// Book comparison
Influence vs Think Again
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Influence by Robert Cialdini and Think Again by Adam Grant.
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
★ 4.9/5
Think Again
by Adam Grant
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Influence | Think Again | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 1984 | 2021 |
| Author | Robert Cialdini | Adam Grant |
| 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 Think Again if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the more recent perspective (2021).
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 — Think Again
- ✓ Adopt a Scientist Mindset by treating your business strategies as hypotheses that require constant testing and validation against new market data and feedback.
- ✓ Cultivate Confident Humility, acknowledging the limits of your knowledge to remain open to better ideas and more accurate strategic insights from your workforce.
- ✓ Foster a Rethinking Culture within your team by rewarding the 'courage to be wrong' and encouraging the regular questioning of established organizational best practices.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with Influence. If you specifically need leadership, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Influence or Think Again 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 Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Influence or Think Again? +
Influence is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to Think Again (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Influence or Think Again 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.