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Influence: Science and Practice 5th Edition
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Influence: Science and Practice is an examination of the psychology of compliance (i.e. uncovering which factors cause a person to say “yes” to another's request).
Written in a narrative style combined with scholarly research, Cialdini combines evidence from experimental work with the techniques and strategies he gathered while working as a salesperson, fundraiser, advertiser, and in other positions inside organizations that commonly use compliance tactics to get us to say “yes.” Widely used in classes, as well as sold to people operating successfully in the business world, the eagerly awaited revision of Influence reminds the reader of the power of persuasion.
Cialdini organizes compliance techniques into six categories based on psychological principles that direct human behavior: reciprocation, consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity.
- ISBN-109780205609994
- ISBN-13978-0205609994
- Edition5th
- PublisherAllyn and Bacon
- Publication dateJuly 29, 2008
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
- Print length260 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“This marvelous book explains in clear, practical language the ways in which we become persuaded. It offers excellent insights for those who sell, but even more importantly for all of us who negotiate and buy.” –ROGER FISHER, Director, Harvard Negotiation Project, Co-author of “Getting to Yes.”
“For marketers, it is among the most important books written in the last 10 years.” –JOURNAL OF MARKETING RESEARCH
“The best sales tip I ever got was encouragement to read INFLUENCE by Dr. Robert Cialdini. It was so profound and insightful, I read it three times in a row.” –GREG RENKER, President, Guthy-Renker
“It would be marvelous reading for students taking Social Psychology.” –DAVID MYERS, Hope College
“The book is tremendously entertaining and very popular with students. It makes excellent reading for a Consumer Behavior or Advertising class.” –ALAN J. RESNIK, Portland State University
“INFLUENCE should be required reading for all business majors.” –JOURNAL OF RETAILING
From the Back Cover
Over 1.5 million copies sold!
What factors cause someone to say yes? And which techniques most effectively use these factors to bring about such compliance? In his bestselling book, Robert Cialdini, former salesperson, fundraiser, and advertiser, and current professor of social psychology, examines the science and practice of persuasion and compliance. Praised for its enjoyable writing, practical suggestions, and scientifically documented content, prior editions have been widely read by business professionals, fundraisers, and those interested in psychology. The new edition includes:
• twice as many first hand accounts of how the book’s principles apply to business and personal lives;
• updated coverage of popular culture and new technology; and
• more on how compliance principles work in many cultures.
Here’s what people are saying about INFLUENCE: Science and Practice:
“This marvelous book explains in clear, practical language the ways in which we become persuaded. It offers excellent insights for those who sell, but even more importantly for all of us who negotiate and buy.”
–ROGER FISHER, Director, Harvard Negotiation Project, Co-author, Getting to Yes
“Bob Cialdini is the most brilliant student of influence and negotiation I’ve encountered. If everything were on the line in a negotiation, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have advising me.”
–TOM PETERS, The Tom Peters Group
“This book is the de facto standard to learn the psychology of persuasion. If you don’t read it, I hope you enjoy pounding your head against the wall and throwing away marketing dollars.”
–GUY KAWASAKI, CEO, Garage.com
“His book should be in every sales and marketing person’s briefcase and reread frequently.”
–R. CRIAG WILSON, Sr. Vice President, Sales Manager, Northern Trust
Robert B. Cialdini is a well known and influential speaker who gives frequent speeches on The Power of Ethical Influence to such organizations as IBM, the Mayo Clinic, and NATO. He is currently Regents’ Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, where he has also been named Graduate Distinguished Research Professor. He is past president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. He attributes his longstanding interest in the intricacies of social influence to the fact that he was raised in an entirely Italian family, in a predominantly Polish neighborhood, in a historically German city (Milwaukee), in an otherwise rural state.
About the Author
Robert B. Cialdini is Regents’ Professor of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, where he has also been named W. P. Carey Distinguished Professor of Marketing. He has taught at Stanford University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He has been elected president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award of the Society for Consumer Psychology, the Donald T. Campbell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Social Psychology, and the (inaugural) Peitho Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Science of Social Influence.
Dr. Cialdini attributes his interest in social influences to the fact that he was raised in an entirely Italian family, in a predominantly Polish neighborhood, in a historically German city (Milwaukee), in an otherwise rural state.
