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Top positive review
3 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsFun Read
ByPreston Pyshon September 19, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Robert Cialdini and this book was fantastic. It was interesting to hear about more studies that prove many of the arguments Cialdini outlines in his other book, Influence.
Top critical review
One person found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsUseful ideas, disappointing presentation
ByFCRichelieuon July 17, 2017
This book is full of interesting and useful ideas about persuasion. It draws on findings from a wide range of research/experiments on decision making.
There are, however, a couple of aspects of its presentation that I find frustrating. First, the authors are often very brief when describing the experiments from which important lessons are drawn. With social science experiments such as these, where there are various factors that are difficult to control, I find it impossible to judge the validity, applicability, or limitations of their findings without considering the sampling methods, conditions under which the experiments are conducted, etc. It is true that the authors do provide footnotes that show where one can look up the papers presented by the various researchers. Assuming that a casual reader has access to all the academic journals concerned, it is unrealistic for him/her to make the enormous efforts to go through all of the very large amounts of background materials. The alternative would be to take the authors' words for granted, which is hardly the attitude to take when one considers evidence-based findings.
My second frustrations has to do with the authors' presentation of the 50 ideas as distinct lessons, without any attempt at grouping (say, based on related concepts or relative importance, etc). As such, I find it difficult when I try to remember the ideas, or refer back afterwards without having to flip through 50 chapters.
There are, however, a couple of aspects of its presentation that I find frustrating. First, the authors are often very brief when describing the experiments from which important lessons are drawn. With social science experiments such as these, where there are various factors that are difficult to control, I find it impossible to judge the validity, applicability, or limitations of their findings without considering the sampling methods, conditions under which the experiments are conducted, etc. It is true that the authors do provide footnotes that show where one can look up the papers presented by the various researchers. Assuming that a casual reader has access to all the academic journals concerned, it is unrealistic for him/her to make the enormous efforts to go through all of the very large amounts of background materials. The alternative would be to take the authors' words for granted, which is hardly the attitude to take when one considers evidence-based findings.
My second frustrations has to do with the authors' presentation of the 50 ideas as distinct lessons, without any attempt at grouping (say, based on related concepts or relative importance, etc). As such, I find it difficult when I try to remember the ideas, or refer back afterwards without having to flip through 50 chapters.
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ByFCRichelieuon July 17, 2017
This book is full of interesting and useful ideas about persuasion. It draws on findings from a wide range of research/experiments on decision making.
There are, however, a couple of aspects of its presentation that I find frustrating. First, the authors are often very brief when describing the experiments from which important lessons are drawn. With social science experiments such as these, where there are various factors that are difficult to control, I find it impossible to judge the validity, applicability, or limitations of their findings without considering the sampling methods, conditions under which the experiments are conducted, etc. It is true that the authors do provide footnotes that show where one can look up the papers presented by the various researchers. Assuming that a casual reader has access to all the academic journals concerned, it is unrealistic for him/her to make the enormous efforts to go through all of the very large amounts of background materials. The alternative would be to take the authors' words for granted, which is hardly the attitude to take when one considers evidence-based findings.
My second frustrations has to do with the authors' presentation of the 50 ideas as distinct lessons, without any attempt at grouping (say, based on related concepts or relative importance, etc). As such, I find it difficult when I try to remember the ideas, or refer back afterwards without having to flip through 50 chapters.
There are, however, a couple of aspects of its presentation that I find frustrating. First, the authors are often very brief when describing the experiments from which important lessons are drawn. With social science experiments such as these, where there are various factors that are difficult to control, I find it impossible to judge the validity, applicability, or limitations of their findings without considering the sampling methods, conditions under which the experiments are conducted, etc. It is true that the authors do provide footnotes that show where one can look up the papers presented by the various researchers. Assuming that a casual reader has access to all the academic journals concerned, it is unrealistic for him/her to make the enormous efforts to go through all of the very large amounts of background materials. The alternative would be to take the authors' words for granted, which is hardly the attitude to take when one considers evidence-based findings.
My second frustrations has to do with the authors' presentation of the 50 ideas as distinct lessons, without any attempt at grouping (say, based on related concepts or relative importance, etc). As such, I find it difficult when I try to remember the ideas, or refer back afterwards without having to flip through 50 chapters.
One person found this helpful
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ByPreston Pyshon September 19, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Robert Cialdini and this book was fantastic. It was interesting to hear about more studies that prove many of the arguments Cialdini outlines in his other book, Influence.
ByJustice Campbellon February 4, 2018
This is a good book. There are a lot of “wow, that’s interesting moments.” It will show things in a way you likely never saw them. It’s fascina and entertaining.
Practical advice you can apply? Some.
But ... there’s a good bit in this book I’ve never heard or read elsewhere and that’s why I recommend it.
Practical advice you can apply? Some.
But ... there’s a good bit in this book I’ve never heard or read elsewhere and that’s why I recommend it.
ByStephen Palmeron January 7, 2010
As a marketing consultant and writer I read every persuasion book I can get my hands on. This is one of the most useful in the field that I've ever read.
I particularly appreciate the formatting. Each chapter begins with a scientific case study, followed by the relevant conclusions drawn from the study, then completed with ways the conclusions can be applied in a variety of circumstances. The effect on me was to spark tons of ideas for my clients.
The brief, yet concentrated chapters make for easy and engaging reading. I read the book the first time in one sitting, and not once did my attention wander. The formatting also means that you don't have to read the chapters sequentially -- you can open up to any chapter and get valuable, stand-alone content.
