// Book comparison
Influence vs The Big Short
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and The Big Short by Michael Lewis.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
The Big Short
by Michael Lewis
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | The Big Short | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 288 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~7.2 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2010 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Michael Lewis |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Finance & Investment |
| Publisher | William Morrow | W. W. Norton & Company |
Choose Influence if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The Big Short if…
- → You're interested in finance & investment.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.2 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2010).
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 Big Short
- ✓ Prioritize First-Hand Data Investigation, ensuring your organization’s biggest strategic bets are based on the reality of the 'Underlying Assets' rather than on the opinions of rating agencies or experts.
- ✓ Cultivate Contrarian Bravery, recognizing that the most significant strategic opportunities often require you to stand alone and bet against the 'Collective Blindness' of the market.
- ✓ Understand The Danger of Complexity as Obfuscation, recognizing that when a financial product or business model is too complex to be easily explained, it often hides systemic fragility and loss.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Influence. If you specifically need finance & investment, The Big Short is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or The Big Short 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 Big Short focuses on finance & investment. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or The Big Short? +
The Big Short is shorter (288 pages, ~7.2 hours) compared to Influence (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Influence or The Big Short 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.