The reading good books remains the ultimate "life hack" -Knowledge who often had years to assemble can be consumed within hours.
I can not think of a single best way to empower your learning (and yourself) than that. And as a professional, executive or entrepreneur, the more you know about how people tick, the better.
The problem is that when looking for new readings, lists are often filled with books that everyone already knows. How many other recommendations of the influence Cialdini do you need before you're sick of seeing?
As a voracious reader of books brainy on influence and persuasion (not limited to school coverage), I thought I mix things up with a few suggestions underestimated you will not see on most shelves.
following: Let's take a look
1. The person and the situation
The authors combine depth, academic ideas with writing very relatable. A strange, but perhaps accurate way to describe it is that it's like a college textbook that you really want to read!
In my view, this is the best book of Malcolm Gladwell's name was attached to. It is one of the definitive works in social psychology, perhaps eclipsed only by Eliot Aronson of the social animal.
The comments seem too positive, but frankly, they are justified. One of my favorites:
"I felt I had a better understanding of social psychology, after reading this book than I did after taking a year of doctoral level courses. "
2. Yes! (50 Scientifically Proven ways to be persuasive)
Do not get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, but just be warned this should be used as a complement to other "meaty" entries on the list.
While the book is informative, studies are ignored rather quickly and not much depth is given to any individual study .
He, however, make a great "rabbit hole" read: you will discover about a study, look more information, find more related studies, and "falling into the rabbit hole "looking for new material.
This is an excellent place to get your feet wet in a variety of studies related to persuasion-start.
3. Creative Advertising
In this book Pricken gives a step by step breakdown of effective ads, doing a great job explaining why these ads are so impactful. It could be the book that I recommended to frequently marketers in recent months.
It is beautifully designed, and you have a candid look at the ads themselves, oh, how I love it when the theory is thrown out the window in favor of real-world examples.
4. The Art of Human Hacking
Although this book deals specifically with social engineering (surprise!) There are many psychological aspects that turn it into a play very interesting the influence.
The book has a tone somewhat antagonistic, but it corresponds to the object. People are considered "victims" and activities are defined as "exploits" and "attacks" because that is what is being analyzed.
But this should not deter you from reading it, it's like watching those shows where a former thief shows homeowners how easy it was to break into their home. Here, however, the hooking is substituted for human handling. This is not a book you read to copy the specific methods; it is the one you read to understand.
5. The psychology of change of attitudes and social influence
To summarize this book in one sentence, I would call a more academic influence.
It takes a very scientific approach to the psychology of influence, but is perhaps a little less convenient than working Cialdini.
For a real understanding of academic persuasion, however, this book is fantastic. It came highly recommended from a former professor of mine, and I'm glad I picked it up.
6. Fascinate
I will avoid the pun too awful to call this book "fascinating".
Here, Sally Hogshead explained how elements such as storytelling and modeling hold a powerful influence, and it leaves the practical game plans readers to captivate the attention.
I have two comments on writing Hogshead: the first is a mild criticism, in that the book often try to take established ideas and make them sound completely new
.The second is full of praise: you want only the title of a book Fascinate if it is a page-turner, and writing Sally will definitely hook you to the end
.7. Numbers Rule Your World
He rides statistics, persuasion and psychology, and the clear writing, discusses what could be an incredibly boring subject for some readers ( the application of statistics and how they affect you) and it turns into a really easy read.This book is probably the most unique of all the books I recommend here.
I approached this book is waiting to crawl slowly through it, but there are a ton of good examples and Fung made an enviable job of using stories to get his points across.
Whether you are a "number guy" (or gal) or just want to take the appearance of a layman on statistics and their involvement in current affairs, this book is one you will enjoy.
8. Understanding the Buy Buttons in the brain of your customer
This is one of the best beginner books for those interested in neuromarketing, in addition to Brainfluence Roger Dooley .
Two things to consider: the book is an easy read; The studies are not cited in depth and content can be easily consumed. However, if you're not new to this space, coverage may be too simplistic.
If you are looking for an introduction and you have not read the perennial classics like influence again (there is still a reference for you) which makes for a strong reading.
9. The Advertised Mind
Du Plessis made convincing arguments and often delves into the philosophical territories, and not for the faint of heart, to be sure! The book is an easy read. That said, there is a reward if you can make it through.
However, this is an incredibly strong coverage of the intersection between neuroscience and advertising.
One reviewer called the book as "cognitive science meets Madison Avenue," a fitting description that reveals actually quite a lot of what you are about to enter.
10. Brandwashed
this is one of those intriguing intersections between the understanding of marketing to use for your business projects and simply understand how brands try to convince you.
Some of the examples are not so mind-blowing (groceries using cash for making fruit appears "farm fresh"), but others are really interesting.
I wish Lindstrom had some more analysis on each study, as it seems to just take everyone at face value. That said, these studies are really interesting and very revealing in how easy it is for marketers to deceive us (shame!).
11. The Compass of Pleasure
Get a load of this subtitle:
How our brain Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm , Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and the game Feel so Good
This is a methodical, academic to answer questions like why cigarettes are so addictive and how dopamine can turn some minds slaves for fun.
Although the book is launched as a guide to understanding the nature of addiction, we will walk away with a general understanding of persuasion and addictive products.
12. The brain of purchase
There is another book called Lindstrom Buyology that often comes highly recommended when examining books of this ilk, but I say you should skip this book and get it instead.
Pradeep creates a good overview of the emerging neuromarketing space and does so with a lot of good examples.
I appreciated that precisely because many books simply quote the research at hand; as a guy who regularly reads research papers, thank you exposure to new research, but I could have just read myself.
