5 Must-Read Books on Persuasion

What do you want your audience to do when you finish speaking? Persuasive speakers move people to action, in part by understanding their audience. The study of persuasion dates back thousands of years, to the ancient Greeks, who treasured the art of public speaking. One of the most frequently cited works from this period is Aristotle’s Rhetoric, in which Aristotle famously defines rhetoric as “the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion.”

Modern persuasion scholars focus less on the art of the speaker and more on the decision-making processes of the audience. If we understand the audience’s decision-making process, we can alter our approach to fit the situation. These five books can help you develop that ability.

1 Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion
By Jay Heinrichs

Classical rhetoricians recognized two modes of persuasion as important to a logical argument: pathos (emotion) and ethos (character). Heinrichs brings these lessons to life for modern readers.

2 Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential
By John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut

This book posits that audiences believe speakers who are credible and trustworthy. They also look for signs of good character in the way speakers present themselves and are more likely to agree with those who exhibit strength and warmth.

3 Influence: Science and Practice
By Robert Cialdini

Are attractive people more persuasive? Does the candy bowl on your desk really work? Robert Cialdini describes the mental shortcuts we use in daily decision-making and how they can be exploited to trigger automatic responses.

4 Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
By Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

Based on behavioral economics and design theory, this book describes how small changes in the way a choice is presented can have a big effect on an audience’s decision. The authors refer to this manipulation of presentation as “choice architecture.”

5 Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade
By Robert Cialdini

“Frequently the factor most likely to determine a person’s choice … is one that has been elevated in attention … at the time of decision.” Like Nudge, this book focuses on the advantages of reframing our requests to make them more agreeable.