There is a lot of advice out there for students trying to break into the world of PR. But with so much information available, finding good resources can be difficult. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the must-read PR books for students. These books on public relations not only provide great advice but also help you to identify where you’re starting from and where you want to go.

1. The Power of Public Relations by Edward Bernays 

The Power of Public Relations is considered the holy grail of PR books. Written by Edward Bernays, one of the founding fathers of public relations, The Power of Public Relations is a classic that will teach you the fundamentals of public relations. This is one of those books on public relations that  will help you learn the language of public relations and how to use the tools of public relations to build your brand. It’s a great place to start for those who are new to the world of PR.

2. How to win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How to win Friends and Influence People is a classic for good reason. Written by Dale Carnegie, one of the most famous PR consultants of all time, the book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to win friends and influence people. It’s a book about how to get people to like you, and to like you for who you are, not what you have. It’s a book about how to be a great friend, neighbor, family member, and business associate.

It lays out a simple and powerful way to get people to like you, and it works.  It’s a great book to start with for those who are just starting.

3. The Storytelling Animal: How stories make us Human by Jonathan Gottschall

Storytelling is an important skill for any PR professional to have. Whether you’re writing press releases or pitching stories to reporters, effective storytelling is critical to success. PR shouldn’t be about making facts and figures fit a prescribed narrative, but about generating a compelling narrative that will advance your client’s agenda. Successful PR is all about storytelling, and this book will teach you the fundamentals of storytelling.

It is a simple idea: Human beings are storytelling creatures. We are hard-wired to tell stories, and those stories, Gottschall argues, are what make us human. In The Storytelling Animal, Gottschall explains why we are all storytellers, and how we have done so since our earliest days. He shows how stories have made us more successful at everything from bonding with our families to surviving the dangers of war.

4. A Modern Guide to Public Relations by Amy Rosenberg

Written by Amy Rosenberg, a New York-based public relations counselor, this book is a modern guide to public relations. This is one of the books on public relations which covers everything from the ethics of public relations to the role of social media in public relations. It provides great advice for those who are just starting out, and it’s a great resource for those who are looking for more advanced information. The Modern Guide to Public Relations will teach you how to use the tools of public relations to build your brand.

5. Contagious: Why Things Catch Up On You. By Jonas Berger.

This book provides a set of actionable techniques for helping information spread, perfect for any PR professional hoping their story will catch on. If you want to know how to make sure your message goes viral, read this book in which Jonas Berger lists down 6 principles of virality that can be used.

6. The PR Masterclass by Alex Singleton

The PR Masterclass is written by a former newspaper, magazine, and digital journalist Alex Singleton, who is now a prominent PR trainer and consultant.

There is a symbiotic relationship, of sorts, between the PR and the journalist. Each has something (in theory) that the other wants from the other: a story or coverage. To take advantage of this is to properly understand what it is a journalist is genuinely interested in, then pitch on that basis. This is one of those books on public relations that gives you steps to take to make sure you make a genuine and fruitful relationship with journalists which will benefit both parties simultaneously.

7. The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays and the Birth of Public Relations by Larry Tye

The life and work of Edward L. Bernays, the man often called the father of public relations, is the stuff of legend. He was a pioneer in the use of propaganda and the propaganda of propaganda, and he is largely responsible for the modern understanding of the role of PR in society. His life and work is the focus of this book, which provides a comprehensive look at his early life and his meteoric rise to fame and fortune. The book is filled with never-before-published material, including insights into the making of some of his most famous campaigns.

8. The Global PR Revolution by Maxim Behar

The Global PR Revolution by Maxim Behar is an account of how the PR industry has changed in the digital age. This is one of the books on public relations that also provides an insight into the history of PR and its evolution from the days when PR was just a part of advertising, to the digital age where the rise of social media has created a whole new industry based on social and digital media.

9. Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age by Gini Dietrich

Spin Sucks is the story of how communication and reputation management has changed in the digital age. It’s a look at the evolution of PR and the role of PR in our modern world, focusing on the ways in which PR is used to build brands, influence opinion, and promote products. The book provides a detailed explanation of the modern PR industry, exploring the history of PR, the role of PR in marketing, and the many different ways in which PR is used today. It also looks at the ethical questions that arise when PR is used in commercial contexts and the many ways that PR agencies try to spin the truth in their work.

10. The Business of Persuasion by Harold Burson

In The Business of Persuasion, Harold Burson, one of the most successful public relations and marketing consultants in history, explains how to build and manage a successful brand. He offers practical advice on everything from the most cost-effective ways to advertise your brand to the most effective ways to interact with the press and explains the complex world of marketing and PR in simple terms for anyone with an interest in the business. The Business of Persuasion will teach you how to build a brand that will last a lifetime.

The world of public relations is constantly evolving, and there is always more to learn. The books on this list cover a lot of ground, and they will help you to build a strong foundation for your career as a public relations professional. But these are only a few of the books on public relations you should read. The world of public relations is an exciting place to be, and there are always new topics and books to learn.

Similar Read:

100 Great PR Ideas – Book Review

The Art and Craft of PR – Book Review

 Anisha Singh

Anisha is a student of the School Of COmmunications and REputations (SCoRe) – Class of 2022 – Spring Batch. She comes from a beautiful city, Shillong, which is also known as the Scotland of the East. She enjoys participating in outdoor activities and is an ex- NCC cadet. She has completed her graduation in Bachelor of Business Administration, from St Anthony’s College, Shillong. She can be reached on Twitter as @anisha907 and on LinkedIn as Anisha Singh