This book avoids that by taking the extra step with potential methods of implementation; loath though I am to call things "action" is appropriate in this case.
13. Lucifer effect
This book focuses on the results of the experience of the legendary Stanford Prison.
If this research has fascinated you in any way, you need to check this book out. It basically offers an inside look at much of the study data, including transcripts.
There is a fascinating look at how even the "normal" people fall into certain roles in situations that many of us can not imagine happening (or if you want to deny).
The last chapter is also quite interesting for those who are familiar with the experience: the author describes a program to strengthen resistance to mind control strategies
.Scary stuff, but eye-opening compelling reading.
14. Obedience to authority
This is another "tell-all" about the study of psychology fascinating, challenging, and horrifying known as the Milgram experiment (after the principal investigator).
If you're not familiar with the study, was designed to test whether people obey authority even when they were asked to do something they knew evil (in this case, shocking the other participants, or at least believe they were).
It details numerous testimonies of participants with severe signs of distress, but continues with the shocks applied as actors in another room (pretending to be other subjects) screamed in pain.
This book is a reading for understanding the construction and the dangers of absolute obedience to authority-consider these inputs "safety manual" on persuasion and influence.
15. Out of character
Just what exactly happens when someone "breaks" character?
is the same character as concrete, or is it more as a shade of gray?
I find it really fascinating book in its singular focus on the character and psychology of how external impact events.
life "Normal" (not necessarily a boring life, but less extreme by comparison) that it is often difficult to understand these extreme acts, and this book takes a look at a lot of examples that show us that if we were in similar circumstances, we would be very likely to act in a similar manner.
Great examples, great looking, and a large fireplace make this a must-read.
16. Strangers to ourselves
If these books on the brain teach us anything, it is probably this: Your conscious mind is not always in the control
This book is one of the biggest hits in this category to understand this concept; it is definitely a psychology book, but it delves into the realm of philosophy as well.
Frankly, I can not find research as compelling as other similar books, but the issues raised by Wilson are by far some of my favorites.
17. Sleights of Mind
The main problem with this book addresses is how we are influenced, with authors a very specific look to the illusions of the "magic" and some studies related neurosciences.
This book reads like "The Psychology of Magic", and if it sounds interesting to you, this is a must-read.
As for practicality, I would say this book is another of those books that is on understanding and through this understanding there are some practical applications to have.
That said, for me it was definitely interesting, and it is one of the most unusual books on this list.
18. Why we buy
I agree with the many authors of this book that ends ... without incident, shall we say. It gets very sales-y for the author's company, which was a huge disappointment.
The rest of the book is outstanding. It is interesting to see the actual data on how people shop.
Some examples certainly left me fascinated, especially in industries where I am clueless as product placement in grocery stores.
19. The Invisible Gorilla
A book dedicated to reveal the many ways that our intuitions can deceive us; but it is much more than a catalog of human failures.
Chabris and Simons explain why we succumb to these illusions everyday and what we can do to inoculate ourselves against their effects.
There is a working combination of several researchers with extensive findings on attention, perception, memory and reasoning, all of which reveal how faulty intuitions often have us problems.
The name of the book is based on the notorious video on selective attention:
20. Methods of Persuasion
a strong reading on consumer motivation, backed with the relevant tested cognitive research.
The premise of the book is the development of the strategy METHODS, comprising the step of:
- Mold Their perception
- Foster Attitudes congruent
- Trigger social pressure
- habituation your message
- Optimize your message
- Drive Their Momentum
- Sustain Their compliance
the language used, as with many books of marketing, is off-putting at first, but the proposed application is ethical and appropriate for all traders.
21. Confessions of an Advertising Man
As is the case with the now famous breakthrough advertising, this book contains profound ideas in psychology, research on non-scientists.
It is not necessary when the book's centerpiece is commendable career Ogilvy as one of the greatest advertising men in the industry.
read in conjunction with the other perennial classic, Scientific Advertising, and you will learn from two of the most touted books in marketing / copywriting of all time.
must for those looking to understand and practice the art of persuasion.
22. The silent language of the leaders
I never would have thought I recommend a book with "body language" in the subtitle, but Dr. Carol Goman wrote what should be the best coverage of psychological insights applied to person communication.
The role of a leader is one that requires the ethical use of persuasion to bring out the best in the midst of an often very variable team. How to communicate is just as important as what you communicate.
Dr. Goman's work offers some fluffy pragmatic advice on better communication that can bring out the "last 10 percent" in people that make good great employees.
23. Getting to Yes
This is a stellar playback on commercial negotiation tactics; although references may be dated (the first edition was published 30 years ago), applying the test of time.
Near required reading for sales and success teams to customers, but good for anyone with a passing interest in getting beyond the "Trading for Dummies."
24. The art of the pitch
The thought of doing a no elevator is scary for many people.
While you can never get into a high pressure situation exactly like this in your career, there will almost always be times when you need to "sell" an idea, even if it is a good thing.
This book makes some level of comments and very clever head over what items are really not a success.
You do not need to be a startup founder about to launch an angel to make a sale, but if you are, definitely pick up this book and then watch this video parody to calm your nerves:
25. selling the invisible
right reader, this book will be worth its weight in gold.
The sale of services- "invisible" -hasn't been carefully addressed in some of the most outstanding books on sale that I read as SPIN Selling, or The New Strategic Selling.
If you work for a company or consulting or business is the sale of services / productized support are this valuable information, especially when weighed against other books on sale.
The sale of products should refer to the two books I mentioned above; those of the service sector, this is the book you've been waiting.
He was sharing great books with you the privilege; it is natural that it almost turned into a recurring series for us.
What do you think? What have you been reading lately
25 pounds of non-conventional business you will not see on most shelves (but should)