Finding the best books on marketing can be a frustrating experience since a search on Amazon for marketing books often just lists Internet marketing books or marketing software.

This is my brief review of the best and most popular practical books for business people and marketing text books for students.

Practical marketing books for professionals

• Dummies Guide to Marketing - this book was published in 2006 and is a good introduction for marketing if you need to understand the marketing fundamentals.
• Marketing Planning Book - a good book if you want a traditional, structured approach to preparing a marketing plan for different types of business. Now in its 5th edition, it contains chapters on key aspects of marketing planning such as strategy, promotion, distribution, etc.
• All marketing books by Malcolm McDonald - as well as the marketing planning books, Professor Malcolm McDonalds books on Segmentation and the Pictorial guide to marketing prove popular.
• Marketing and PR book - one of the most popular books on marketing and PR at the moment - explains how to engage online audiences through social networks and blogs.
• Marketing Genius - a different style of book for those who want a brief inspirational review of what succeeds in marketing!
• All marketing books by Seth Godin - Every marketer should own at least one of Seth Godin inspirational books from the classic Permission Marketing to his latest in 2008 "Meatball Sundae". Tend to be less practical, but quick reads about the marketing trends that matter.

Marketing text books for students

• CIM Marketing Course Book - Written for students studying the CIM professional marketing qualifications. This gives a structured approach to marketing which is less academic than those for university courses. View the most popular CIM / Chartered Institute of marketing course books.
• Kotler's principles of marketing - the classic textbook on marketing by marketing Guru, Professor Philip Kotler, this is the text book I turn to when I want to brush up on a marketing concept. Used by students throughout the world, this is the European edition.
• View all my Best Marketing Book Recommendations