16 Best Books on Influence for Mastering Persuasion and Leadership

Ever notice how some people get what they want EVERY SINGLE TIME? Those moments when you find yourself agreeing before you realize what happened. That's not magical talent — that's influence.

Books on influence decode exactly how it works: the psychology behind why we say yes, the patterns that build trust, and the communication tricks that actually land. Whether you're trying to rally your team, win over a tough client, or just get your point across, these reads give you the playbook.

What you'll actually learn from books about influence

Real magic happens when we finally understand people. Why does your colleague always get credit? How do certain brands make you want stuff you didn't even know existed? These books pull back the curtain on decision-making — yours and everyone else's.

There are hundreds of books about influence in the Headway app, and here are 16 to get you started:

1. 'Pre-Suasion' by Robert Cialdini

2. 'Influence, New and Expanded' by Robert B. Cialdini

3. 'The Catalyst' by Jonah Berger

4. 'Too Much and Never Enough' by Mary L. Trump

5. 'Win Bigly' by Scott Adams

6. 'Influencer' by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

7. 'TED Talks' by Chris Anderson

8. 'How to Lead When You're Not in Charge' by Clay Scroggins

9. 'Words That Change Minds' by Shelle Rose Charvet

10. 'You Can Read Anyone' by David J. Lieberman

11. 'The Charisma Myth' by Olivia Fox Cabane

12. 'Exactly What to Say' by Phil M. Jones

13. 'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss

14. 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell

15. 'Crucial Conversations' by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

16. 'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Greene

Some dig into the neuroscience of trust. Others share war stories from hostage negotiators on how reciprocity really works. You'll find breakdowns on how scarcity makes people panic-buy concert tickets, or why telling a story beats a slide full of facts every time. 

How to find the right influence book for your goal

The key is to match the book to your goal. Running a team? You'll want a title that blends leadership psychology with practical management moves. In sales? Look for books heavy on negotiation and reading people. Just want to stop getting walked over in meetings? Start with the fundamentals — the ones that explain the core principles without overwhelming you.

The best approach is to mix and match. Headway lets you test-drive the big ideas from all these different angles in 15 minutes each. Every summary is also available as an audio version, so you can learn these game-changing skills on the go. Pop in your earbuds during your commute or while you're at the gym and absorb the key concepts. 

PRO TIP: Skip the titles that don't click and dive deeper into the ones that do — because this is the only way to extract the most valuable ideas from each of them.

You can also use Headway growth plans. Just open the app and choose a goal — like becoming a more effective leader or building stronger relationships — and Headway will create a personalized learning journey for you. It'll handpick the perfect book summaries in the right order, so you gain new skills faster.