Why am I passionate about this?

As a youth, I was very athletic and always aspired to be the captain of the team. I worked hard and was very driven to earn this right. As a sales professional, I have continued that passion and channeled it into sales. In addition, due to my experience in sports, I am really passionate about coaching others. I feel that with the right direction, the right motivation, and the right information, anyone can be successful in sales. All of the authors for the sales books I have recommended are also giving back to society in their own way. 


I wrote...

People Buy from Me: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Sales by Building Lasting Connections with your Customers

By Nico D'Alessandro,

Book cover of People Buy from Me: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Sales by Building Lasting Connections with your Customers

What is my book about?

In sales, one fundamental truth remains constant: people buy from people. Behind every transaction, every closed deal, and every satisfied…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation

Nico D'Alessandro Why did I love this book?

I recommend this book because it gives the seller the courage to challenge the customer's thoughts. I like how Brent describes the seller as the expert, and as experts, we need to make the right recommendations to our customers that will help them achieve their goals. It flips the sales process upside down, and you can start selling as an advisor, as opposed to a vendor. Very inspirational!

By Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Challenger Sale as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The need to understand what top-performing reps are doing that their average performing colleagues are not drove Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson, and their colleagues at Corporate Executive Board to investigate the skills, behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes that matter most for high performance. And what they discovered may be the biggest shock to conventional sales wisdom in decades. Based on an exhaustive study of thousands of sales reps across multiple industries and geographies, "The Challenger Sale" argues that classic relationship building is a losing approach, especially when it comes to selling complex, large-scale business-to-business solutions. The authors' study found that every…


Book cover of The New Strategic Selling: The Unique Sales System Proven Successful by the World's Best Companies

Nico D'Alessandro Why did I love this book?

I have used the teachings from this book for every stage of my sales career. The way Miller-Heinman breaks down an opportunity helping to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of your position is so basic yet groundbreaking. Anyone in the technical sales world must pick up this book.  

By Robert B. Miller, Stephen E. Heiman, Tad Tuleja

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The New Strategic Selling as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Learn from one of the bestselling books on sales ever published, which has cemented itself as the must-read for any sales or marketing professional, written by leaders at Miller Heiman - the global lead in sales and development. Strategic Selling presented the idea of selling as a joint venture, introducing the influential concept of 'win-win' and making it one of the bestselling books on sales ever published. The response to 'win-win' was immediate and fundamentally changed sales and marketing with its rejection of manipulative tactics, in turn positioning Miller Heiman as a global leader with the most prestigious client list…


Book cover of Spin Selling

Nico D'Alessandro Why did I love this book?

In selling high-value products or services, closing increases your chance of success. It is essential to describe the benefits of your product or service to the customer. Objection handling is an important skill, and open questions are more effective than closed questions.

I recommend this book because it focuses on customer conversation and the art of asking questions, identifying the hook, and “turning the knife.” I like how Neil harnesses the power of listening techniques to identify customer pain points. Then he teaches you how to exploit their pain to leverage your sale in a very positive manner that is win-win. It’s a must-read for any seller that interfaces with customers.

By Neil Rackham,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Spin Selling as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The international bestseller that revolutionized high-end selling!

Written by Neil Rackham, former president and founder of Huthwaite corporation, SPIN Selling is essential reading for anyone involved in selling or managing a sales force. Unquestionably the best-documented account of sales success ever collected and the result of the Huthwaite corporation's massive 12-year, $1-million dollar research into effective sales performance, this groundbreaking resource details the revolutionary SPIN (Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-payoff) strategy.

In SPIN Selling, Rackham, who has advised leading companies such as IBM and Honeywell delivers the first book to specifically examine selling high-value product and services. By following the simple,…


Book cover of How To Be A GREAT Salesperson...By Monday Morning!

Nico D'Alessandro Why did I love this book?

There are many closing techniques in this book your sales reps can start using immediately to increase their sales.

