Our Top NLP Books
You may have heard about NLP, before but don’t know what it is. This is a great place to start. This NLP books list contains our 22 favorites, and we recommend them to anyone taking one of our courses.
Read our reviews and start learning today!
Recommended NLP books (This page)
Recommended NLP Coaching books
Recommended NLP Sales books
Recommended NLP Seduction books
Top NLP Training Worldwide
A reminder that we offer unique 1:1 NLP Training worldwide, certified by NLP co-founder Richard Bandler and the SNLP. We offer a free 30-minute telephone or video session so you can find out more, and for suitable applicants we offer three free taster sessions so you can check out the value of what we do.
We all have our own preferences when it comes to NLP books. These are some of my personal favorites.
Top 22 NLP Books
The Ultimate Introduction to NLP
The Ultimate Introduction to NLP: How To Build A Successful Life: The Secret to Living Life Happily.
This an easy-to-read introduction to NLP, told through the eyes of an attendee at a seminar. The book gives practical tools to change and develop our lives. Very highly recommended. One of the best NLP books for beginners.
From Amazon – Richard Bandler, co-creator of NLP and the man who inspired Paul McKenna to greatness, collaborates with Alessio Roberti and Owen Fitzpatrick to reveal how to unleash your true potential and transform your life.
Richard Bandler – the world-renowned co-creator of NLP who has helped millions around the world change their lives for the better – has teamed up with Italian NLP Master Trainer Alessio and co-founder of the Irish Institute of NLP Owen, to craft a simple yet engaging story of one man’s personal change and discovery, to help readers understand the remarkable principles of NLP.
Inspiring and easy-to-read, this fable recreates the experience of being at a workshop with Bandler. Rather than explaining the theories, An Introduction to NLP illustrates the principles and simple techniques that Bandler has developed over the past 35 years in action.
This inspirational book gives you the tools to change your life, overcoming the things that are holding you back: your phobias, depression, habits, psychosomatic illnesses or learning disorders.
Through the simple techniques of NLP, you too can become a strong, happy, successful person and achieve your goals.
‘The must have self-help book!’ Paul McKenna
NLP: The New Technology of Achievement
NLP: The New Technology of Achievement
This is the first NLP book Michael bought! Still highly recommended.
From Amazon – Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a revolutionary approach to human communication and development based on the discovery that by changing how you think, you can transform what you think. It helps you to modify your thought and behavioural patterns to suit your projected goals. NLP literally “re-programs” your mind and your life – for faster learning, better relationships and greater success. NLP will change your life. It has already helped millions of people overcome fears, increase confidence, enrich relationships and achieve greater success.
Now, the NLP Comprehensive Training Team, a team of counsellors, coaches and consultants, draw on years of personal and professional experience to create an effective guidebook to learning and applying this technology to achieve what you want.
The reader can learn to: master powerful techniques of persuasion and negotiation; eliminate fears, phobias and low self-esteem in minutes; and learn the success secrets of top achievers. Every chapter in this step-by-step guide includes exercises to help you master specific NLP techniques, and a new 21-day programme, created especially for this book, provides the essential skills needed to achieve peak performance in business and in life. Charles Faulkner is the author of “NLP: The New Technology of Achievement” and “Success and Mastery with NLP”.
Magic in Practice
Magic in Practice: Introducing Medical NLP: The Art and Science of Language in Healing and Health
Excellent book about NLP and health. It’s worth noting that when it comes to NLP books, we like anything written by Garner Thomson.
From Amazon – This is the second edition of this highly respected introduction to Medical Neuro-linguistic Programming, which remains the official handbook for the Society for Medical NLP and was both a critical and a commercial success in its first edition. Based on the work of Dr Richard Bandler, who has again contributed the Foreword, Medical NLP has developed to become a discipline in its own right, guided by Garner Thomson.
Revised and updated throughout, significant new sections have been added on: priming; breathing; heart rate; sleep; relationships and cancer; and lifestyle diseases. This is a key resource for all health practitioners who want to understand and improve the effects of what they communicate, consciously and unconsciously, to their patients/clients.
Monsters & Magical Sticks
Monsters and Magical Sticks: There’s No Such Thing As Hypnosis?
One of our top books on hypnosis. Hypnosis doesn’t exist, and yet everything is hypnosis? This is one of my favourite hypnosis books. Written delightfully hypnotically!