The most beneficial aspect of the book is the scientific research. Contrary to many other books in the field, you can feel comfortable with the empirical, rather than subjective, approach.
I've added this book to the core books on persuasion that I reference constantly.
I particularly appreciate the formatting. Each chapter begins with a scientific case study, followed by the relevant conclusions drawn from the study, then completed with ways the conclusions can be applied in a variety of circumstances. The effect on me was to spark tons of ideas for my clients.
The brief, yet concentrated chapters make for easy and engaging reading. I read the book the first time in one sitting, and not once did my attention wander. The formatting also means that you don't have to read the chapters sequentially -- you can open up to any chapter and get valuable, stand-alone content.
The most beneficial aspect of the book is the scientific research. Contrary to many other books in the field, you can feel comfortable with the empirical, rather than subjective, approach.
I've added this book to the core books on persuasion that I reference constantly.
ByAmazon Customeron May 16, 2018
It was good, a nice amalgamation of many different psychological theories and ideas. However, it was quite redundant at times. Really its more like 20 theories to be persuasive, they just break down several theories and many different ways.
ByJohn Stedgeon December 10, 2008
Goldstein, Martin, and Cialdini writes a simple, funny, and eye-opening book on pursuasion strategy. In fact, as the title suggests there are 50 different examples and strategies one can utilize to be more pursuasive in normal day-to-day interactions with other people.
The authors challenge the notion that persuasion as art. For them, it is science. One can hypothesize, test, and field it. In fact, the 50 ways (or examples) are real life experiences of how persuasive strategy has been implemented scientifically.
As the authors points out that the purpose of the book is to show the underlying psychological processes, therefore, enhancing one's persuasiveness by properly aligning one's efforts to influence other people.
For instance, the authors writes that if one would like to persuade others to do something, the first step is to ask a little thing to create a vested interest. Once, a person is vested, it is easier to convince them to do more later on. Another example is that the word, "because", is the most persuasive word in the English vocabulary that one ought to utilize the most when trying to convince others to help you.
The book is very easy to read and in fact, quite enjoyable. I recommend it to those who want to learn the Science of Persuasion.
The authors challenge the notion that persuasion as art. For them, it is science. One can hypothesize, test, and field it. In fact, the 50 ways (or examples) are real life experiences of how persuasive strategy has been implemented scientifically.
As the authors points out that the purpose of the book is to show the underlying psychological processes, therefore, enhancing one's persuasiveness by properly aligning one's efforts to influence other people.
For instance, the authors writes that if one would like to persuade others to do something, the first step is to ask a little thing to create a vested interest. Once, a person is vested, it is easier to convince them to do more later on. Another example is that the word, "because", is the most persuasive word in the English vocabulary that one ought to utilize the most when trying to convince others to help you.
The book is very easy to read and in fact, quite enjoyable. I recommend it to those who want to learn the Science of Persuasion.
Very similar information presented in a different format could be a book about evolutionary psychology or a book about etiquette. The fact is, it matters that we communicate with a sensitivity as to how we are likely to be perceived. This collection of little known scientific studies documents what the "people person" seems to know intuitively. That these nuances are received on a partially subconscious level makes them all the more powerful.
Cialdini divides social psychology into six divisions:
1) Social Proof Studies
2) Reciprocation Tendency
3) Authority Respecting
4) Commitment & Consistency Response
5) Scarcity Reaction, and
6) The Liking & Loving Response
As another reviewer has pointed out, the chapter titles are designed to create curiosity. If you need to get up early in the morning, resist reading the title to the next chapter.
An easy five stars for this extremely well-written and useful book.
DB
Cialdini divides social psychology into six divisions:
1) Social Proof Studies
2) Reciprocation Tendency
3) Authority Respecting
4) Commitment & Consistency Response
5) Scarcity Reaction, and
6) The Liking & Loving Response
As another reviewer has pointed out, the chapter titles are designed to create curiosity. If you need to get up early in the morning, resist reading the title to the next chapter.
An easy five stars for this extremely well-written and useful book.
DB
ByJusuf Harimanon January 11, 2009
This is a remarkable book. It describes the very new field of "social influence" clearly and concisely (to illustrate, when I got my first PHD in 1980, the field of "social influence" was not in existence yet). Social influence is a way to ethically get people to do what we want them to do. But this book is a thousand times better than the best selling books by authors such as Dave Lakhani, Ken Mc Arthur, William Ury, Kurt Mortensen, Robert Bly, Kevin Hogan, John Munkman,etc. Perhaps the reason is because the field of "social influence" is based on modern experimental psychology and its findings have been scientifically ratified and corroborated. This book is even better than its predecessor ie Robert Cialdini's Influence:Theory and Practice. The only book on negotiation and persuasion that is better than this book is Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People? Digest this book, apply its principles and promotion and salary increase will surely be yours. Dr Jusuf Hariman.
ByJ. Russellon November 5, 2016
Superb little set! Full of very interesting tips about how people make decisions for reasons other than what they think. People who want to learn to handle other people would do well to make a small investment and buy this item.
ByTroy Stakeron November 9, 2015
This book has short precise and rich chapters. You will really enjoyed how the principles were clear and simple. You will liked how each principle was demonstrated with examples (where people have done it right as well as when it is done wrong). It is a hard hitting, good book and reflects how these types of books should be when money is time, and time is money.
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