8 books to help you master influence

Dec 26, 2023

Aakanksha Sharma

Learning influence and persuasion

Persuasion and influence are not just limited to sales and cold calling anymore and it has become a part of everyday life for people who want to succeed. Here we list down some books that will teach you the art of influence and persuasion.

‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’ by Robert B. Cialdini

A rather old but very effective book, ‘Influence’ by Dr. Robert Cialdini reveals six powerful tactics people use to persuade others and offers practical tips to apply and protect themselves from them.

​‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene

The book by Robert Greene explains how we should never let others make the decisions for us. In a world where conflict and competition go hand in hand, it is very important to take your stands and stay away from unwanted control.

‘Methods of Persuasion’ by Nick Kolenda

‘Methods of Persuasion’ is a practical book that gives readers seven steps or ‘Methods’ to subtly influence the thoughts and behaviour of others, drawing on psychology and neuroscience.

​‘Getting to Yes’ by Roger Fisher and William Ury

Another very old but practical book is ‘Getting to Yes’. One of the best quotes from the book is - “Before you even begin to negotiate, it makes sense to envision what a successful agreement might look like.”

‘Captivate’ by Vanessa Van Edwards

‘Captivate’ by Vanessa Van Edwards shares science-backed strategies that can help people master social interactions. Be it shortcuts to work a room, interpret facial expressions or engage in memorable conversations, this book is a one-stop solution.

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‘Games People Play’ by Eric Berne

Eric Berne's book looks at human behaviour as 'games,' involving patterns and emotional payoffs. It categorizes interactions into degrees, showing us how similar actions vary in seriousness and emotions.

‘What Everybody is Saying’ by Joe Navarro

The author Joe Navarro is a former FBI agent and in the book, he shares his insights on decoding nonverbal cues to understand people better. With tons of tips on how body language influences perceptions, the author also teaches you to interpret behaviours.

‘To Sell Is Human’ by Daniel H. Pink

The book by Pink redefines sales, highlighting how persuasion is a part of daily life for many people. The book gives people practical strategies based on social science to transform their means of interaction and influence others.

Thanks For Reading!

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