Influence 101: Master These Skills to Persuade and Inspire Others
7 books on the art and science of persuasion.
So much of life is an attempt at persuasion. A father encourages his kids to finish their chores. An entrepreneur invites investors to support her fledgling business. A man tries to convince his best friend not to move to a new city. Whatever form persuasion may take in your life, the seven eye-opening reads below will refine your skills for when they matter most.
Sell Like a Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage
By Jeremy Hurewitz
Drawing on stunning spy-world anecdotes and science-backed principles of behavioral intelligence, a corporate sales and security expert strengthens your ability to connect, entice, and make deals—in business and everyday life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jeremy Hurewitz, in the Next Big Idea App
The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life
By Leslie Zane
An award-winning Fortune 500 brand consultant shatters conventional marketing wisdom, showing readers how to tap into the hidden brain where instinct prevails, creating a powerful network of connections that drive people to buy your product, company, or vision. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Leslie Zane, in the Next Big Idea App
Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
By
Arguments are everywhere―and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, an MSNBC host shows you how. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mehdi Hasan, in the Next Big Idea App
Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds
By
Whether you are a leader trying to help your team keep pace in changing times, a businessperson who needs a potential partner to see your value proposition, or a parent who wants to get your teenager away from their screen, this book will show you how to persuade even the most mindstuck people in your world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael McQueen, in the Next Big Idea App
Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way
By Jonah Berger
A world-renowned marketing expert reveals how mastering a few words can change your life, offering an inside look at the new science of language and how you can use it to motivate, engage, and persuade. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jonah Berger, in the Next Big Idea App
Ask: Tap into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life
By
A globally recognized expert on learning and leadership offers a hands-on, surprisingly effective way to find out what others really think, know, and feel, leading to smarter decisions, more creative solutions, and deeper relationships. Read or listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jeff Wetzler.
Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen
By
A Yale professor teaches you how to cultivate charisma, negotiate comfortably and creatively, and spot manipulators. It’s an ethical approach to influence that will make life better for everyone, starting with you. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Zoe Chance, in the Next Big Idea App
The Key Ideas in 15 Minutes
“If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books,” Roald Dahl once famously said. The only trouble is, reading even one book from cover to cover takes hours—and you may not have many hours to spare.
But imagine for a moment: What if you could read a groundbreaking new book every day? Or even better, what if you could invite a world-renowned thinker into your earbuds, where they personally describe the 5 key takeaways from their work in just 15 minutes?
With the Next Big Idea App, we’ve turned this fantasy into a reality. We partnered with hundreds of acclaimed authors to create “Book Bites,” short audio summaries of the latest nonfiction that are prepared and read aloud by the authors themselves. Discover cutting-edge leadership skills, productivity hacks, the science of happiness and well-being, and much more—all in the time it takes to drive to work or walk the dog.
“I love this app! The Book Bites are brilliant, perfect to have in airports, waiting rooms, anywhere I need to not doomscroll… You guys are the best!” – Missy G.
Go Deeper with a Next Big Idea Club Membership
The Next Big Idea App is free for anyone to try—and if you love it, we invite you to become an official member of the Next Big Idea Club. Membership grants you unlimited access to Book Bites and unlocks early-release, ad-free episodes of our LinkedIn-partnered podcast. You also gain entry to our private online discussion group, where you can talk big ideas with fellow club members and join exclusive live Q&A sessions with featured authors.
For a more focused learning experience, we recommend a Hardcover or eBook Membership. Every few months, legendary authors and club curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink select two new nonfiction books as the must-reads of the season. We then send hardcover copies straight to your doorstep, or eBook versions to your favorite digital device. We also collaborate with the authors of selected books to produce original reading guides and premium video e-courses, 50-minute master classes that take you step by step through their most life-changing ideas. And yes, it’s all available through the Next Big Idea App.
“My biggest Thank You is for the quality of book selections so far. I look on my shelf and see these great titles, and I find myself taking down one or two each month to reread an underlined passage. Full marks to all involved!” – Tim K.
Learn Faster, from the World’s Leading Thinkers
Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch, the Next Big Idea is here to help you work smarter and live better. Wake up with an always-fresh Idea of the Day, the perfect shot of inspiration to go with your morning coffee. Then dive into one of our Challenges, hand-picked collections of Book Bites that form crash courses in subjects like communication, motivation, and career acceleration. Later, watch the playback of an interview with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, or philosopher John Kaag. And be sure to check the “Events” tab in the app, so that you can join an upcoming live Q&A and personally chat with the next featured thought leader.
If you’re hoping to grow as a person or as a professional, we hope you’ll join us and tens of thousands of others who enjoy the Next Big Idea. Get started by downloading the app today!
Thanks for sharing your ideas, Jeremy, Leslie, Zoe, Jeff, Mehdi, Jonah, and Michael!