For those looking for basic introductions to marketing, branding and advertising I can recommend Dan White’s recent “Smart” series (which I was recommended by a friend). The three books cover the three topics separately with clear descriptions of key ideas and tools elaborated by great visual illustrations.
Personally, I found the branding book the most insightful, However, all three books would be very useful to anyone new to marketing and also act as a good reference for more seasoned practitioners. By keeping the content simple and visual, Dan White’s guides are more accessible than many more complete or academic introductions.