// Book comparison

The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs Influence

Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and Influence by Robert Cialdini.

At a glance

The Hard Thing About Hard Things Influence
Rating ★ 4.9/5 ★ 4.9/5
Pages 304 320
Reading time ~7.6 h ~8.0 h
Published 2014 1984
Author Ben Horowitz Robert Cialdini
Category Permulaan & Keusahawanan Keberkesanan Peribadi
Publisher HarperBusiness William Morrow

Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…

  • You're interested in permulaan & keusahawanan.
  • You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
  • You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
  • You want the more recent perspective (2014).

Choose Influence if…

  • You're interested in keberkesanan peribadi.

Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things

  • Fahami perbezaan antara Kepimpinan Semasa Keamanan dan Semasa Peperangan, sedar bahawa krisis memerlukan perubahan daripada keputusan berkolaborasi kepada pengambilan keputusan pantas dan tegas.
  • Kelola Psikologi Anda Sendiri semasa 'Perjuangan', sedar bahawa keupayaan untuk kekal tenang dan objektif apabila organisasi berisiko adalah aset strategik yang paling penting bagi seorang pemimpin.
  • Utamakan Kebenaran dalam komunikasi organisasi anda, pastikan maklumat buruk disampaikan dengan cepat dan setiap pekerja memahami realiti cabaran strategik syarikat.
Read full The Hard Thing About Hard Things summary →

Key takeaways — Influence

  • Gunakan Prinsip Timbal Balas dengan memberikan nilai terlebih dahulu kepada pihak berkepentingan, mewujudkan kewajipan psikologi yang meningkatkan keupayaan pujukan anda di masa hadapan.
  • Manfaatkan Bukti Sosial dengan menonjolkan sokongan daripada pelanggan sedia ada dan pemimpin industri untuk mengurangkan risiko yang dirasakan oleh rakan strategik baharu.
  • Gunakan Komitmen dan Konsistensi dengan meminta persetujuan kecil terlebih dahulu yang akan membawa pihak berkepentingan kekal sejajar dengan matlamat organisasi yang lebih besar dari semasa ke semasa.
Read full Influence summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, shorter read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. If you specifically need keberkesanan peribadi, Influence is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.

❓ FAQ

Is The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Influence better? +

The Hard Thing About Hard Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on permulaan & keusahawanan, while Influence focuses on keberkesanan peribadi. See the verdict below.

Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Influence? +

The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to Influence (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).

Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Influence first? +

If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.