// Book comparison
Influence vs The War of Art
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | The War of Art | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 192 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~4.8 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2002 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Steven Pressfield |
| Category | Personal Effectiveness | Personal Effectiveness |
| Publisher | William Morrow | Black Irish Entertainment |
Choose Influence if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The War of Art if…
- → You're interested in personal effectiveness.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~4.8 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2002).
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 War of Art
- ✓ Identify Resistance in your organization by recognizing the symptoms of procrastination and bureaucratic drama that often signal a team's fear of a transformative project.
- ✓ Transition from an Amateur to a Professional Mindset by requiring consistent, daily effort on core strategic goals, regardless of the fluctuating levels of individual inspiration.
- ✓ Maintain Territorial Focus by ensuring that your team members own and defend their specific areas of high-level expertise, protecting them from the 'Resistance' of mission creep.
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 War of Art is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or The War of Art 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 War of Art focuses on personal effectiveness. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or The War of Art? +
The War of Art is shorter (192 pages, ~4.8 hours) compared to Influence (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Influence or The War of Art 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.