// Book comparison
Influence vs The Psychology of Money
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
The Psychology of Money
by Morgan Housel
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | The Psychology of Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 256 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~6.4 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2020 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Morgan Housel |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | William Morrow | Harriman House |
Choose Influence if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The Psychology of Money if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~6.4 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2020).
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.
Key takeaways — The Psychology of Money
- ✓ Prioritize Financial Flexibility over high returns, recognizing that the ability to survive market downturns is the prerequisite for benefiting from long-term compounding.
- ✓ Understand the Role of Luck and Risk in every success story, ensuring you remain humble during booms and resilient during busts to maintain strategic clarity.
- ✓ Adopt the Wealth Mindset by focusing on assets that provide control over your time, which is the ultimate measure of professional and personal effectiveness.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Influence. If you want a different angle on the same topic, The Psychology of Money is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or The Psychology of Money better? +
Influence has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Influence focuses on personal effectiveness, while The Psychology of Money focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or The Psychology of Money? +
The Psychology of Money is shorter (256 pages, ~6.4 hours) compared to Influence (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Influence or The Psychology of Money 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.