These are the 10 books on power and influence that everyone needs to read
You are reading: Books about power and control
Let’s start this article with a little excerpt from one of my all-time favorite TV shows: House of Cards.
You are reading: Books about power and control
You are reading: Books about power and control
As a maverick, lifelong learner, and devoted skeptic, I’m always interested in TV shows that offer so much more than just entertainment. I am constantly behind TV shows that try to deviate from the banality of commercial guidelines and focus more on communicating bold and controversial messages. even if these messages flirt with the idea of excessive honesty and cruel directness.
You are reading: Books about power and control
That’s mostly the main reason why I like house of cards. its producers have the ability to boldly communicate provocative ideas and desires that lie dormant within each of us, but we rarely decide to face them. Such an idea is the idea of power and influence that is presented throughout the television show, while Francis Underwood’s life unfolds on our screen in an artistic way.
You are reading: Books about power and control
The omnipresence of these two forces is what inspired me to write this article. I have tasted both the bitter and sweet sides of power and influence and therefore I am constantly trying to determine its exact meaning in my life. a meaning that is not defined by generalities and biases. a meaning that is skeptical and forces me to see power and influence from a holistic perspective.
You are reading: Books about power and control
books about power and influence
You are reading: Books about power and control
In my quest to define the absolute meaning of power and influence and their role in our lives, I had an entourage. an entourage of writers who have spent years, and some even their entire lives, finding the true essence of power and influence. people like robert greene, niccolo machiavelli and daniel goleman, among others.
You are reading: Books about power and control
his books helped me take control of my life and character, understand myself and the reasoning behind my actions, and ultimately become a person who understands power and influence and also fights against them when circumstances demand it.
You are reading: Books about power and control
robert greene’s 48 laws of power
“when you show yourself to the world and show your talents, you naturally arouse all kinds of resentment, envy and other manifestations of insecurity… you cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others”
There is not much to say about Robert Greene’s masterpiece. I have mentioned it many times and consider it the cornerstone of power and influence. In 480 pages, Robert Greene manages to dissect the idea of power and present all the subtle rules that make it up in a masterful way.
You are reading: Books about power and control
I won’t lie to you. When I first held the book in my hands, although its narrative absorbed me almost instantly, it also aroused in me feelings of fear and insecurity. I wasn’t sure I was ready to face and digest the truths this book revealed in such a raw and direct way. I guess what made them so terrifying was their amoral simplicity. “have others do the work for you, but always take the credit”, “discover every man’s vise”, “have other people come to you; your brand”, to name just a few.
You are reading: Books about power and control
the laws draw their principles from many great schemers throughout history, from sun-tzu to talleyrand, from casanova to yellow kid weil swindler.
You are reading: Books about power and control
This book is an all-time classic that will provide an extreme insight into the human condition.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
robert greene’s 50th law and 50 cent
“Your fears are a kind of prison that confines you within a limited range of action. the less you fear, the more power you will have and the more fully you will live.”
Who would have thought that a masterful writer like robert greene would ever decide to collaborate with a rapper famous for songs like “window shopper”, “p.i.m.p”. and “at the club”. well, in the case of 50 cent there is definitely more than meets the eye.
You are reading: Books about power and control
Having endured many calamities in his life and having faced the ugly face of power while trying to rise to the top, 50 cent learned perhaps life’s most valuable lesson: not be afraid of anything. The main concept of the book focuses on the negative effects that fear can have, in particular anxiety and paralysis of the will, and how reframing our perception allows us to react more boldly.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
The Prince of Nicolo Machiavelli
“everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are”.
You are reading: Books about power and control
In this 80-page treatise, the writer lays out the ground rules that must be followed to acquire and maintain political power. this book is usually suggested to students in their first political science class and it is presumed that one can never be a successful politician if one does not understand this book in depth.
You are reading: Books about power and control
See Also: The best photo books in 2022 | Tom’s Guide
In The Prince, Machiavelli emphasizes the need for realism, as opposed to idealism. he does not explain what he believes to be the best ethical or political goals, except control of one’s fortune, rather than wait and see what chance brings.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie
“It’s not what you have or who you are or where you are or what you’re doing that makes you happy or unhappy. is what you think about it.”
With over 2,500 reviews on amazon, over 15 million copies sold, and a self-explanatory title, I think we all get it. Dale Carnegie is considered one of the godfathers of self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, and interpersonal skills.
You are reading: Books about power and control
The central idea communicated through “how to win friends and influence people” is that it is possible to change other people’s behavior by changing one’s behavior towards them.
You are reading: Books about power and control
dale carnegie explains the fundamental principles of interpersonal communication, which can make one extremely likable in the eyes of others. suggests principles such as:
You are reading: Books about power and control
- appeal to the other person’s highest ideals
- remember the other person’s name
- let the other person do most of the talking
- speak in terms of the other person’s interests
- allowing the other to save face, by “throwing a challenge”,
Integrating these tactics into your personality can eventually help you turn anyone into a friend.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
influence – the psychology of persuasion by robert b. cialdini
“A well-known principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor, we will be more successful if we give a reason. people just like to have reasons for what they do.”
