor your words with empathy and precision, mastering 19 specific content types marketers create, from emails to social media posts. If you’re aiming to improve your digital communication skills and want a clear, practical guide that respects your audience’s intelligence, this book is a solid match.

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Laura Brown, PhD, brings over thirty years of expertise teaching writing to corporate executives and students alike. Her extensive experience informs this book, which offers a practical seven-step approach tailored for today's digital business environment. Brown's guidance helps you communicate more effectively through emails, proposals, and presentations, making this a useful tool for anyone looking to strengthen workplace writing skills.
The Only Business Writing Book You'll Ever Need book cover

by Laura Brown, Rich Karlgaard··You?

2019·272 pages·Business Writing, Writing, Nonfiction Writing, Nonfiction, Communication

Laura Brown's decades of experience as a business writing coach shape this guide into a clear, effective resource for anyone aiming to communicate better at work. Through a seven-step method, you gain practical skills to craft concise emails, persuasive proposals, and compelling presentations. The book also covers digital communication nuances, such as instant messaging and web copy, with expert sidebars on editing and overcoming writer's block. If you want a straightforward approach grounded in real corporate needs, this book equips you to express your ideas clearly and confidently, whether you're drafting a résumé or managing daily correspondence.

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Best for personal writing mastery
This AI-created book on business writing is designed around your experience level, specific interests, and career goals. By sharing what topics you want to focus on, you receive a tailored guide that covers exactly the skills you need to advance. Personalizing the content ensures you spend time mastering relevant techniques rather than sifting through general advice. This approach helps you gain confidence and clarity in your writing by addressing your unique challenges and aspirations directly.
2025·50-300 pages·Business Writing, Professional Communication, Email Techniques, Proposal Writing, Persuasive Language

This tailored business writing book explores the full spectrum of writing skills essential for professional success, from foundational principles to advanced techniques. It examines clear communication methods, effective document structuring, and persuasive language use, all matched to your background and goals. By focusing on your specific interests, this personalized guide ensures you engage deeply with the aspects of business writing most relevant to your career path. The book reveals how to navigate complex writing scenarios with confidence, covering email crafting, proposal development, and impactful messaging. This immersive approach to business writing sharpens your skills through content that directly addresses your unique learning needs and ambitions.

Tailored Guide
Communication Precision
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for persuasive copywriters
Nicki Krawczyk is a copywriter with 20+ years of experience writing for multi-billion-dollar companies, including Hasbro and adidas. She has also developed a coaching platform to help aspiring copywriters build thriving careers. Her extensive background informs this guide, which focuses on strategic and practical copywriting skills designed to help you write persuasive messages that connect strongly with your audience.
2022·158 pages·Copywriting, Persuasion, Writing Skills, Business Writing, Marketing

Nicki Krawczyk draws on over two decades of experience crafting copy for giants like Hasbro and adidas to teach you how to write messages that truly resonate. This book breaks down the essentials, from identifying your audience to mastering persuasive digital copy, with practical strategy sessions and examples illustrating what works and what doesn’t. You’ll find guidance on everything from branding to emails and social ads, making it clear how to connect your message to your market. If you want to sharpen your writing specifically to boost business results, this book offers focused insights without fluff or jargon.

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Best for advertising professionals
Jeff Bullas, a digital entrepreneur and bestselling author, brings formidable expertise in marketing and business communication, making his endorsement of this book particularly significant. His understanding of digital engagement and content strategy aligns perfectly with Joseph Sugarman's approach to crafting persuasive advertising copy that converts. Jeff's recommendation signals that this handbook remains a critical resource for anyone serious about mastering the art of copywriting. Additionally, Dickie Bush, known for his insights on digital writing and leverage, highlights this book as the absolute best on the subject, further reinforcing its authority in the field.
DB

Recommended by Dickie Bush

Digital writing and leverage expert

And one more copywriting thread for good measure (breaking down the absolute best book on the subject): (from X)

After analyzing countless advertising campaigns, Joseph Sugarman developed a clear blueprint for writing copy that truly sells. Drawing from his experience running the JS&A Catalog, once the largest direct mail catalog in America, Sugarman breaks down the psychology behind why people buy and how to craft messages that tap into those motivations. You’ll learn how to write headlines that grab attention, structure offers that compel action, and create narratives that move customers from interest to purchase. This book suits marketers, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to sharpen persuasive writing skills in advertising, though it demands a willingness to engage deeply with the mechanics of copywriting.

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Best for mastering business emails
Marc Roche is a bestselling author and business communication consultant with a background in neuroscience and education. His expertise, combined with over a decade training professionals, informs this guide focused on elevating your email writing skills. Drawing from his consultancy work and academic studies, Roche crafted this book to help you navigate professional communication with confidence and precision.
2023·126 pages·Business Writing, Email, Communications, Writing Skills, Email Templates

What happens when a seasoned business communication consultant with a neuroscience background tackles email writing? Marc Roche offers a focused guide that helps you sharpen your business email skills with practical clarity, emphasizing context and audience awareness. You'll find over 100 templates tailored for diverse workplace situations and detailed tips on balancing professionalism with tone—perfect for ESL learners and professionals alike. For example, chapters break down how to keep emails concise without sacrificing essential details and when to inject emotion versus sticking strictly to facts. This book suits anyone eager to communicate clearly and effectively through email but may not satisfy those seeking broader business writing topics beyond email.

