The Influential Mind

What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others

By: Tali Sharot

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

A cutting-edge, research-based inquiry into how we influence those around us and how understanding the brain can help us change minds for the better.

In The Influential Mind, neuroscientist Tali Sharot takes us on a thrilling exploration of the nature of influence. We all have a duty to affect others - from the classroom to the boardroom to social media. But how skilled are we at this role, and can we become better? It turns out that many of our instincts - from relying on facts and figures to shape opinions, to insisting others are wrong or attempting to exert control - are ineffective because they are incompatible with how people's minds operate. Sharot shows us how to avoid these pitfalls and how an attempt to change beliefs and actions is successful when it is well matched with the core elements that govern the human brain.

Sharot reveals the critical role of emotion in influence, the weakness of data, and the power of curiosity. Relying on the latest research in neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology, the audiobook provides fascinating insight into the complex power of influence, good and bad.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Tali Sharot (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

The devil is in the details

It's one thing to know from our experience general rules of thumb about how people "work" and a completely different thing to sit down and investigate whether that's the case. This is a "more scientific" book on how we influence and get influenced by others, with lots of details from actual studies.
This book gives also a nice peek at research. What is mind-blowing about it: The book, based itself on research, demonstrates how research-gathered data can serve as an excuse for people to become even more polarized in their opinions, as they focus on their preferred facts. Kudos for that.
On that note, appreciate also the list of references in the PDF companion.
Moreover, beyond all that science and analysis the listener can see through the book an author who is passionate about the topic she's writing about.

Outstanding Book (mostly)

If you are human and live around humans (including yourself) you should read this book. I would argue that it isn’t 100% accurate about everything but still very important to read. Don’t stop here though. Other books on the subject will compliment and clarify this book. :)

Extremely helpful

Terrific insight-to-weight ratio. Considering buying print copy to use as a reference. Very highly recommended.

Great perspective

Great book provides a new perspective on human interactions. A must read for anyone who deals with people daily

Good book

While I liked the book, I REALLY didn't like the reader's style. This is a personal preference and doesn't necessarily imply that other people have the same preference.

Muy interesante

Se explica qué factores influyen más a la hora de influir a una persona dependiendo del tipo de influencia que queramos ejercer, el contexto, las creencias previas de la persona, etc. Se apoya en muchos experimentos y ejemplos que ayudan a la comprensión. Se me ha hecho muy ameno

good book. good info

I enjoyed this book thouroghly. Good science and good stories made for an easy read

Keen Perspective of the Mind

This book is that an enjoyable perspective on how people think. It combines science, self-help and communications to explain how we influence one another.

Disappointing

I have enjoyed books about social science in the past and hoped this would be an enlightening listen. This book only has a few points to make and lots of space to make them in. None of the authors points were particularly surprising or counterintuitive. I'm always hoping to get a few nuggets from books like this to stimulate conversation but I really struck out with this one. I also didn't care for the reader. This is partially my own fault, as I am fully aware of my tendency to not care for women readers. The sample I listened to made me hopeful about this reader but I was disappointed. I really enjoyed "the wisdom of crowds" and "the science of fear"and "the progress paradox" So check out any one of those if you're interested in a social science book.

Good information, poorly executed

My only complaint about this book is the speed at which Xe Sands reads it. This is a non-fiction book and her natural cadence, while perhaps appropriate for a less weighty subject, is simply too fast to allow your to digest the information.
I tried reducing the speed to 0.75x but then it sounded odd.