What do owners, freelancers, managers and employees have in common? Everyone communicates! Here are 10 titles for 2025 that will improve your writing and speaking in any medium or in any setting—storytelling, marketing, persuasion, networking, negotiation, and more.
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
Super communicators
by Charles Duhigg
In this award-winning new bestseller, Duhigg explores how conversations work, examining how our experiences, values and emotions influence how we speak and listen. It combines stories from contexts as diverse as jury duty and couples counseling with research findings and advice to teach us the skills and tools to hear, hear others clearly, and connect with anyone.
Make It Punchy: How to Write Simple Tech Reports That Win Hearts, Minds, and Markets
Make it impressive
by Emma Stratton
Stratton, a messaging consultant for B2B technology firms, explains how to get rid of boring jargon about your product’s features and create compelling messages that articulate how it solves problems and benefits customers. Stratton offers learning exercises and techniques based on real-world examples to convey the value of your product and position your company as a market leader.
Very Good Copy: 207 Micro-Lessons on Thinking and Writing Like a Copywriter
A very good copy
by Eddie Shleyner
Shleyner shares the insights on storytelling, persuasion, and creativity that have made him the “copywriter’s copywriter,” his industry “gold standard” newsletter, and the admiration of marketing writers such as Ann Handley, Brian Clark, and Cameron Day. . The book’s micro-lessons cover mindset: “Thinking Like a Copywriter” and execution: “Writing Like a Copywriter,” showing readers how to connect with people whether they’re writing social media content, landing pages, ad campaigns, or a dating profile.
Set the scene: Storytelling, stage presence, and the art of being memorable in any light
Create a scene
by Mike Ganino
Blending theater experience and business strategy, this book overturns conventional public speaking advice. A top lecturer, author, director, and former TEDx producer, Ganino shares his “Mike Drop Method” framework for engaging audiences and thriving in the spotlight, whether it’s presenting, leading a meeting, or keynote.
Uncompromising Authenticity: Lead Better, Sell More, and Speak Big
Uncompromised authenticity
by Jeanne Sparrow
Sparrow, an Emmy Award-winning television, radio and podcast host, sums up his communications with the slogans “Live It, Tell It, Sell It” and “Be Brave, Be Free, Be You.” Her book offers practical advice, inspiring stories, and practical tips to help readers build connections with their network, improve their leadership, and impact their community.
Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify your message so customers listen
Building Storybrand 2.0
by Donald Miller
Miller’s million-selling branding bible has earned lavish praise from readers including Seth Godin and the governor of Tennessee. This revised and updated edition delves deeper into using the author’s seven universal story elements to clarify messages, cut through competitive noise, and convey unique value, regardless of audience—constituents, fans, consumers, or whoever.
How to Deliver and Get Away with Bad News: A Manager’s Guide
How to deliver bad news
by Mahesh Guruswamy
Guruswamy, executive director of product development and current CTO of Kickstarter, offers a practical guide to difficult but necessary conversations. Whether alerting a client about a product delay or explaining performance improvements to an employee, this book offers practical advice and sample scripts that enable managers to deliver bad news effectively and empathetically.
Negotiation: The game has changed
Proceedings
by Max H. Bazerman
Known as the “Father of Evidence-Based Negotiation,” Harvard Business School Professor Bazerman combines a refresher on basic, time-tested negotiation techniques with a practical guide to adapting them to today’s situations.
Defy: The power of no in a world that demands yes
Defy
from Dr. Sunita Shah
This book, out next month, applies scientific principles to help readers make decisions in line with their values. The author is a physician and organizational psychologist who researches trust, conflicts of interest, disclosure and compliance. As an instructor at prestigious universities in the US and UK, she explores why people “get along to get along” and how they can speak and do what is right instead of what others expect.
More conversations: Argue less, talk more
Another conversation
by Jefferson Fisher
This book is already number one in several categories on Amazon, even though it won’t be available until March. The author is a lawyer, writer and speaker whose videos, newsletter and podcasts have gained a huge following. It offers practical advice, actionable strategies and helpful phrases for turning difficult conversations into meaningful dialogues in business and life.