Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive

"Just because yes is simple and obtainable, we shouldn't be fooled into believing that anyone can easily secure it from others""Yes!; 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive" by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. CialdiniThe title says it all really; the book is filled with 50 ways (I'd rather say "examples") of persuasion. They are (for examples);"What one word can you start using today to increase your persuasiveness by more than fifty percent?""Which item of stationery can dramatically increase people's responses to your requests?"SPOILER ALERT!! (the answer to the two questions are; "because" and "Post-It notes")...I'm not going to list all 50 ways from the book; I'll go right to my Six Elements Review that the ideal business book is "easy to read, distinct, practical, credible, insightful, and provides great reading experience"Ease of Understanding: 8/10; the small book is separated into 50 chapters and each chapter takes less than 5-10 minutes so, it is easy to understand. However, the drawback of Yes! is its lack of structure; 50 ways are loosely tied (if at all) together.Distinction: 8/10; it is undoubtedly a great compilation of persuasion techniques. The highlight is the word "50'; it is difficult to provide readers with 50 ways "persuasively" but Cialdini, Goldstein, and Martin could do it.Practicality: 4/10; as interesting as those fifty ways are, I can say that it is very difficult (if possible at all) to implement any of them appropriately. Each situation in the book or in your lives is unique. It is more possible to successfully persuade others and look back to the techniques in the book and match them than the other way around.Credibility: 6/10; the gook point is that every way is backed with good and, sometimes, amazing example(s). The bad point is, it might not be enough to use one example (or a couple of them) to describe the ways and claim that they are "scientifically proven".Insight: 5/10; I think 5 is fair because as you know that there are fifty ways! It is impossible to dig deep into every (any) way.Reading Experience: 9/10; This is, by far, the most outstanding element of Yes!; this book is fun. Take this book with you along with another book and if you're bored with the other book, take some times off and read Yes!; it is refreshing. I would compare the book to Aesop Fable not that they are childish and fictional but they are;1. Concise and precise2. Every story teaches you a valuable lesson3. You mention it in a hindsight when something already happened! ("Oh, this situation is like the story of "The Hare and The Tortoise"... "I persuaded my friend and it was like the way no.XX from Cialdini's book"!)Overall: 6.7/10; I'd say "buy it"; it's fun and won't waste your time because you'll learn many things from the book and you'll find those examples and stories amazing. However, be careful when you try to do any of those ways; make sure you think of the other 49 ways first!Viriya Taecharungroj[...]

You’re reading reviews, you seem like the kind of person who wants quality information.You want this book.This book has improved my communication skills regarding my work life AND my home life.It’s cheap, yet the material is not. Do yourself a favor and get this great read!

"Researchers are often on the lookout for ways to apply their scientific knowledge to make existing policies and procedures even more effective." This book uses social science research to suggest fifty ways we can persuade more effectively. It draws on over half a century of the scientific study of persuasion. The authors recommend this research as a more reliable source of effective strategies that our individual experiences or intuitions.Each of the book's fifty issues is presented in a brief, readable chapter that begins with a question. Here are five of the more interesting questions:1. What common mistake causes messages to self-destruct? If you mention how many people are doing something bad, you may unintentionally provide "social proof" that this behavior is acceptable.2. Does fear persuade or does it paralyze? Fear only motivates us to action if we have a clear and effective means of reducing the danger.3. Start low or start high? Which will make people buy? Lower auction starting prices convince more people to start bidding and this increased participation convinces others to join in. Once someone bids, they keep bidding to avoid losing their investment of time and effort.4. What can a box of crayons teach us about persuasion? Unusual names ("Kermit Green") that engage us in solving a puzzle make crayon color names easier to remember.5. When does letting the call go to voicemail cause a hang-up in your influence? People from individualistic cultures value the informational aspect of communication while those from collectivistic cultures value the relationship-building aspect. An "individualist" might offend some of his colleagues by always letting voice mail answer the phone.Readers interested in a more thorough, research-oriented treatment of persuasion may want to continue with Robert Cialdini's book  Influence: Science and Practice . This much thicker book presents its research according to six universal principles of social influence: reciprocation, authority, commitment/consistency, scarcity, liking, and social proof.

Too many stories, weak analysis, unclear applications. Would not recommend. Reads like a PhD dissertation disguised as a book resulting in neither a good dissertation or a good book.

Great book for anyone, especially in sales

Lots of interesting examples on how to persuade. This book was well written. I learned a lot and it changed my thinking about a lot of things. I highly recommend.

I have read and reread this book and even as a hardened marketeer I still find useful ideas on how to improve the marketing of my business and that of my clients. I read it thinking I knew a fair bit about persuasion and it turns out I did, but there were also lots of other things that I wasn't aware of.The book has been divided into small easy to read chapters, which is good for those who don't want to wade through scientific papers to get to the key points. There are those that may argue that the book has been simplified for the mass audience - to which I say great. It is an easy read full of really useful tips, especially if you want to market your business effectively. Some of which are referenced in  The Brighter Marketing Bible for Small Businesses  as I thought they would help small businesses understand how to market effectively to their customers. The Brighter Marketing Bible for Small Businesses

This is a great companion piece to  Influence: Science and Practice . Instead of offering us a framework and some theory, with examples along the way, as the earlier book does, this one leads with 50 great examples, told as compelling little stories and then explained to create a picture of how our psychology works. I loved it.Mike Clayton, author of  Brilliant Influence: What the Most Influential People Know, Do and SayInfluence: Science and PracticeBrilliant Influence: What the Most Influential People Know, Do and Say

This is an excellent little book. Although it is not presented as a management book, it is probably one of the best. Good, solid, practical, concise, succinct advice is imparted with very relevant anecdotes in support.

Boring language, thankfully they tell a story in each of the 50 ideas. Would be nice if they included a summary at the end of each chapter to quickly explain the way you can persuade people, thankfully they do it at the end instead.Some really good techniques in here. Is a bit if-y in the middle, is great at the start and end.

Besides the valid criticism already voiced by some reviewers; that the presentation is messy and not-memorable, a substantial criticism of this book would be that the book is very much "just the basics", devoid of further reflection or introspection which makes for a poor reading experience.Though the content in itself is valuable. I'd like a better structured version of this book. And one that would make the points easier to remember.