Product details
- ASIN : 0205609996
- Publisher : Allyn and Bacon; 5th edition (July 29, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 260 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780205609994
- ISBN-13 : 978-0205609994
- Lexile measure : 1220L
- Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #308,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #155 in Business Negotiating (Books)
- #689 in Medical General Psychology
- #4,830 in Motivational Self-Help (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Dr. Robert Cialdini, thought leader in the field of Influence, has spent his entire career conducting, testing, analyzing, and publishing peer-reviewed scientific research on what causes people to say “Yes” to requests. The results of his research, his ensuing articles, and his New York Times bestselling books have earned him an acclaimed reputation as a respected scientist and engaging storyteller.
Robert Cialdini’s books, including his New York Times Bestselling Influence and Pre-Suasion, have sold more than seven-million copies in 44 different languages.
Dr. Cialdini is known globally as the foundational expert in the science of influence and how to apply it ethically in business. His Principles of Persuasion have become a cornerstone for any organization serious about effectively increasing their influence. As a keynote speaker, Dr. Cialdini has earned a world-wide reputation for his ability to translate the science through valuable and memorable stories. These on-stage stories are both dramatic and indelible leading to long-term applications. Because of all of this, he is frequently regarded as “The Godfather of Influence”.
Dr Cialdini is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University. Dr. Cialdini received his PhD from University of North Carolina and post doctoral training from Columbia University. He holds honorary doctoral degrees (Doctor Honoris Causa) from Georgetown University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Wroclaw, Poland and University of Basil in Switzerland. He has held Visiting Scholar appointments at Ohio State University, the University of California, the Annenberg School of Communications, and the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University.
Dr. Cialdini is known globally as the foundational expert in the science of influence and how to apply it ethically in business. His Principles of Persuasion have become a cornerstone for any organization serious about effectively and ethically increasing their influence.
In acknowledgement of his outstanding research achievements and important contributions to world knowledge , Dr. Cialdini has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.
As a keynote speaker, Dr. Cialdini has earned a world-wide reputation for his ability to translate the science through valuable and memorable stories. These on-stage stories are both dramatic and indelible leading to long-term applications.
Because of all of this, Robert Cialdini is frequently regarded as “The Godfather of Influence”.
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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book very readable, fun, and entertaining. They appreciate the tremendous insight and analysis, real-world examples that help absorb concepts. Readers say the information shown is useful for anyone. Additionally, they say the book is great for sales, marketing, and PR.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book very readable and enjoyable. They appreciate the good points made, the compelling stories, and the author's notes. Readers also mention the writing is never too dry or academic, and the principles are intentionally simple.
"...caught my eye, the rest of the book is very informative and even fun to read...." Read more
"...Fascinating lessons learned rooted in science. Recommended reading." Read more
"...These principles are intentionally simple and are ingrained in human behavior, not just those formally trained in influence...." Read more
"...6. Chapters in the book (again, a very easy and fun read):Persuasion Principles:Principle 1: The Good Deal Principle..." Read more
Customers find the book has tremendous insight and analysis. They say it provides real-world examples that help absorb concepts. Readers also mention the information is useful for anyone, even if they don't plan to use it. They say the book provides solid scientific research that was previously available only to social scientists. Additionally, they appreciate the anecdotes that illustrate the techniques that compliance professionals use to influence people.
"This topic is just fascinating - the hidden pushes and pulls that affect our decision making, even when we believe we are reasoning...." Read more
"...and give these techniques their power: reciprocation, consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity...." Read more
"...This book provides the framework for not just becoming better at the art of influence, but becoming a better communicator in general." Read more
"...PROS:1. I love this book and how it explains social influence: the psychology of persuasion to consumers.2...." Read more
Customers find the book's value for money. They mention it's practically free and a great book for sales, marketing, and PR.
"...At the current price it’s practically free, and is one of the few books that is worth purchasing both the print and audio version to aid in your..." Read more
"...The chaper on "Liking" alone is priceless and worth getting this book! One of the most important books I have ever read!!" Read more
"...that I read this book, and all I can say is that it's the best $10 I spent...." Read more
"...just a few pearls of wisdom from this book, but it will be well worth the price paid...." Read more
Customers find the book's style approachable, with anecdotes and narratives that keep them interested. They also appreciate the great cover and good presentation.