I recommend this book because David does a really good job describing closing techniques. I like how he gives readers the confidence to have impactful conversations with customers that will yield immediate results. If you are in a sales funk and need help closing deals, this is a must-read.

By David Cook,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How To Be A GREAT Salesperson...By Monday Morning! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"I love Dave's book. Now he has an online Master Class!"
- Jack Canfield - New York Times Bestselling Author, Chicken Soup for The Soul.

THE PERFECT GIFT!!! - ORDER FOR YOUR ENTIRE TEAM! - YOU HAVE FOUND THE BOOK YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!! - JUMP-START YOUR 'NEW YEAR' SALES NOW!! - Selected Top 10 "Must-Read" Book by Top Sales World!

- Over 100,000 Books and Master Classes Sold! - Read The Reviews. Read The Table of Contents. If you are looking for ways to increase your sales, you have found THE BOOK you are looking for. Period!After Reading This…


Book cover of Sales Secrets: The World's Top Salespeople Share Their Secrets to Success

Nico D'Alessandro Why did I love this book?

This book is the ultimate playbook from hundreds of sales experts, sharing their top secrets to increasing sales no matter what you sell or who you sell to.

I recommend this book because it offers a way to learn from the success of others. Brandon does a great job harnessing the experience of so many successful sellers. I like how we, as readers, can learn from other sellers and then try it out for ourselves. It is a fun and exciting read.  

By Brandon Bornancin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sales Secrets as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“Sales Secrets” unlocks all the secrets to sell anything to anyone from interviews with the world’s top sales experts.

This book is the ultimate playbook from hundreds of sales experts on their top secrets to increasing your sales no matter what you sell or who you sell to.

For the last two years, Brandon Bornancin has interviewed hundreds of world-class sales performers for his #1 podcast “Sales Secrets.” The guests range from infamous celebrities like Gary Vaynerchuk, Jordan Belfort, and Ryan Serhant to legendary sales performers like Heather Monahan, Trish Bertuzzi, Anthony Iannarino, Jeffrey Gitomer, Jarrod Glandt, and others.

This…


Don't forget about my Book 😀

People Buy from Me: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Sales by Building Lasting Connections with your Customers

By Nico D'Alessandro,

Book cover of People Buy from Me: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Sales by Building Lasting Connections with your Customers

What is my book about?

In sales, one fundamental truth remains constant: people buy from people. Behind every transaction, every closed deal, and every satisfied customer is a relationship forged on trust, understanding, and genuine human connection. Welcome to a journey into the heart of relationship selling, where success lies not just in the products or services offered but in the connections cultivated between individuals.

Whether you're a sales enthusiast eager to enhance your skills, a seasoned professional seeking to adapt, or a business leader keen on fostering a customer-centric culture, this book is your companion on the journey to mastering the art and science of relationship selling. Let's embark on a voyage where the true essence of sales is revealed: People buy from people, People Buy from Me.

You might also like...

Book cover of The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform Your Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within

Minette Norman Author Of The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform Your Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I spent 20 years leading global teams in Silicon Valley, and I had few role models for empathetic, human, and inclusive leadership. I was committed to being the leader I wished I’d had all those years. I had a lot of success, a big VP-level job, and I loved my work. Then, I got a new manager who bullied, undermined, and silenced me. I decided I wanted to help leaders do better. I became an author, speaker, and consultant focused on inspiring leaders to create an environment where everyone is heard, seen, and respected.

Minette's book list on amazing leader, listener, and human being

What is my book about?

To create innovative, collaborative, and high-performing organizations, we need a new leadership model.

Speaker, consultant, and former Silicon Valley executive Minette Norman is committed to inspiring leaders by sharing some of the most important things she learned over the decades she spent in the corporate world, such as: every human being needs to feel they belong; teams thrive when everyone can share their unique ideas and experiences; innovation is a group activity; empathy and compassion are leadership superpowers; and, leaders set the tone by what they say, do, reward, and tolerate.

This is not a book about quick fixes or…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurs?

Sales 73 books
Marketing 196 books
Entrepreneurs 302 books