![Hypnosis Books - Monsters and Magical Sticks: There's No Such Thing As Hypnosis? by [Steven Heller, Terry Lee Steele, Joyce C. Mills, Richard J. Crowley, Robert Anton Wilson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Cft1UXq+L.jpg)
From Amazon – If you want to know how hypnosis really works (and, no, it has nothing to do with waving of hands or other similar nonsense), you will want to read this book. If you want to know the “magic” behind Ericksonian techniques and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, you have to read this book. From one of the true masters of hypnotherapy, this is one book that can really change your life!!
Richard Bandler’s Guide to Trance-formation
Richard Bandler’s Guide to Trance-formation: Make Your Life Great (Book with downloadable content)
A great NLP book by the co-creator of NLP. NB: this is not the same book as TRANCE-formations. That is a great book on hypnosis (see below).
From Amazon – You were born to be great, to succeed — to be a powerful, confident, happy person. If you don’t feel like that right now it’s time to get back on track. Richard Bandler, the man who inspired Paul McKenna to greatness, will change your life in a matter of minutes with his incredible, potent NLP exercises and free you to unleash your full potential.
Richard Bandler, the world-famous co-creator of NLP, has helped millions of people around the world turnaround their lives and find success in whatever they want to achieve. This incredible book is his master work and packed with all of the simple, potent exercises that he has developed over the last 37 years to help people transform their lives. It also explains how he has developed and refined his techniques and why they work.
Make Your Life Great is an absolute must for anyone who wants to be freed from whatever is holding them back — be it fear, self-doubt, an unhappy past, bad habits or lack of focus — and become a strong, happy, successful person. The book includes a free DVD featuring Richard Bandler demonstrating and explaining his techniques. Make Your Life Great will be published in the US under the title Richard Bandler’s Guide to Trance-formation.
Trance-Formations: Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Structure of Hypnosis
This book has been out of print for sometime, but we can (usually!) buy good quality second hand books, at a reasonable price, from Amazon. It’s a brilliant book to learn about the structure of hypnosis and language patterns. Highly recommended for hypnosis, it’s a transcript from Richard and John’s early hypnosis seminars, edited by Connirae Andreas.
Highly recommended. Simply read it attentively, and you will pick up many of the language patterns and approaches automatically.
Maximum Willpower: How to master the new science of self-control
Maximum Willpower by Kelly McGonigal (Author)
“Maximum Willpower: How to Master the New Science of Self-Control” by Kelly McGonigal is a comprehensive guide that delves into the science of self-control and willpower. McGonigal, a renowned psychologist, combines the latest research with practical insights to help readers understand and enhance their willpower. The book begins by exploring the idea that willpower is like a muscle – it can be strengthened with practice but also gets fatigued with overuse. McGonigal explains the biological and psychological mechanisms behind self-control, including the role of the prefrontal cortex and the impact of stress and glucose levels on willpower. She debunks common myths and provides evidence to show that willpower is not just an innate trait but a skill that can be developed and improved.
In the second part of the book, McGonigal offers a wealth of strategies and exercises to boost willpower. She emphasizes the importance of setting clear, attainable goals and breaking them into manageable steps. The book highlights how understanding and managing internal triggers, like cravings and emotional responses, is crucial for self-control. McGonigal also discusses the significance of mindfulness and self-compassion in maintaining willpower, suggesting that being too harsh on oneself can actually undermine self-control efforts. Additionally, she addresses the role of social and environmental factors, illustrating how they can both support and challenge our willpower. By the end of “Maximum Willpower,” readers are equipped with a deeper understanding of the science of self-control and practical tools to enhance their willpower, making it easier to achieve their personal and professional goals.
We can use our NLP approaches to apply the ideas in this book
Highly recommended, gives the research to the reason many NLP techniques work. Be aware of what we will, what we won’t and what we want.
The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Study on Happiness
The Good Life by Robert J. Waldinger (Author), Marc Schulz Ph.D (Author)
The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness” by Robert Waldinger is a comprehensive and insightful book that draws from the extensive Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies of adult life.
“The Good Life” by Robert Waldinger presents a profound understanding of happiness and well-being, grounded in decades of research. It emphasizes the irreplaceable value of relationships and offers practical guidance for nurturing them, providing readers with insights into achieving a fulfilling life.
The Good Life
An outstanding book. It combines the longest and richest study of human lives anywhere with two remarkable authors of extraordinary breadth — Sir Richard Layard, Professor of Economics, LSE and author of Can We Be Happier?
