Best Books On Persuasion – Top 9 Must Reads

The art of persuasion is hard to learn, but can provide a variety of benefits. From excelling in your job to growing your social status, being able to persuade others is a psychological skill that can impact your daily life.

Learning persuasion skills isn’t an easy task. Thankfully, there are experts out there with knowledge they are willing to share in their written works. Learning from experts in the field of persuasion and the psychology behind it can help you develop a thorough understanding of persuasion and the different tactics you can use.

We’ve found the best books on persuasion by those who know and understand it best. These books can teach you how others make decisions and how you can influence their decision-making process.

Best Books on Persuasion

Below are the nine best persuasion books that will teach you how to influence people and get others in agreement with your mission. Each book will help you learn how to get people to agree with you, allowing you to add more colleagues, friends, and buyers to your list. Whether you’re a business owner looking to make better contract negotiations, a worker looking to gain a better job position, or someone who simply wants to grow in a social way, being able to persuade others to your side is a valuable tool.

Even if you’ve never heard a lot about the psychology of persuasion, the books below will teach you all you need to know about human nature and the best way to persuade others.

1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

In Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Dr. Robert Cialdini teaches readers how to influence people and use their persuasion skills to get more people on their side. More specifically, he covers the six weapons of influence that can be used to persuade others. By using these six weapons, you’ll be able to gain authority, commitment from others, and a higher social status. 

This best-selling book is great for small business owners, authors, and leaders who want more people to get in on their mission or believe in their ideas. By reading this book, you’ll be able to understand the structure of power dynamics, and you’ll be able to get your message across to a wide range of people. 

2. Nudge

Written by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Nudge is all about human nature and decision-making. One of the best ways to persuade others is to learn more about how they make their decisions. 

Perfect for aspiring leaders and influencers, Nudge will help you understand others’ minds and help you change those minds. More specifically, Thaler teaches readers how you can design an environment that nudges you in the right direction. By building this “choice architecture,†you can positively influence yourself and others. 

3. Made to Stick 

Co-written by authors Chip Heath and Dan Heath and published by Random House, Made to Stick is all about why some ideas die and others survive. If you want your brand to influence and persuade an audience, Made to Stick will teach you what you need to know. 

If you want to spread your message, gain a large audience on social media, or grow your business, Made to Stick is one of the best books for you to read. 

4. How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is one of the best books of persuasion in the world. Perfect for people who want to connect with others and learn more about the psychology of persuasion, this book will teach you how to make more friends and get them on board with your vision. 

By reading this book, you’ll improve your ability to socialize and influence others without taking away their freedom of choice. Since people make friends who are similar to them, understanding others’ minds and what they’re like will help you make more friends, too. 

5. The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind 

The Catalyst by Jonah Berger is a great book for those who want to spread their message on a large scale. If you want to tell stories that impact others, or if you’re in the business of change, The Catalyst is one of the best books on persuasion for you to read.

In this, Berger discusses the five roadblocks that you’ll encounter while trying to change someone’s mind. Once you learn these, you’ll be able to avoid hesitation and harsh reactions from other people while trying to change their minds. 

6. Payoff

Payoff by Dan Ariely is all about the hidden logic that shapes our motivations. In this, Ariely discusses a wide range of topics, including marketing, influential organizations, and the best ways to persuade people. By reading this book, you’ll gain the ability to influence others without them realizing it. 

Although many believe that money and fame are at the root of human motivation, Dan Ariely explains how meaning, effort, and ownership are all key motivators as well. By knowing what motivates others, you’ll be able to influence their decisions and make a positive impact.

Written by Cass Sunstein, How Change Happens is a book about how to start a social movement and why some social movements fail. With real-life stories about social movements that have succeeded, How Change Happens has all the things you’ll need to influence and persuade others. 

7. How Change Happens

By reading this book, you’ll learn more about successful social movements, trends in the mainstream media, and the crucial role of social norms. Once you learn about how and why some social norms collapse, you’ll be able to build a social movement that stays alive. 

8. Enchantment

Created by Guy Kawasaki, Enchantment is all about the art of changing hearts, minds, and actions. Although some believe that to get people on your side, you have to manipulate them, Guy Kawasaki proves this theory wrong. Furthermore, he explains which version of persuasion is the most effective and how you can become the next big leader. 

In Enchantment, Kawasaki explains how to gain influence on an individual and organizational level. By reading this book, you’ll learn how to identify a target audience, understand their values, and deliver something that provides value. 

9. Words That Work

In Words That Work, Dr. Frank Luntz explains why it’s not what you say but what people hear that matters. Perfect for upcoming organizations and those who love to read about human nature, Words That Work will help you create a thriving business that becomes the next big thing. 

In this book, Dr. Luntz dives into the ten rules of successful communication, including consistency and simplicity. By learning the ten rules of successful communication, you’ll be able to communicate your ideas more effectively and get others on your side in no time. 

Final Thoughts: Are you Persuaded To Start Reading?

The persuasion books above will help you change the minds of others without taking away their freedom. Whether you have stories worth telling or a business that needs more customers, the books above will help you get more people on board. 

Whether you’re the leader of an organization, an entrepreneur, a business owner looking to make better contract negotiations, or a worker looking to gain a better job position, being able to influence others is key to a thriving life and business. By reading books on influence and persuasion, you’ll be able to create a social movement, improve the lives of others, and gain authority in your industry.