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Best for daily writing mastery
This AI-created book on persuasive writing is crafted based on your experience level, business background, and specific goals. You share what areas of business communication you want to improve and the book focuses on guiding you through a personalized 30-day plan. This approach helps you develop your skills efficiently by concentrating on what matters most to you in crafting influential written messages.
2025·50-300 pages·Business Writing, Persuasive Writing, Communication Skills, Message Structure, Audience Analysis

This tailored book presents a focused, step-by-step plan to develop persuasive business communication skills over 30 days. It examines core principles of effective writing, from crafting compelling messages to structuring arguments that engage and influence readers. The content is personalized to your background and goals, ensuring it matches what you need to excel in business writing contexts. By guiding you through daily exercises and practical examples, it reveals how to build confidence and mastery in persuasive communication. This tailored approach helps you navigate the complexities of business writing with clarity and purpose, making each lesson directly relevant to your personal learning journey.

Tailored Guide
Persuasion Techniques
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for networking and job seekers
Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author known for his deep insight into career advancement, highlights the practical edge of Danny Rubin's work. Schawbel emphasizes how the book’s extensive collection of email templates can elevate your professional communications and relationship-building efforts. He notes, "Take one look at the table of contents, and you'll understand how much these templates could boost your career and help you build relationships. Read Danny's book-you're going to need it." This endorsement reflects the book's value for anyone serious about navigating the complexities of networking and job seeking through email.
DS

Recommended by Dan Schawbel

New York Times bestselling author

Take one look at the table of contents, and you'll understand how much these templates could boost your career and help you build relationships. Read Danny's book-you're going to need it. (from Amazon)

What started as Danny Rubin's quest to simplify professional communication has become a practical guide filled with over 100 email templates tailored for networking, job searching, and LinkedIn outreach. Rubin, an award-winning author and founder of a leading business communication training company, breaks down the art of crafting messages that foster genuine connections. You’ll learn how to harness storytelling techniques to engage recipients and build relationships that endure beyond the inbox. This book suits anyone navigating career transitions or building professional networks, offering straightforward tools rather than abstract theories.

Finalist in National Best Book Awards Business: Careers category
Named Notable Indie by Shelf Magazine
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Best for refining professional writing
Bryan A. Garner is a leading authority on writing, grammar, and style, known for his role as editor in chief of the widely cited Black's Law Dictionary. Garner's extensive background and numerous awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Book Award, underpin this practical guide focused on business writing. He crafted this book to help professionals express ideas clearly and persuasively, ensuring their messages resonate with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders alike.

Bryan A. Garner's decades of expertise in language and style shape this guide to sharpen your business writing. You’ll learn how to overcome writer's block, capture and retain attention, and refine your tone and grammar to build credibility with demanding audiences. Chapters focus on practical techniques like trimming unnecessary words and crafting persuasive proposals, making your communications more effective. If you're aiming to improve emails, reports, or presentations that influence decision-makers, this book delivers straightforward, impactful guidance without fluff.

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Best for foundational writing skills
Paul MacRae, an instructor of business and professional writing at the University of Victoria, brings his academic experience directly into this guide. His deep understanding of the challenges faced by those new to professional communication drives the book’s straightforward approach. He focuses on clarity and practical skills, making it a useful resource for anyone aiming to improve their business writing fundamentals.
2019·432 pages·Business Writing, Writing Skills, Nonfiction Writing, Nonfiction, Professional Communication

What started as a teaching challenge at the University of Victoria became Paul MacRae's thorough exploration of business writing essentials. This book offers you clear guidance on writing with precision and simplicity, covering everything from business letters to reports, brochures, and oral presentations. You'll find practical templates and exercises that help you practice crafting and refining each type of document, with added focus on ethics and information security in professional communication. If you want to sharpen your ability to communicate effectively in a business context, this guide fits those looking for foundational skills rather than advanced theory.

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Conclusion

Across these eight books, three clear themes emerge: clarity, persuasion, and adaptability. Whether you’re tightening your emails, sharpening proposals, or crafting compelling marketing copy, these works collectively cover the skills you need to communicate effectively in today’s business landscape.

If your challenge is improving workplace correspondence, start with Laura Brown’s The Only Business Writing Book You'll Ever Need and Marc Roche’s Business Email to build solid foundations. For rapid application of persuasive techniques, combine Joseph Sugarman’s The Adweek Copywriting Handbook with Nicki Krawczyk’s Copywriting Strategies.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Business Writing book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. These carefully chosen books can help you accelerate your learning journey and distinguish your communication in any professional setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with The Only Business Writing Book You'll Ever Need for practical workplace skills. It covers clear email writing, proposals, and presentations, giving you a solid foundation before exploring more specialized topics.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Business Writing?

Not at all. Books like Paul MacRae’s Business and Professional Writing and Danny Rubin’s Wait, How Do I Write This Email? are accessible for beginners, offering templates and exercises to build confidence gradually.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your goals. For example, marketers benefit from Ann Handley’s Everybody Writes, while job seekers should consider Rubin’s email templates. Each book targets different aspects of business writing.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

The Adweek Copywriting Handbook and Copywriting Strategies dive into theory and psychology behind persuasive writing. Meanwhile, Business Email and Wait, How Do I Write This Email? emphasize hands-on templates and real-world usage.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Business Writing changes?

While some were published earlier, their principles remain relevant. For instance, Bryan Garner’s HBR Guide to Better Business Writing focuses on timeless clarity and grammar that underpins all effective writing.

How can I get business writing advice tailored specifically to my needs?

Great question! While these expert books offer valuable insights, personalized books can tailor advice to your role, industry, and goals. Consider creating a personalized Business Writing book to bridge expert knowledge with your unique situation.

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