Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD)

~ (Author), (Author), (Author), Blair Hardman (Reader)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Blair Hardman brings competent and generally pleasant—if not particularly animated or memorable—delivery to this practical collection of tips and tricks. The content itself—divided into 50 minichapters—proves ready-made for the audiobook format. Listeners with short commutes can sample a tidbit or two on each leg of their journey and not find the listening disjointing, though the concluding sections devoted to the nuances of cross-cultural persuasive communication may not be quite as easily digested as the more general findings and insights. Fans of Freakonomics and The Tipping Point form a built-in audience for whom the relevance of the material will likely trump any concerns about the dry presentation. A Free Press hardcover(Reviews, Apr. 14). (Feb.)
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Review

"If you had a team of bright guys looking for research that you can actually use to improve your effectiveness, and they wrote it up for you with wit and style, putting it in nifty little reports of three to five pages, would that be useful? YES! This book is the trifecta: first-rate research, lively writing, and practical advice. Read it, enjoy it, use it."-- Dale Dauten, nationally syndicated King Features columnist and author of The Gifted Boss --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (February 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743583264
• ISBN-13: 978-0743583268
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #306,874 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

162 of 194 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dale Carnegie's Classic How to Win Friends - Turns Scientific, June 5, 2008

By	James East (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive (Hardcover)

Much like the Dale Carnegie classic, one could consider this the scientific version with current and updated studies and field tested facts. Though many will probably purchase this book primarily due to Robert Cialdini's authorship based on his polymath classic "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion", I had to rate this book (in my view a sequel) at only 3 stars. This somewhat lower grade is mainly due to the fact that it is very hard to surpass oneself after one has published a masterpiece (no disrespect to the other co-authors). Regardless, this book still holds its own and the stories are fast moving with heavy doses (50 to be exact) of social influences, such as:

1) Social Proof Studies
2) Reciprocation Tendency
3) Authority Respecting
4) Commitment & Consistency Response
5) Scarcity Reaction, and
6) The Liking & Loving Response

If you have previously read Influence, you will like this book. If you have not, this book is a good introductory start on the subject matter of social influences. If one really likes this subject and wants to pursue it in more depth, please also refer to other fine books on the subject such as, How We Know What Isn't So (very good), Mean Markets and Lizard Brains (Hidden Gem), The Psychology of Judgment & Decision Making (Classic), or Poor Charlie's Almanack (Charlie's Insights). Good reading and enjoy :)

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good but why not read the masterpiece prequel first?, August 23, 2008

By	Houman Tamaddon "rating inflation slayer" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive (Hardcover)

If you haven't read "Influence" by Robert Cialdini then I would strongly recommend skipping this one for now and starting with that one. Cialdini's original book was one of the best psychology books I have ever read. This one is more like a sequel and like most sequels, it is not as good. In Cialdini's "Influence", he talks about 6 weapons of influence:

1) Reciprocity
2) Liking
3) Social Proof
4) Authority
5) Scarcity
6) Commitment and Consistency

This book consists of 50 short chapters where these weapons are at work. Very entertaining and insightful, but I felt that the authors violated some of their own advice by having so many chapters and not organizing them in any particular way. For example, the chapters each demonstrated one of the weapons of influence at work and perhaps the book should have been organized more formally into 6 parts with each part representing one of the weapons. I was very entertained but I am not sure if the book will have any long lasting educational value unlike "Influence".

This is a quick read and I highly recommend it AFTER you have read Cialdini's "Influence".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Cialdini does it again! -- A must-read book!, August 17, 2008

By	Peter A. Schaible (Brewster, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive (Hardcover)

This is Dr. Cialdini's most important publication since Influence: Science and Practice.

Based on real research, not merely anecdotal evidence. Its scientific conclusions are the basis for a whole new branch of psychology. Neuro-Linguistic Programming students, take notice. You could model these techniques.

This is essential reading for all marketers, sales people, lawyers, business owners -- anyone who wants and needs to understand ethical persuasion and negotiation.

Not to be missed!