50 Sales Books I Will Read in 2012

Going through online book forums, I noticed a common challenge that readers across the web like to take on: reading 50 books in a year. I am on par to hit about 40 for this year and I think that 50 is attainable for 2012.

In the past, I've gotten into books on multiple subjects: classic fiction, science-fiction, philosophy, theology, history, Christian living, biology, memoir, economics, marketing, business biography, coffee, cars, computer technology, the list goes on. I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. For 2012, however, I think I will specialize. I am going to read 50 books on sales (and related areas such as marketing, entrepreneurship, leadership, social media, etc.).

Since I've gotten into sales, I have been overwhelmed by the breadth of material available to me. I want to read everything I can, but I often don't know where to start. By the end of this year, I will have read many of the classics, like Dale Carengie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," Mack Hanan's "Consultative Selling," and Steven Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

Most of what I've learned about sales, however, has come from blogs. All of the sales bloggers that I follow and archive in my weekly "Top 10" lists have taught me more about selling than all of the books I've ever read. So, for 2012, all 50 of the sales books I will read will have been written by these bloggers. To be precise, there are 30 authors featured in my "Top 10" that have written books which I will read in 2012. Next year will be a tribute to these authors and their contribution to the world of sales, both on-line and on paper. Below is my projected list:

1. Brian Tracy: The Psychology of Selling


2. Seth Godin: Purple Cow


3. Jeffrey Gitomer: The Little Book of Leadership


4. John Jantsch: Duct Tape Marketing


5. Charles Green: The Trusted Advisor


6. Sharon Drew Morgen: Selling with Integrity


7. Pamela Slim: Escape from Cubicle Nation


8. Dave Kahle: Question Your Way to Sales Success


9. Bob Phibbs: The Retail Doctor's Guide to Growing Your Business


10. Paul McCord: Bust Your Slump


11. Matt Heinz: Are You Selling Pants, or Selling a Dream?


12. Art Sobczak: Smart Calling


13. Tim Berry: The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan


14. Alen Majer: Trigger Events


15. Kelley Robertson: Stop, Ask, and Listen


16. Chris Brogan: Trust Agents


17. Scott Ginsberg: The Power of Approachability


18. Jim Domanski: Profiting by Phone


19. Jeffrey Gitomer: The Little Red Book of Selling


20. Seth Godin: Poke the Box


21. Brian Tracy: No Excuses


22. Mike Brooks: The Real Secrets of the Top 20%


23. Tibor Shanto: Shift


24. Kelly McCormick: Outsell Yourself


25. Sean McPheat: E-selling


26. Jeb Brooks: Perfect Phrases for the Sales Call


27. Grant Cardone: Sell to Survive


28. Kendra Lee: Selling Against the Goal


29. Carrie Wilkerson: Barefoot Executive


30. Kevin Eikenberry: Remarkable Leadership


31. Diane Helbig: Lemonade Stand Selling


32. Ted Coine: Spoil 'Em Rotten


33. Robert Terson: Selling Fearlessly


34. Dave Kahle: How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime


35. Art Sobczak: How to Sell More in Less Time with No Rejection


36. Tim Berry: Hurdle


37. Paul McCord: Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income


38. Jeffrey Gitomer: Social Boom


39. Bob Phibbs: Groupon


40. Matt Heinz: Sales for Start-Ups


41. John Jantsch: The Referral Engine


42. Sharon Drew Morgen: Dirty Little Secrets


43. Alen Majer: Selling is Better Than Sex


44. Brian Tracy: Eat That Frog


45. Scott Ginsberg: Ideas Are Free, Execution is Priceless


46. Seth Godin: The Linchpin


47. Kelley Robertson: The Secrets of Power Selling


48. Jim Domanski: Add-On Selling


49. Charles Green: Trust Based Selling


50. Chris Brogan: Social Media 101

If you are in sales, I would challenge you to join me in this endeavor. If you are not in sales, well, you are still in sales. Everything you do is related to convincing other people, in some way, shape, or form, that what you do or what you offer is valuable. Do you want to improve your disposition or your lot in life? Join me in uncovering and implementing the ideas in these amazing works of literature!