In his seminal work, Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini, Regents Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, introduces us to the six pillars of ethical persuasion:
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- reciprocity – people tend to return a favor,
- commitment and consistency – if people commit, orally or by written, to an idea or goal, they are more likely to honor that commitment because they establish that idea or goal is consistent with their own image.
- social proof: people will things they see other people doing.
- authority: People will tend to obey authority figures, even if they are asked to do objectionable acts.
- Liking: People are easily persuaded by other people that they like them.
- Scarcity: Perceived scarcity will generate demand.
If one carefully understands the reasoning behind these 6 pillars and succeeds in internalizing them, one can definitely excel in social settings. These principles are widely used by marketers and entrepreneurs and are the foundation on which any salesperson can build a successful career.
You are reading: Books about power and control
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You are reading: Books about power and control
the way of the superior man by david deida
“every moment awaited is a moment wasted…”
Although this book is aimed at men, it can definitely be eye-opening for anyone.
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In “The Way of the Superior Man,” David Deida explores the most important issues in a man’s life and offers a practical guide to living a masculine life of integrity, authenticity, and freedom.
You are reading: Books about power and control
when a man reads “the way of the superior man”, he takes the first step in developing a concrete understanding of his needs, desires and probably his entire existence. once he achieves this understanding, then and only then can he begin to advance and evolve beyond imposed social norms and reptilian brain impulses.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
daniel goleman’s golden triad: emotional intelligence, social intelligence, focus
emotional intelligence is the ultimate guide to help you understand yourself and your emotions. is a combination of scientific discoveries, real life examples, and practical approach solutions to help you discover the reasoning behind your emotions. their ultimate goal is to help you understand and tame them for your own good and that of your loved ones.
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Social Intelligence is the book that will give you extreme insight into social dynamics and help you understand social behaviors and their origins. receiving this knowledge will help you recalibrate your social behavior; it will also protect you, inspire you, and reveal previously hidden insights into human behavior.
You are reading: Books about power and control
focus is the most recent of the three and is about the importance of attention in the way we act. All of our activities, from work and hobbies to the way we communicate and cooperate with others, cannot be performed effectively if focus is not present. the book suggests new discoveries in the field and lays the groundwork for a redesigned life characterized by excellence and constant growth.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get emotional intelligence: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
See Also: 11 of the Best Coloring Book Apps for Android and iPhone – Make Tech Easier
gain social intelligence: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
get focus: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
steve jobs by walter isaacson
“One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.”
When it comes to gaining knowledge in any field, a great way to go is to learn what successful people do or did in their lives and apply these lessons to your own life.
You are reading: Books about power and control
steve jobs was one of the most influential entrepreneurs. he became this person through his products, his innovative approach, his addiction to perfection, his extremely charismatic mindset and also through his attitude towards influence and power. Being the founder and CEO of the most powerful company in the world is surely an achievement that cannot be ignored.
You are reading: Books about power and control
walter isaacson, in the biography of steve job, which is based on more than forty interviews with jobs, describes the life of a man whose intensely intense personality revolutionized the way the world works and evolves. This book will give you previously hidden insights into the real Steve Jobs and help you uncover important lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
sun tzu’s art of war
“look weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.”
written around 500 BC. c. By high-ranking military general, strategist, and tactician Sun Tzu, this brief but masterful manual is the most inspiring manual of warfare you’ll ever read.
You are reading: Books about power and control
Folded into this small package are compact views on ingenuity, drive, cunning, profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility and practicality.
You are reading: Books about power and control
The ancient Chinese master strips away all the familiar trappings of warfare—the warriors, the weapons, the forts, and the tactics—to reveal the essence of conflict and how to win.
You are reading: Books about power and control
War is ugly, dirty, brutal, wasteful and expensive. thats the reality. Let’s not pretend otherwise. All of the messages communicated in this book, however, will help you dissect this reality into small bits of wisdom that can find immediate application in the way you handle influence and power.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: print | electronic book | audiobook
You are reading: Books about power and control
You are reading: Books about power and control
30 challenges – 30 days – zero excuses
“The challenging nature of the cosmos can only be tamed by making the concept of challenge an integral component of one’s existence.”
Okay, I’m a bit biased on this. this is my best selling ebook and a project that has impacted thousands of lives.
You are reading: Books about power and control
power and influence are challenging concepts.
You are reading: Books about power and control
The world as a whole is a challenging playground. one needs to internalize this challenging nature of the cosmos and incorporate it into their daily processes.
You are reading: Books about power and control
Through the 30 challenges I propose in the e-book, one can become more self-aware, more resilient, more confident.
You are reading: Books about power and control
and this is definitely a powerful effort worth pursuing.
You are reading: Books about power and control
get this book: ebook
You are reading: Books about power and control
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See Also: 13 Best Books for Nursing Students Today (Reviewed)