Influence, New and Expanded: The Essential Guide to the Psychology of Influence and Persuasion in Everyday Life

I had a copy of this long ago, but lost it. Hence the new purchase. I wanted to re-read it. The author does a fantastic job of outlining the "click whirr" subconcious things people have in them, and how folks might try to take advantage of them. While the book is sort of geared towards sales and marketing folks that are trying to figure out what makes people "tick" in order to subconciously drive a sale or something, the author writes the book in a way to make it accessible to folks who just want to know these things and be aware of how they can be used against them by others. Once you read this book, you start listening and watching people interact with you differently. You start to pickup on the cues they use to try to get one of your subconcious "click whirr" autonomous functions to trigger. And, then, b/c you notice it, you can counteract it by conciously deciding to not go along with it when you might have subconciously done so in the past without this knowledge. I worked in marketing/sales analytics for almost a decade, and that's when I first read this book. And, I was able to see through all the marketing / sales pitches and what-not after doing so. It helped me realize I was dealing with predatory sales people, and walk away from awful deals they were trying to push me into. It helps you understand how they might prey upon you, so you have better awareness and defense to it. It's a fascinating book from a psychology and sociology aspect, but also a very useful and functional "training manual" to prep you to see beyond the sales pitches and protect yourself.

I read this book because it is recommended by kindlepreneur as a good marketing theory book. I had previously read “Tribes” and was not impressed. “Influence” is everything that tribes is not. It has a well defined, thoughtful idea progression from start to finish. Every story or study mentioned is cited. The writing style is polished and engaging. I feel like if I can assimilate the information in this book I will be a more persuasive person.

Great book. If Robert Greene is a bit too much, try this first! Great tidbits of information in every chapter. Very entertaining read

I found this new version to still be a fascinating read on the psychology of persuasion. Cialdini's insights and examples provide a compelling look into the ways people are influenced, and I appreciate the practical applications he offers for understanding and utilizing these principles. While I found some sections to be a bit repetitive or overly simplistic, overall the book is well-written and thought-provoking. I would recommend it to anyone interested in psychology or wanting to improve their ability to persuade others.

The book was amazing, it kept me interested throughout and wasn’t a boring book that made it hard to read and was uninteresting, although its a relatively long book, i loved every page of it and it gave me new useful insights and concepts .

As a Cialdini Certified Practitioner, I thought I knew all the tricks up Dr. Robert Cialdini's sleeve. But this new and expanded edition of "Influence" is like watching a master magician reveal even more secrets behind their illusions – only in this case, the magic is the science of persuasion, and we're all unwitting participants in the show. Cialdini doesn't just pull back the curtain on human behavior; he installs floor-to-ceiling windows, floods the room with light, and hands you a high-powered telescope. This book is the Rosetta Stone of influence, decoding the hieroglyphics of human decision-making with the precision of a cryptographer and the flair of a bestselling novelist. Warning: Reading this book may cause sudden outbursts of "Aha!" moments in public places. Side effects include an inability to watch commercials without analyzing them, a newfound skepticism towards salespeople, and the eerie sense that you can read minds (spoiler: you can't, but it'll feel like you can). Cialdini has essentially written the genome sequence of persuasion, mapping out the DNA of influence with such clarity that you'll wonder if he's been secretly recording your thoughts. It's like he's invented X-ray specs for human behavior, allowing you to see the skeletal structure of every sales pitch, marketing campaign, and social interaction. For the uninitiated, this book is a crash course in human psychology. For a Cialdini Certified Coach like myself, it's like receiving an advanced degree in the subject, complete with a treasure trove of new insights and strategies. "Influence" doesn't just change how you see the world; it rewires your brain to notice the subtle strings of persuasion being pulled all around you. It's not just a book – it's a superpower in paperback form. Read it, and prepare to navigate the world of human interaction like Neo navigates the Matrix. Just remember: with great influence comes great responsibility. Use your newfound powers wisely!

This book truly blew my mind. The most interesting parts revealed the types of influence I’ve been bombarded with my entire life without realizing it. The initial awareness was unsettling—not because of the book itself, but because of how pervasive these tactics are. Once I moved past the shock and discomfort, I was completely captivated. Now, I see these tactics everywhere and often point them out to my family. As someone in sales, I initially bought this book hoping to improve my strategy. Instead, I found many of the methods to be largely unethical, and I no longer want to apply them knowingly to my career. I’ve come to accept that these tactics are part of the human experience, but I now pause to consider: Is this appropriate or manipulative? Thanks to this book, I feel like a better person—more aware of how culture constantly tries to influence me and more mindful of my own tendencies. It’s a very academic read, which might be challenging for some, but it’s also one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read.

The first 2 chapters are amazing and applicable to literally anyone, however, there are some chapters that are way too long and not that valuable