Bank Marketing Bookshelf
Some of our favorites that will transform your outlook on advertising.
The dozens of people who work at Mabus Agency have read a lot of books. Reading is probably our most universally shared extracurricular activity, so we wanted to share some of the ones that shaped how we think.
These books influenced our understanding of people, behavior, and culture, which is where effective marketing really starts. Some are business classics. Others come from outside the marketing world but still inform how decisions get made.
We even made it easy to buy these directly from Amazon if you one to add one to your shelf.
Ogilvy on Advertising
1983
224 pages
A timeless classic on what makes advertising work. Still the clearest guide to persuasive communication.
Buy NowConfessions of an Advertising Man
1963
172 pages
Ogilvy’s memoir and manual of agency life. Full of practical lessons on leadership, clients, and creative craft.
Buy NowDamn Good Advice (for People with Talent!)
2012
176 pages
Short, punchy creative principles from one of the boldest minds in modern advertising.
Buy NowThe Wizard of Ads: Turning Words into Magic and Dreamers into Millionaires
1998
244 pages
A collection of stories and strategies that show how emotion and narrative drive sales.
Buy NowSecret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads
1999
224 pages
Builds on the first book with deeper lessons on storytelling, psychology, and marketing influence.
Buy NowMagical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads
2001
240 pages
The third volume in the trilogy, exploring how imagination and authenticity connect brands to people.
Buy NowFreakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
2005
336 pages
A fascinating look at human behavior, incentives, and decision making that helps marketers think beyond the obvious.
Buy NowSuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
2009
288 pages
The follow up to Freakonomics, expanding its sharp, contrarian insights into economics and behavior.
Buy NowOutliers: The Story of Success
2008
304 pages
Examines the factors that lead to exceptional achievement such as timing, culture, and opportunity.
Buy NowThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
2000
304 pages
Explains how ideas spread and how small shifts can spark major change. Essential reading for campaign strategy.
Buy NowDavid and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
2013
320 pages
A study in how disadvantages can turn into advantages. Valuable for community banks competing with larger institutions.
Buy NowThinking, Fast and Slow
2011
498 pages
A deep exploration of how people think and how to understand the biases behind financial decisions.
Buy NowMeasure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
2018
320 pages
Introduces the OKR framework for setting goals and measuring what truly drives results.
Buy NowTraction: Get a Grip on Your Business
2012
246 pages
A practical system (EOS) for aligning teams, driving accountability, and achieving business traction.
Buy Now