// Book comparison
Influence vs The Body Keeps the Score
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | The Body Keeps the Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 464 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~11.6 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2014 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Bessel van der Kolk |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | William Morrow | Viking |
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).
Choose The Body Keeps the Score if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
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 Body Keeps the Score
- ✓ Acknowledge the Physiological Basis of Behavior, recognizing that your team's reactions to stress are often driven by deep-seated biological patterns rather than just professional logic.
- ✓ Prioritize Psychological and Somatic Safety within your organization, as the human brain cannot engage in high-level strategic thinking when the body is in a state of perceived threat.
- ✓ Implement Self-Regulation Techniques as a core leadership skill, utilizing mindfulness and body-awareness to maintain executive presence and clarity during high-stakes organizational crises.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with Influence. If you want a different angle on the same topic, The Body Keeps the Score is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or The Body Keeps the Score 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 Body Keeps the Score focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or The Body Keeps the Score? +
Influence is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to The Body Keeps the Score (464 pages, ~11.6 hours).
Should I read Influence or The Body Keeps the Score 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.