The 12 Best Persuasion Books of All Time (2024)
Welcome to our Best Books on Persuasion Collection. Here you’ll find summaries of the best persuasion books to help you with influence, negotiation, and sales.
Influence is about six principles of persuasion useful for sales, marketing, and negotiation. Professor Robert Cialdini backs his ideas with a lot of science research. The six principles are: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity.
"Our best evidence of what people truly feel and believe comes less from their words than from their deeds." —Robert Cialdini
Why should you read it? Influence may be the greatest marketing book of all time. But more than that, like a secret playbook of the human mind—a deep dive into our decision-making process. Think of it as a crash course in "Why did I just agree to that?" or "Why did I just buy that?" It's a must-read, whether you are a marketer, salesperson, or you just want to communicate with more influence. By the end, you'll understand why we say "yes" to things that make no sense, from buying stocks we know nothing about to subscribing to that cheese-of-the-month club. 🧀
Pre-Suasion shows a new side of influence. It's about everything that happens BEFORE you ask someone to say yes to your proposal. Professor Robert Cialdini has distilled hundreds of scientific studies to prove that how you FRAME a message from the beginning is crucial to its success.
"What we present first changes the way people experience what we present to them next." —Robert Cialdini
Never Split the Difference shows how to win negotiations and communicate more influentially. Chris Voss perfected his techniques over 25 years at the FBI, negotiating with kidnappers and terrorists. He says we should work with emotions not just reason, demonstrate empathy, use open-ended questions and educate ourselves about cognitive biases.
"To get real leverage, you have to persuade them that they have something concrete to lose if the deal falls through." —Chris Voss
Why should you read it? "Never Split the Difference" offers a thrilling ride into the world of elite negotiation, straight from the mind of an ex-FBI expert. Chris Voss takes you inside high-stakes negotiations, revealing strategies that can help you in both your professional and personal life. Imagine understanding the psychology of negotiation well enough to confidently buy a car, discuss a raise, close that important business deal—or even convince your friends to finally try that sushi restaurant you love. 🍣
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie is a classic self-help book that offers practical tips for better communication and relationships. It teaches key principles for handling people, making friends, influencing others, and becoming a respected leader. The book highlights the importance of empathy, respect, and appreciation.
"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." —Dale Carnegie
Why should you read it? The book is filled with timeless wisdom on how to build meaningful relationships and influence people positively. It's not just about making friends but also about becoming a better communicator and leader. I found the real-life examples and practical tips incredibly useful in both my personal and professional life. You should definitely read it to enhance your social skills and become more effective in your interactions.
Getting to Yes is the most important book on negotiation, according to many professionals. It comes from leaders of The Harvard Negotiation Project, who wanted to help people negotiate agreements with less time and friction. The four steps of the method are: people, interests, options and criteria.
"If you want someone to listen and understand your reasoning, give your interests and reasoning first and your conclusions or proposals later." —Roger Fisher
To Sell Is Human is about "non-sales selling" or, how to persuade others. Daniel Pink argues that sales skills are more essential than ever because "moving others" has become a part of most careers and businesses. His advice centers on the new ABCs: Attunement, Buoyancy and Clarity.
"To sell well is to convince someone else to part with resources—not to deprive that person, but to leave him better off in the end." —Daniel Pink
"What Every BODY Is Saying" by Joe Navarro is a guide to understanding body language, written by a former FBI agent. The book offers science-backed insights to help you communicate better and read people's nonverbal signals to understand their true thoughts and feelings.
"Having studied nonverbal behavior most of my adult life, I have come to realize that there are two principal things we should look for and focus on: comfort and discomfort." —Joe Navarro
Why should you read it? Reading "What Every Body is Saying" may completely change how you interact with people. Joe Navarro, with his vast experience as an FBI agent, provides fascinating insights into nonverbal communication that you can apply in everyday life. This book will make you more perceptive and aware of the subtle cues people give off, helping you understand their true feelings and intentions. It's a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build better relationships.
"Made to Stick" by Chip and Dan Heath teaches how to explain your ideas and thoughts so they capture attention, persuade others, and stick in people's minds. Learn why some ideas become popular and others fail using their research-based SUCCESs framework, which outlines six key principles: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotions, and Stories.
"The most basic way to get someone's attention is this: Break a pattern." —Chip Heath
Why should you read it? Curious why some ideas become popular while others flop? "Made to Stick" by Chip and Dan Heath cracks the code on what makes ideas unforgettable, by analyzing everything from hit marketing campaigns to political slogans, classic folktales, and even crazy conspiracy theories. Perfect for marketers, educators, entrepreneurs, or anyone eager to make their message as clingy as gum on a shoe in summer. 👟
Thinking, Fast and Slow explains how people make decisions using two mental systems: "fast" thinking is instinctive and emotional, while "slow" thinking is deliberate and logical. Daniel Kahneman helps us understand our when our mind fall into common biases and irrational shortcuts, so we can make better decisions in the future.
"A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth." —Daniel Kahneman
Propaganda is an eye-opening look at how public opinion can be manipulated through media, for political power and profit. Edward Bernays says that in politics, an "invisible government" of thought leaders shape public discussion. And in business, companies use "public relations" techniques to control their reputation.
"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society." —Edward Bernays
"Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely explores the hidden forces that shape our decisions, demonstrating through a series of experiments and insights that humans do not always act rationally. Ariely delves into behavioral economics to explain why people often make irrational choices in their daily lives and how these choices affect consumer behavior.
"Even the most analytical thinkers are predictably irrational; the really smart ones acknowledge and address their irrationalities." —Dan Ariely
Why should you read it? Dan Ariely uses engaging research and real-world examples to show just how often we stray from rationality. This book is not only fascinating but also immensely useful, particularly for marketers, as it explains the underlying motives behind consumer choices. Whether you’re a professional in the field or simply curious about human nature, this book offers valuable insights into the irrational ways we all behave.
Trump: The Art of the Deal is a memoir from Donald Trump that gives us an inside look at his earlier real estate career, building his empire that includes skyscrapers and casinos. Whether you love or hate Trump, you'll learn a lot about business, publicity and negotiation.
"Good publicity is preferable to bad, but from a bottom line perspective, bad publicity is sometimes better than no publicity at all. Controversy, in short, sells." —Donald Trump