The Best Books and Tools for Indie Authors
✏️ Meet Michael's List ✏️
I read a lot (maybe not the hugest shocker). And I love recommending nonfiction books for authors to read to help grow your business.
If you’ve ever listened to the Beyond the Book Podcast or any of my workshops, you’ve likely heard me reference the books that have helped me tons in my life.
I’m sharing my top books (and software tools) for indie authors today. They range from craft, to marketing, to psychology and history-focused recommendations, all about helping you grow your mind and business as a storyteller.
I’m calling it Michael’s List… and you can access the full list here.
Now… I’m sharing the full list below too 😊. Let’s dive into it 👇
Note: Many of the links included below are affiliate links. I get paid a small commission if you make a purchase using those links, which I'm very grateful for 😊.
Michael's Top Books for Storytellers (in no particular order)
Fans First: Change the Game, Break the Rules, & Create An Unforgettable Experience By Jesse Cole
The best book on how to serve your customers and experiment to make an experience better that I've ever read.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
By Chris Voss
This is the best book I've read on negotiating. Whether it's with a publisher or another potential partner, this book is worth the read to prepare you.
ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer's World
By Thom Hartman
This book really helped me understand my unique superpowers, and it may be useful for you too!
The Story Paradox: How Our Love of Storytelling Builds Societies and Tears them Down
By Jonathan Gorrschall
This book changed forever how I think about storytelling and made me believe Storytellers Rule the World. Without this book, I may not be here.
The Goal: 40th Anniversary Edition: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
By Eliyahu Goldratt
The one book that Jimmy recommended we read while at MrBeast. Really helped me understand the power of bottleneck flywheels in unlocking business growth.
Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World
By Mark Schaefer
The best book on marketing I've ever read.
Everything I Need I Get from You
By Kaitlyn Tiffany
The best book on fandom I've ever read.
Cashvertising: How to Use More Than 100 Secrets of Ad-Agency Psychology to Make BIG MONEY Selling Anything to Anyone
By Drew Eric Whitman
The best book I've ever read on the core foundational principles behind great advertising.
The Anatomy of GENRES: How Story Forms Explain THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS
By John Truby
The best book I've ever read on genre. It's unbelievable.
The Business of Belonging: How to Make Community your Competitive Advantage
By David Spinks
The best book I've ever read on building a community of fans.
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
By Seth Godin
Seth is incredible, and this book was my favorite from him.
Thinking in Systems: A Primer
By Donella Meadows
Reading this book changed how I approach everything in business. Systems > Getting Stuff Done
The Business Playbook: How to Document and Delegate What You Do So Your Company Can Grow Beyond You
By Chris Ronzio
Playbooks are crucial when you want to bring on VAs or even automate some of the work you do. This book teaches you how to create a great playbook.
$100M Leads: How to Get Strangers To Want To Buy Your Stuff
By Alex Hormozi
One of the best books on marketing. Gives you an overview of the different channels and how you can dominate.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
By Yuval Noah Harari
Incredible book on the history of information networks and how AI is about to rewire our entire world.
7 FIGURE FICTION: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE
By T. Taylor
Incredible book on how to create compelling narratives that appeal to the core desires of readers.
On the Origin of Stories: Evolution, Cognition, and Fiction
By Brian Boyd
If you are interested in the core of what makes stories crucial to the human experience, you'll love this book.
The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know
By Shawn Coyne
I've listened to their podcast for years – great framework on how to write an awesome story that sells.
The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World
By Dorie Clark
I'm a long-term thinker and this book really helped cement and hone in on the things I love. It's a must for anyone looking to build something sustainable over the long run.
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
By Will Storr
I nerded out so much over this book. Just a fascinating book on the science behind what makes a great story.
Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours
By Noah Kagan
Great book on starting and launching something fast.
The Membership Economy: Find Your Super Users, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue
By Robbie Kellman Baxter
Even if you don't have readers subscribing to you, everything is a membership. This book helps anyone succeed in the new world of the membership economy.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism―Understanding the Social Science of Cult Influence
By Amanda Montell
Brilliant premise and all about how you can use language to build a fandom.
50 Author Marketing Superpowers
By Michael Evans
Biased, because I wrote this, but it's a fun illustrated guide of the 50 marketing fundamentals authors need to succeed in the future of publishing.
Creatorwood: How to Build a Movie Business with AI
By Michael Evans & Nick Young
Biased, because I co-wrote it, but this is the definitive book on how using AI writers can make movies and part of a $10B+ revolution changing film forever.
Advantage: Harnessing Cumulative Advantage in the Winner Takes All Publishing Market
By Joe Solari
Best book I've read on the business of publishing.
Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire
By Dan Martell
Awesome book on delegating tasks and gaining more leverage as the CEO of your author business.
Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy
By Mark Schaefer
Another amazing book, all about how the relationship that customers have to businesses is changing forever... and how you can dominate in this new future.
Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence
By Lisa Cron
Another amazing book about the craft of writing from a more scientific perspective.
Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business
By Kindra Hall
All about how to use stories in your marketing to stand out to customers.
Subprime Attention Crisis
By Tim Hwang
A more big picture book on the state of online advertising, and the metrics the business gets wrong.
Shelf Talk: A Step by Step Guide to Launching your Product in Retail Store
By Roberta Townes
A great, short read on how to break into retail with your books.
AND one more thing… download the Author Belt of My Top Tools for Indie Authors Here 👇
I can’t wait to hear how these recommendations help you get to the next level in your author career.
I’ll be in touch in the coming days with another episode of the Beyond the Book Podcast.
In the meantime, don’t forget…
Together we are boundless,
Michael Evans
The Author Sidekick