This is the book we’ve been waiting for. With grace, humor, and scientific rigor, The Good Life challenges our most stubborn assumptions, and proves that the kind of thriving, happy life we all hope for may have been hiding in plain sight all along. It couldn’t have come at a better time — Guy Raz
In the time of ‘social distancing’ and a ‘loneliness epidemic’ understanding the importance of what makes a good life is paramount now more than ever. Both informative and practical, this book is a must read — Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Fellow of The Society of Experimental Social Psychology
This is the most significant account of one of the most important studies in mental health, conducted and presented by the best clinician scientists in the field … this book offers unparalleled insight into our nature as people — Peter Fonagy, Professor of Psychoanalysis and Developmental Science, UCL
Accessible, interesting and grounded in research – it is bound to make a difference in the lives of millions — Tal ben Shahar –This text refers to the hardcover edition.
Peaks and Valleys: Making Good And Bad Times Work For You
Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson
This not an NLP book as such, but for me, this story gets over many of the principles of NLP, Marshall Goldsmith and Ray Dalio and it’s one of my overall top book recommendations.
“Peaks and Valleys: Making Good And Bad Times Work For You” by Spencer Johnson is a motivational book that offers insights into managing life’s ups and downs effectively. The book is structured as a parable about a young man living in a valley, who meets an older, wiser man living on a peak. This narrative style makes the book’s lessons approachable and relatable. The central theme revolves around the metaphor of ‘peaks’ and ‘valleys’ representing the good and bad times in life. Johnson emphasizes that these periods are not just random occurrences but opportunities for personal growth and understanding. The peaks symbolize moments of success and happiness, while the valleys represent challenges and difficulties. The author conveys that understanding and managing these times effectively can lead to a more fulfilled and balanced life.
The book offers practical strategies for navigating through life’s peaks and valleys. One of the key messages is the importance of learning from the bad times (valleys) to appreciate and sustain the good times (peaks). Johnson advises that during valleys, one should be reflective, stay grounded, and learn from the experience, while during peaks, it’s crucial to stay humble, appreciate what one has, and prepare for future valleys. The book also stresses the significance of maintaining perspective, stating that the way one views a situation can transform its impact and outcome. Another important lesson is the value of making reality-based decisions and taking small, consistent steps towards change, rather than being paralyzed by fear or complacency. Overall, “Peaks and Valleys” is not just about surviving the lows and enjoying the highs, but about using both to achieve a more consistent and enduring state of contentment and success.
Summary from the book, –
TO MANAGE YOUR GOOD AND BAD TIMES:
Make Reality Your Friend
Whether you are temporarily up on a Peak or down in a Valley, ask yourself: What is the truth in this situation?
TO GET OUT OF A VALLEY SOONER:
Find And Use The Good Hidden In A Bad Time
Relax, knowing that Valleys end. Do the opposite of what put you in the Valley. Get outside of yourself: be of more service at work and more loving in life. Avoid comparisons. Uncover the good that is hidden in a bad time, and use it soon to your advantage.
TO STAY ON A PEAK LONGER:
Appreciate and Manage Your Good Times Wisely
Be humble and grateful. Do more of what got you there. Keep making things better. Do more for others. Save resources for your upcoming Valleys.
TO GET TO YOUR NEXT PEAK:
Follow Your Sensible Vision
Imagine yourself enjoying a better future in such specific, believable detail, that you soon enjoy doing what takes you there.
TO HELP PEOPLE:
Share It With Others!
Help people make good and bad times work for them, too.
.
Out of the Maze: A Simple Way to Change Your Thinking & Unlock Success
Out of the maze by Spencer Johnson
A great book and metaphor about beliefs.
From Amazon: Johnson’s theme is that all of our accomplishments are due to our beliefs: whether we’re confident or insecure, cynical or positive, open-minded or inflexible. But it’s difficult to change your beliefs – and with them, your outcomes. Find out how Hem, Haw, and the other characters from Who Moved My Cheese? deal with this challenge.
Next Generation Entrepreneurs
A great NLP and business book.
From Amazon – Next Generation Entrepreneurs is the first volume of the Success Factor Modeling series by renowned author and consultant Robert Dilts. Success Factor ModelingTM is a methodology whose purpose is to identify key characteristics and capabilities shared by successful entrepreneurs, teams and ventures. It then applies these to define specific processes and skills that can be used by others to greatly increase their chances of producing impact and achieving success.
