// Book comparison
Abundance vs Influence
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Abundance by Peter Diamandis, Steven Kotler and Influence by Robert Cialdini.
Abundance
by Peter Diamandis, Steven Kotler
★ 4.8/5
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Abundance | Influence | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 400 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~10.0 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 2012 | 1984 |
| Author | Peter Diamandis, Steven Kotler | Robert Cialdini |
| Category | Innovation & Technology | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | Free Press | William Morrow |
Choose Abundance if…
- → You're interested in innovation & technology.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2012).
Choose Influence if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You prefer a shorter read (~8.0 hours).
Key takeaways — Abundance
- ✓ Utilize Incentive Prizes and Gamification to accelerate your organization's R&D, attracting the world's best non-traditional problem-solvers to your strategic challenges.
- ✓ Leverage Dematerialization, recognizing that technology allows you to provide high-value services (like cameras or GPS) at near-zero marginal cost by turning them into software.
- ✓ Focus your organizational mission on Solving Grand Challenges, aligning your firm's growth with the most urgent needs of the 'Rising Billion' for massive strategic impact.
Key takeaways — Influence
- ✓ Apply the Reciprocity Principle by providing value to your stakeholders first, creating a psychological obligation that significantly increases your future persuasive power.
- ✓ Leverage Social Proof by highlighting the endorsements of your existing customers and industry leaders to reduce perceived risk for new strategic partners.
- ✓ Utilize Commitment and Consistency by asking for small, initial agreements that lead your stakeholders to stay aligned with your larger organizational goals over time.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with Influence. If you specifically need personal effectiveness, Abundance is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Abundance or Influence better? +
Influence has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.8/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Abundance focuses on innovation & technology, while Influence focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Abundance or Influence? +
Influence is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to Abundance (400 pages, ~10.0 hours).
Should I read Abundance or Influence first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Influence. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.