Build Your Brand: 10 Books to Define Your Authentic Voice
A quick reading list to get you started on personal branding
Happy #WorldBookDay! 📚
Building a personal brand isn’t about flashy logos or carefully curated aesthetics.
It’s about knowing who you are, what you stand for, and showing up with authenticity.
Here are 10 books that helped me get clear, consistent, and confident about my brand content and writing.
✨ 1. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Why read it: Visibility starts with generosity. This book teaches you to share your process and progress in a way that attracts the right people, without sounding salesy.
Best for: Creators, solopreneurs, writers, and artists who want to be seen (without feeling cringe about self-promotion).
🌍 2. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Why read it: A modern classic that reminds us: people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. It goes back to the basics of why you want to build your brand.
Best for: Professionals pivoting careers, moving into leadership, or creators/ business owners starting something from scratch.
🧵 3. Build a Story Brand by Donald Miller
Why read it: This book will help you simplify your message, clarify your offer, and position yourself as a trusted guide. Great for public speakers!
Best for: Coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs who want to connect with their audiences super fast.
🪞 4. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Why read it: You can’t build a strong external brand without doing the inner work. This book is a masterclass on courageous leadership and understanding your value system, which will inevitably come across in your brand voice.
Best for: Leaders, culture shapers, entrepreneurs, non-profit sector professionals.
💡 5. The Practice by Seth Godin
Why read it: This is your reminder that done is better than perfect. Show up. Share your work. Repeat. If you feel stuck even before sharing or struggle to be consistent, this one's for you.
Best for: Creatives building a digital presence from zero.
🎤 6. Be Seen by Jen Gottlieb
Why read it: Jen is your hype woman in book form. It’s about sharing who you are and your work with confidence, clarity, and getting past the fear of visibility.
Best for: Anyone who knows they’re playing small and wants to break out. Especially women who make themselves smaller professionally or play second fiddle to their male counterparts who take 'all the credit'.
💼 7. Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
Why read it: Aliza is a branding genius - her book is equal parts career advice and hacks that are personal branding gold! Remember, she is the woman who built DKNY PR Girl into a Twitter darling.
Best for: Ambitious professionals trying to stand out in a crowded industry. Especially those in marketing, communications, PR, and social media.
👑 8. You Are a Brand by Catherine Kaputa
Why read it: This is a classic in the personal branding genre, again starting with the basics of building a presence with authenticity. Practical and packed with real examples.
Best for: Reinventors, freelancers, and anyone in career transition/ on a career break.
🎙️ 9. Your Story, Well Told by Corey Rosen
Why read it: A how-to guide for telling stories that get your audience's attention, whether on stage, in interviews, or online.
Best for: Founders, creators, coaches, and public speakers crafting their origin story.
🔥 10. Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Why read it: Branding isn’t just marketing.....for managers and leaders, it’s how you treat your people. Your reputation precedes you in every profession. This book teaches you how to lead with both care and clarity.
Best for: Leaders building trust and respect as part of their brand.
What Now??
If you’re serious about building your brand, pick one book from this list and read it.Take notes. Take action. Take up space.