12 Gripping Book Endorsement Examples to Emulate

You’ve finished your manuscript and are on the brink of publishing?

Congratulations! But wait, have you thought about securing endorsements for your book? Such testimonials can be game-changers, signaling to prospective readers that your tome is a must-read and worth every penny. Dive into this article, and I’ll spotlight stellar book endorsements that catapulted authors into the bestseller limelight. An endorsement, especially from a well-regarded name, is like a gold seal of approval in the literary world. Within the publishing circles, these coveted nods are often termed as ‘testimonials’.

What is a book endorsement?

An endorsement is a quote from someone authoritative on the same subject, industry, or genre as your book, who says something positive about your published work. It is like a written statement of approval from a respected figure you include in your book’s blurb. The idea is quite simple. Let’s say you’re a huge fan of Dan Brown and he endorses a new mystery novel. His respected opinion and recommendation can then influence you to buy and read this book. Endorsements are probably the best marketing tool that lends trustworthiness to your book.

Book Endorsement Examples of Bestselling Books That Rock:

1. Every Gift Matters by Carrie Morgridge

Howard W. Buffett, Executive Director of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, gave the endorsement below for Carrie Morgridge’s book. Every Gift Matters praises the generous souls who create a positive impact on the world by helping others in need through cash and kind donations. “Every Gift Matters is a collection of timely, personal stories reminding us that philanthropy isn’t about writing a check; it’s about the value we create when we invest in local communities, follow our principles, and make a lasting difference.”

2. Daughter of Family G: A Memoir of Cancer Genes, Love and Fate by Ami McKay

Beth Powning, the author of The Sea Captain’s Wife, wrote the endorsement below for Ami McKay’s book. Daughter of Family G: A Memoir of Cancer Genes, Love and Fate is the true story of the author’s family’s struggle against cancer that seems to be hereditary due to genetic mutations. “Infused with hard-won wisdom, this brilliant memoir is an invitation, in the face of fear, to be ‘wildly, passionately, outrageously devoted to life.’ Bees, crinoline, hospital labs, kindness, grief, despair, and especially love – the large and small signatures are all here, recognizable, heartbreaking, and confirming. I held this profound and courageous book in my heart, reminded of life’s frail wonder. ”

3. Reframe: Shift the Way You Work, Innovate, and Think by Mona Patel

Seth Godin, entrepreneur and multiple-time New York Times Bestselling Author, gave the brief but compelling endorsement below for Mona Patel’s book. in Reframe: Shift the Way You Work, Innovate, and Think, the author, who is a CEO herself, shares her secrets for sparking creativity and innovation within the workplace or in any organization. “Why not? What if? If those questions give you pause, it might be because you’ve been carrying around the wrong frame. In this personal book, Mona Patel wants to outfit you with a new way of seeing and working.”

4. Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand

Popular newspaper The Economist gave this short yet sparkling endorsement of Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book. Seabiscuit: An American Legend chronicles the life and times of the celebrated racehorse Seabiscuit who became the biggest newsmaker in the 1930s, overshadowing even the world’s political titans in that era. “A remarkable tale well told by a writer who deftly blends history and sport. Seabiscuit should captivate a new generation of readers from beyond the world of horse racing.”

5. Oblivion Stories by David Foster Wallace

Troy Patterson, the literary critic for Entertainment Weekly, gave this short yet substantial endorsement for David Foster Wallace’s bestselling book. Oblivion Stories is a collection of gripping fictional short stories that convey a plethora of powerful human emotions. “At once cool and intimate, Oblivion reads, to creepy effects, like an X-Ray of John Updike’s classics of marital strain….Wallace has dreamt up a new vocabulary for lives of quiet desperation.”

6. How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman

Ben Huh, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of The Cheezburger Network, issues the scintillating endorsement for Matthew Inman’s bestselling book. How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You will delight not only the lovers but everyone who wants a good laugh. “Matt is the first native stand-up comic on the Internet. This book, and all his work, shows just how perfectly he nails the pulse of Web dwellers like me. While this book is printed on paper, it oozes what’s great about the weird, quirky, but genuine awesomeness of the Web – and Matt Inman.”

7. The Night Gwen Stacy Died by Gerry Conway

Sean Howe, author of Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, gave this glowing endorsement of Gerry Conway’s book. The Night Gwen Stacy Died is a novel inspired by an emotionally charged edition of The Amazing Spiderman comic book. A great read for lovers of fiction and superhero stories. “The perspective shifts, slippery identities, and lurking weirdness in this book recall the peak moments of Kurosawa, Hitchcock, and Lynch. But to describe it in cinematic terms would risk slighting that bighearted, sneakily exhilarating voice that can finally be only the work of a masterful writer.”

8. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

David Daley, author of Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy, gave the commending endorsement below to his fellow bestseller Jess Walter’s book. Beautiful Ruins is a heartwarming and funny story of a love affair that transcends time and distance. “Jess Walter has already proven that he’s one of our great comic writers, a cerebral postmodernist, and a savvy plotter of thrillers. Now he has his masterpiece, Beautiful Ruins, an interlocking, continent-hopping, decade-spanning novel with heart and pathos to burn, all big dreams lost loves, deep longings, and damn near perfect.”

9. Kiss Your BUT Good-Bye: How to Get Beyond the One Word That Stands Between You and Success by Joseph Azelby and Robert Azelby

Betsy Morgan, the former CEO of The Huffington Post and President of The Blaze, gave this admiring endorsement of Joseph and Robert Azelby’s bestselling book. Kiss You BUT Good-Bye is an empowering book that teaches readers how to overcome weaknesses and be more victorious in their careers and personal lives. “If you care deeply about your career and seek long-term happiness through work, then put this book on your required reading list. You will learn to empower your team with this no-nonsense guide to eliminating excuses and speaking the truth in the workplace. The Azelby brothers’ plain talk gives you the boost you need to advance your career.”

10. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Petrarch, scholar and poet of early Renaissance Italy, and father of humanism, gave one of the earliest book endorsement examples we can find for Dante Alighieri’s book. The Divine Comedy is a 14th-century Italian narrative poem that portrays how the author imagines what hell would be like and the punishments that await those poor souls who wound up there. “Nowadays, who’s got time for poetry, what with everyone gearing up for the Renaissance? But this laugh-out-loud comedy is a must-read. Perfect for the beach, or when taking a break from your fresco.”

11. Uncle Dynamite by P. G. Wodehouse

Evelyn Waugh, the author of Decline and Fall, A Handful of Dust, and Brideshead Revisited gave this insightful endorsement of P. G. Wodehouse’s bestselling book. Unce Dynamite is a hilarious tale of a clumsy fellow who finds himself in deeper trouble for trying to replace a bust he accidentally broke. “Mr. Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.”

12. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser

Los Angeles Times, one of America’s biggest newspapers, gave this brief yet explosive endorsement of Eric Schlosser’s book. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal explores America’s fast-food culture that spurs the obesity epidemic in the nation, which later cascaded to other countries around the world. “Schlosser has a flair for dazzling scene-setting and an arsenal of startling facts…Fast Food Nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast-food slogan, the choice is yours.”

Where do book endorsements appear?

1. On the Book Cover

The sole purpose of a book endorsement is to hook the readers to read your book and convince them your book is worth buying. But where do endorsements go? Endorsements from fellow authors or review publications work well on the book’s back cover. This is the place where you give a synopsis of your book, otherwise known as a blurb. Two or three short endorsements in the blurb can help boost your book’s sales. Usually, one can go on the front cover. That would be from someone who wields influence on your readers, like a famous author, celebrity, or someone of very high status. Blurbs can also be placed within the sleeve of a hardcover book, either on the inside front or back of the book jacket. Note: There are instances when the endorsement becomes the book’s blurb itself. Especially if what the endorser says is enough to describe what the book is all about.

2. On marketing and promotional materials

Although this article focuses on endorsements that appear on the book cover, we should also mention the other areas where they are used. They can also be placed in press releases, print or online promotions, posters, and other advertising materials.

Are book endorsements necessary?

Not. Do not overthink about endorsements and where should they go. Again, endorsements are unnecessary, and many bestselling books have done well without them. Endorsements fall into the “good to have” category, and not the “must-have” category. Blurbs can impact the book’s success, though. And having great endorsements in them can give more credence to what you’ve written. After all, it is one of the first things a prospective buyer checks along with the cover design before making the purchase. Note: It’s advisable not to have any endorsements at all than to have bad ones from unknown sources.

Final Thoughts

Remember, a good endorsement should be specific, have a clear call to action, and come from an influential personality or organization with a reputation in the same space. The book endorsement examples we featured here met those criteria. These should be quotes from credible or high-status personalities. But, before you reach out to people, make sure you create a list of potential endorsers – a big list. You should have specific candidates in mind, not the ones you’ve never met. The key is getting an endorsement that can persuade people to buy and read your book. Next up, check what to write in a book for a gift, to personalize the books you share with others on different occasions.