// Book comparison
Influence vs The Laws of Human Nature
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
The Laws of Human Nature
by Robert Greene
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | The Laws of Human Nature | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 624 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~15.6 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2018 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Robert Greene |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Leadership |
| 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 Laws of Human Nature if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2018).
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 Laws of Human Nature
- ✓ Master the Law of Irrationality by recognizing your own emotional biases, ensuring that your strategic decisions are based on objective evidence rather than impulsive feelings.
- ✓ Utilize Social Decoding to identify the hidden motives of your stakeholders, allowing you to anticipate conflicts and build more effective, reality-based professional alliances.
- ✓ Develop Strategic Empathy by looking beneath people’s outward behavior to understand their core insecurities and needs, which is the key to influencing diverse groups.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with Influence. If you specifically need leadership, The Laws of Human Nature is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or The Laws of Human Nature 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 Laws of Human Nature focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or The Laws of Human Nature? +
Influence is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to The Laws of Human Nature (624 pages, ~15.6 hours).
Should I read Influence or The Laws of Human Nature 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.