Next Generation Entrepreneurs presents models, tools, exercises, illustrations and case examples – of both world famous and everyday entrepreneurs – that will help you understand how to create your own “Circle of Success” and create a business aligned with your life purpose.
Entrepreneurs are individuals who are willing to take personal, professional and financial responsibility and risk in order to pursue opportunity. The entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force for social and economic growth and advancement throughout human history. In recent years, a new generation of entrepreneurs has emerged who are interested in much more than financial gain. Characterized by people like Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Elon Musk, this new generation of entrepreneurs is also deeply committed to living their dreams and making a better world through their projects or ventures.
By combining personal ambition with the desire for contribution, growth and fulfillment they have made game-changing and world-changing innovations that have transformed the way we live and do business. This book is for people who have a similar vision and are willing to make a conscious decision to become more passionate, purposeful and creative, and to learn to become a “Next Generation Entrepreneur.”
The Hero’s Journey
The hero’s journey: A Voyage of Self Discovery
Transcript of a Robert Dilts and Stephen Gilligan seminar. The Hero’s Journey is a great metaphor for the challenges and opportunities we all face in life. It’s a great approach to self discovery and change.
From Amazon – Stephen Gilligan and Robert Dilts truly take you on a voyage of self-discovery. The Hero s Journey examines the questions: How can you live a meaningful life? What is the deepest life you are called to, and how can you respond to that call? It is about how to discover your calling and how to embark on the path of learning and transformation that will reconnect you with your spirit, change negative beliefs and habits, heal emotional wounds and physical symptoms, deepen intimacy, and improve self-image and self-love.
Along this path we inevitably meet challenges and confronting these challenges forces us to develop and think in new ways and push us outside our comfort zone. The book takes the form of a transcript of a four day workshop conducted by Stephen and Robert.
It is a powerful way of learning as you are so absorbed by the experiences of the participants that you feel you are actually there. A wonderful voyage of discovery for everyone who thinks that, there must be more to life than this.
The Master Seducer’s Handbook
The Master Seducer’s Handbook: Secrets of the Art of Smooth Seduction
I was surprised how good this book is, both for seduction (yes really) and hypnosis.
![The Master Seducer's Handbook: Secrets of the Art of Smooth Seduction by [John Cliff]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510+m1CwGkL.jpg)
From Amazon – Forget about nerves and corny pick up lines, this book will teach you how to win all the women you want by being the sort of man women love to be seduced by – charming and articulate, able to use your voice and body language to attract girls to you, expert at leading a girl into intimacy.
Whether you want to have sex with as many women as you can, or just make that one special lady fall madly in love with you, you’ll learn all you need to know from The Master Seducer’s Handbook. You’ll enjoy talking to any girl easily and naturally. You’ll learn how to get her interested and opening up to you, and how to lead her into deeper and more intimate conversations. You’ll know how to flirt with her and get her making mental pictures of the two of you doing outrageously naughty things together.
And when the time is right, you’ll know exactly how to make her desire for you inevitable.
Most important, The Master Seducer’s Handbook isn’t just for bars and clubs. You’ll enjoy approaching women in just about any situation – in shopping malls and libraries, at bus stops and in the street, in museums and galleries – anywhere there’s an opportunity too good to miss.
And there’s a sound scientific background to your new skills because the book is based on a comprehensive NLP behavioural modelling study of six men who are all incredibly successful with women.
There’s a built-in bonus, too, because you can use the very same rapport and conversation skills to help you persuade and influence other people in all walks of life – your boss, clients and customers, friends and business associates.
Presenting Magically
Presenting Magically: Transforming Your Stage Presence With NLP
Practical and effective book on NLP and presenting. A very good practical application of NLP. (I’m not always a fan of Tad James, but I like this book),
From Amazon – Have you ever been enthralled by a masterful presenter or trainer? Have you longed to effortlessly entertain and motivate your audience just as they seemed to do? At one time it was considered that such captivating performances were possible only if you were one of the fortunate, “natural-born” presenters.
Now, with the application of advanced human communication technologies such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Accelerated Learning, everyone can learn to present magically.
Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned professional, this book sets out to provide you with masterful tips and techniques that could transform your presenting skills. Introducing you to the secrets of many of the world’s top presenters, this book explores: how to adopt the beliefs and attitudes of master presenters; how to become calm, balanced and centred; how to connect with your audience; how to structure your language for optimum effect; how to handle hecklers; how to use metaphor; how to use gesture to access the unconscious mind of the viewer; how to use and own the stage; how to elicit stares from your audience and anchor them; how to structure presentations to fit everyone’s learning style; and how to grab the audience’s attention – and keep it.
Recommended Non NLP Books
Happy
Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine
A journey through all the approaches to lead a fulfilled life – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Epicureans, the Stoics, Christianity, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the romantics, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, right up to today.
I found it really useful. It works really well alongside NLP.
From Amazon – Everyone says they want to be happy. But that’s much more easily said than done. What does being happy actually mean? And how do you even know when you feel it?
In “Happy” Derren Brown explores changing concepts of happiness – from the surprisingly modern wisdom of the Stoics and Epicureans in classical times right up until today, when the self-help industry has attempted to claim happiness as its own. He shows how many of self-help’s suggested routes to happiness and success – such as positive thinking, self-belief and setting goals – can be disastrous to follow and, indeed, actually cause anxiety.
Happy aims to reclaim happiness and to enable us to appreciate the good things in life, in all their transient glory. By taking control of the stories we tell ourselves, by remembering that ‘everything’s fine’ even when it might not feel that way, we can allow ourselves to flourish and to live more happily.
The Art of Happiness
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
Written by psychiatrist Howard C Cutler and based on conversations with the Dalai Lama, this is a great companion to the Derren Brown book. Appreciate more what we already have as well as what we still want. Life includes pain and suffering, so develop the disciplines to make these easier to deal with. Happiness is our birth right if we work for it.
A very practical book.
From Amazon – In this unique and important book, one of the world’s great spiritual leaders offers his practical wisdom and advice on how we can overcome everyday human problems and achieve lasting happiness.
Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits: The life-changing million copy bestseller
Developing great habits that are useful and reducing the ones that are less useful for us is a great way of moving forward ….
From Amazon – People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call.
He calls them atomic habits.
In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy.
These small changes will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, and your life.
Brain Reboot
Brain Reboot: A Change of Mind Will Change Your Brain
Keep up to date on the latest neuroscience, see how it fits and complements NLP.
![Brain Reboot: A Change of Mind Will Change Your Brain by [Dr. Justin James Kennedy, Marshall Goldsmith, Frank Wagner]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31w2ffHjhWL._SY346_.jpg)
From Amazon – This is an adventure of a book. It explains how to reboot your brain, be happier, healthier and perform better in your work and personal life.
The author, Dr. Justin J. Kennedy, is a professor who started a career as a neuroscientist after being in a coma. In this book he shares his incredible story on how to reboot your brain. The book is full of stories from his coaching work with executive clients. Inside, find useful tips that you can easily apply into your daily life.
Marshall Goldsmith – the world’s #1 coach says: “When I met Justin, he shared the biggest change in recovering from a coma was not learning to walk and talk again but feeling happy. His journey is remarkable. This book shares his experience and insights in how the brain is triggered and what you can do to become the person you want to be at work and in life. His journey is your gain as he shares the neuro-anatomy of what is possible to be the best version of yourself.” In this book you’ll learn that your brain has only one emotional trigger, and how your feelings follow.
Rip It Up
Rip It Up: Forget positive thinking, it’s time for positive action by Richard Wiseman (2015-01-15)
Taking action is a great way to encourage personal change. This book gives some practical actions that we can all take.
From Amazon – Richard Wiseman is Britain’s only professor for the Public Understanding of Psychology and has an international reputation for his research into unusual areas including deception, luck, humour and the paranormal.
He is the psychologist most frequently quoted by the British media and his research has been featured on over 150 television programmes in the UK. He is regularly heard on Radio 4 and feature articles about his work have appeared prominently throughout the national press.
Mindfulness
MINDFULNESS reveals a set of simple yet powerful practices that can be incorporated into daily life to help break the cycle of unhappiness, stress, anxiety and mental exhaustion and promote genuine joie de vivre. It’s the kind of happiness that gets into your bones. It seeps into everything you do and helps you meet the worst that life can throw at you with new courage. Highly recommended.
The Hero Within
Hero Within – Rev. & Expanded Ed.: Six Archetypes We Live By (Revised & Expanded Edition)
A book developed from Jungian archetypes. The innocent, the orphan, the wanderer, the warrior, the altruist and finally (after revisiting innocence) the magician. Fits well with the hero’s journey. Great for self discovery and change.