"...It's an easy read, infinitely referable, and a really approachable layout. The content, though, is what makes it a great book...." Read more
"...Aren't they friendly, and attractively dressed? Don't they try to generate commitment, if only trivially, to lead you along the garden path?..." Read more
"...Very approachable style, with anecdotes and narratives that kept you interested the whole read...." Read more
"...is quite a bit of depth in the topics discussed, and I really liked the author's style...." Read more
Reviews with images
Good read, outdated references 😐
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2011
The book does a wonderful job of keeping the subject light despite that it is chock full of references to studies. There are even cartoons are scattered throughout the chapters. Pictures from real life also are mixed in. Included are "defenses" that are meant to help us avoid the pitfalls, but I'm not sure they'll be entirely helpful or not because I personally thought a lot of these tactics would be very obvious to me. Summaries of the chapters are included, which serve as good refreshers if it's been a while since you've read the book (and need to write an Amazon review :] ).
I think even anyone with a healthy dose of cynicism or business sense will read this and be surprised that these tactics work. One such example is of Detroit's Joe Girard, deemed greatest car salesman by Guinness Book of World Records for selling an average of 5 cars per day, who describes a technique he used: every month he sent a holiday greeting card (for Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, whatever) to each of his 13,000 customers, with nothing but the words "I like you" and his signed name. (p.150) "Could a statement of liking so impersonal, obviously designed to sell cars, really work?: Joe Girard thought so, and a man as successful as he was at what he did deserves our attention." It was at least one of the techniques he used to earn himself hundreds of thousands of dollars per year as a car salesman.
There's only one bit I came across in this entire book that I disagreed with, and it was from the chapter on authority, in which the author claims that normally authority figures (specifically and namely included are politicians and doctors) have earned the right to have "the word" on subjects they speak on. Politicians? Ha! Doctors? Like the ones who vouched for smoking being healthy when cigarettes came out? Think again. Trust Us We're Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future Other than that one tiny bit that caught my eye, the rest of the book is very informative and even fun to read.
I'll leave you with one unbelievable example from the very beginning that tells how a shop owner accidentally relieved herself of the trouble of selling a certain variety of turquoise jewelry. She left a note instructing her employee to reduce them to 1/2 price. The employee misread and raised the price by 2 instead; the pieces sold almost immediately. This is due to the fact that people without better knowledge of a particular good will use the price alone to determine the quality or value of that good. This also worked for Chivas Regal Scotch Whiskey, which was a struggling brand until it's owners decided to raise its price substantially above its competitors!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2012
This book is organized around the 6 psychological principles that direct human behavior and give these techniques their power: reciprocation, consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. Although this book may have been written to engage the popular reader, the conclusions that the author, a psychology professor at Arizona State University, reaches are based on controlled, psychological research. As Cialdini entertainingly walks the reader through what he learned during his 3-year period of participant observation that served as input to this book, in my opinion although he is both successful at instruction as well as keeping the reader engaged, as with many texts the reader will need to extrapolate in order to apply personally, especially if what is sought is application to the workplace.
Judging by the location of dog ears that were left behind after my reading of this text, the portions I especially appreciated are the first chapter, "Weapons of Influence", the last chapter, "Instant Influence: Primitive Consent for an Automatic Age", and the many sidebars throughout the body of what the author provides called "Reader's Reports". In fact, it turns out that the author has found that the "Readers's Reports" are one of the most popular aspects among readers, and in my opinion these are similar to the "Letters to the Editor" one might find in a newspaper or magazine: people writing in to the author to share how the principles and techniques that are presented in this text have been encountered in the real world. Fascinating lessons learned rooted in science. Recommended reading.
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2015
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars Prompt delivery
Reviewed in India on February 5, 2021
1.0 out of 5 stars Problema na impressão
Reviewed in Brazil on October 24, 2019
Reviewed in Brazil on October 24, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on April 13, 2017
2.0 out of 5 stars Dry!
Reviewed in Singapore on March 18, 2021
1/ Book presentation is quite bad. It is not a competition to put so much content in one page. Poor presentation is surprising on a book on persuasion!
2/ Overall it is very dry.
It is really a pity as content is very informative and examples are often entertaining. With a bit of editing work, I would have put 4 stars.
I went through the entire book and was happy when I finished it. I found out this book thanks to Scott Adams.






