// Book comparison
Ego Is the Enemy vs Influence
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday and Influence by Robert Cialdini.
Ego Is the Enemy
by Ryan Holiday
★ 4.9/5
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Ego Is the Enemy | Influence | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 256 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~6.4 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 2016 | 1984 |
| Author | Ryan Holiday | Robert Cialdini |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | Portfolio | William Morrow |
Choose Ego Is the Enemy if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You prefer a shorter read (~6.4 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2016).
Choose Influence if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
Key takeaways — Ego Is the Enemy
- ✓ Maintain a Lifelong Student Mindset by intentionally seeking out mentors and peers who challenge your strategic assumptions, preventing the 'stagnation of success'.
- ✓ Prioritize Action over Talk, recognizing that the public narrative of your achievements is often a distraction from the deep work required to sustain your organization’s competitive edge.
- ✓ Utilize the Plus, Minus, Equal framework to ensure your professional development is balanced, allowing you to learn, teach, and compete with humility and clarity.
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 Ego Is the Enemy. If you want a different angle on the same topic, Influence is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Ego Is the Enemy or Influence better? +
Ego Is the Enemy has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Ego Is the Enemy focuses on personal effectiveness, while Influence focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Ego Is the Enemy or Influence? +
Ego Is the Enemy is shorter (256 pages, ~6.4 hours) compared to Influence (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Ego Is the Enemy or Influence first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Ego Is the Enemy. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.