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Quick answer: If you loved Influence, try Pre-Suasion, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Predictably Irrational, Nudge, Never Split the Difference and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Each one explains the psychology of persuasion, decision-making and why people say yes.
Robert B. Cialdini's 1984 classic explains six principles of persuasion: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity. A newer edition adds a seventh, unity. Cialdini spent years undercover in sales and marketing jobs to see how professionals get people to comply, and he shows how to spot and resist these tactics. Readers love its research and examples. These books share its psychology of influence.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Suasion | Robert B. Cialdini | Persuasion | readers who want more Cialdini |
| Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman | Decisions | readers who want the science |
| Predictably Irrational | Dan Ariely | Behavior | readers who like experiments |
| Nudge | Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein | Choice | readers who like choice design |
| Never Split the Difference | Chris Voss | Negotiation | readers who want negotiation skills |
| How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie | People skills | readers who want the classic |
| Made to Stick | Chip Heath and Dan Heath | Communication | readers who want memorable ideas |
| Contagious | Jonah Berger | Marketing | readers who like viral ideas |
| Hooked | Nir Eyal | Product design | readers who build products |
| The Art of Seduction | Robert Greene | Power | readers who like dark persuasion |
| Yes! | Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin and Robert B. Cialdini | Persuasion | readers who want quick tips |
| Alchemy | Rory Sutherland | Marketing | readers who like surprising marketing |
| Talk Triggers | Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin | Word of mouth | readers in business |
| Thinking in Bets | Annie Duke | Decisions | readers who like poker lessons |
| Propaganda | Edward Bernays | History | readers who want the history of PR |
1. Pre-Suasion by Robert B. Cialdini
How the moment before a request shapes the answer.
Best for: readers who want more Cialdini.
2. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Two systems of thinking.
Best for: readers who want the science.
3. Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Predictable mistakes in decisions.
Best for: readers who like experiments.
4. Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
How nudges shape decisions.
Best for: readers who like choice design.
5. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
An FBI negotiator's tactics.
Best for: readers who want negotiation skills.
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Timeless advice on getting along with people.
Best for: readers who want the classic.
7. Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Why some ideas survive.
Best for: readers who want memorable ideas.
8. Contagious by Jonah Berger
Why things catch on.
Best for: readers who like viral ideas.
9. Hooked by Nir Eyal
How products build habits.
Best for: readers who build products.
10. The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
Strategies of seduction through history.
Best for: readers who like dark persuasion.
11. Yes! by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin and Robert B. Cialdini
Fifty short persuasion lessons.
Best for: readers who want quick tips.
12. Alchemy by Rory Sutherland
Why illogical ideas often work.
Best for: readers who like surprising marketing.
13. Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin
How to get customers talking.
Best for: readers in business.
14. Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
Deciding well under uncertainty.
Best for: readers who like poker lessons.
15. Propaganda by Edward Bernays
A founder of public relations explains his methods.
Best for: readers who want the history of PR.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Influence: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Influence. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Read Pre-Suasion for Cialdini's follow-up. For the science of decisions, Thinking, Fast and Slow and Predictably Irrational are essential. If you want practical skills, Never Split the Difference and How to Win Friends and Influence People are classics. Marketers will enjoy Contagious and Alchemy.
Related: Influence by Robert Cialdini: Summary and Key Takeaways · Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Influence about?
The six (now seven) principles that explain why people say yes.
What are the principles?
Reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, scarcity and unity.
Is Influence good for sales?
Yes, though Cialdini also wants readers to resist manipulation.
Which edition should I read?
The new and expanded edition from 2021 adds the unity principle.
Who is Robert Cialdini?
A psychologist and professor known for persuasion research.
Is Influence hard to read?
No. It is full of stories and examples.
What should I read next?
Pre-Suasion.
What is social proof?
The tendency to follow what others are doing, especially when unsure.
How can I resist manipulation?
Cialdini suggests noticing when a principle is being used against you and pausing before deciding.