Best Psychology Books of 2016
I did a "favorites of 2016" list on my Instagram and thought it would make a good addition to the blog. Good book recommendations are always relevant, right? These books are worthy gifts for anyone who wants to understand the human mind better.
๐ My Pick: Influence by Robert Cialdini
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert B. Cialdini
We are faced with tremendous amounts of decisions in our everyday life and if the brain didn't use shortcuts to speed up the process we would be totally overwhelmed. The problem is that some of these shortcuts lead to irrational decisions and misjudgment. These are called cognitive biases, and trust me โ marketers, salesmen and politicians are doing everything in their power to exploit them.
This book teaches you how to recognize the tricks influencers use in their persuasion, and that knowledge helps you recognize and compensate for biases before you make decisions.
A book that can't be summarized, only highly recommended.
Runners Up
Civilization and its Discontents
by Sigmund Freud
Freud's sharp take on the tension between individual desire and the demands of civilization. Short, dense, and deeply thought-provoking.
Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl
Frankl's account of surviving the Holocaust and the psychology of meaning that emerged from it. One of the most important books ever written.
Pre-Suasion
by Robert B. Cialdini
The follow-up to Influence, focusing on how to set the stage for persuasion before a single word is spoken. Essential reading if you liked Influence.
๐ก Why These Books Matter
Psychology gives you a lens for understanding yourself and others. These four books cover the spectrum โ from how we're persuaded, to how we find meaning, to why civilization itself requires us to give up so much. Start with Influence if you haven't read it; it'll change how you see every interaction.