From Amazon – A modern classic of Jungian psychology, The Hero Within has helped hundreds of thousands of people enrich their lives by revealing how to tap the power of the archetypes that exist within. Drawing from literature, anthropology, and psychology, author Carol S. Pearson clearly defines six heroic archetypes—the Innocent, the Orphan, the Wanderer, the Warrior, the Altruist, and the Magician—and shows how we can use these powerful guides to discover our own hidden gifts, solve difficult problems, and transform our lives with rich sources of inner strength.
This book will speak deeply to the evolving hero in all of us and reverberate through every part of our lives. With poignant wisdom and prolific examples, it gives us enduring tools to help us develop our own innate heroic gifts—the Orphan’s resilience, the Wanderer’s independence, the Warrior’s courage, the Altruist’s compassion, the Innocent’s faith, and the Magician’s abiding power.
wps_spacer size=”20″]
Self Compassion
Self Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
How we relate to ourselves is key to our success and fulfilment. This book gives us a roadmap.
From Amazon – Kristin Neff PhD, is a professor in educational psychology, and the world’s expert on self-compassion. A pioneer who established self-compassion as a field of study, Kristin offers a powerful solution for combating negativity and insecurity – the symptoms of living in a high-pressure world.
Through tried and tested exercises and audio downloads, readers learn the 3 core components that will help to heal destructive emotional patterns so that you can become healthier, happier, and replace negative and destructive measures of self-worth and success with a kinder and non-judgemental approach.
Self-Compassion recognises that we all have weaknesses and limitations, but in accepting this we can discover new ways to achieve improved self-confidence, contentment and reach our highest potential. Simply, easily and compassionately. Kristin Neff’s expert and practical advice offers a completely new set of personal development tools that will benefit everyone.
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
While outcomes are a useful concept, systems get us results. A great book on developing success systems from the creator of the Dilbert cartoons.
Direction + Success System = Results.
From Amazon – Dilbert creator Scott Adams’ funny memoir about his many failures and what they eventually taught him about success
Win Bigly
Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter
How Trump won. A book that explores hypnotic principles and how we can significantly become more influential when we use them. (Assuming we want to!)
From Amazon – If you watched the entire election cycle and concluded that Trump was nothing but a lucky clown, you missed one of the most important perceptual shifts in the history of humankind. I’ll fix that for you in this book. Adams was one of the earliest public figures to predict Trump’s win, doing so a week after Nate Silver put Trump’s odds at 2 percent in his FiveThirtyEight.com blog.
The mainstream media regarded Trump as a novelty and a sideshow. But Adams recognized in Trump a level of persuasion you only see once in a generation. Trump triggered massive cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias on both the left and the right. We’re hardwired to respond to emotion, not reason.
We might listen to 10 percent of a speech-a hand gesture here, a phrase there-and if the right buttons are pushed, we decide we agree with the speaker and invent reasons to justify that decision after the fact. The point isn’t whether Trump was right or wrong, good or bad. Win Bigly goes beyond politics to look at persuasion tools that can work in any setting-the same ones Adams saw in Steve Jobs when he invested in Apple decades ago.
For instance: If you need to convince people that something is important, make a claim that’s directionally accurate but has a big exaggeration in it. Everyone will spend endless hours talking about how wrong it is and will remember the issue as high priority.
Stop wasting time on elaborate presentation preparations. Inside, you’ll learn which components of your messaging matter, and where you can wing it. Planting simple, sticky ideas (such as Crooked Hillary) is more powerful than stating facts. Just find a phrase without previous baggage that grabs your audience at an emotional level.
Adams offers nothing less than access to the admin passwords to human beings. This is a must read if you care about persuading others in any field-or if you just want to resist the tactics of emotional persuasion when they’re used on you.
Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America
From Amazon – We can get caught up in our own mental prison due to mental bias and a number of other very natural processes. (And the media often encourages this ‘loser’ thinking.) This make us losers opposed to winners. Scott Adams gives us some approaches to thinking more appropriately and break out to personal freedom. Scott also gives some strong reasons to be optimistic about the future.
From Amazon – From the creator of Gilbert and author of win bigly, a guide to Spotting and avoiding loserthink: sneaky mental habits trapping victims in their own bubbles of reality. If you’ve been on social media lately, or turned on your TV, you may have noticed a lot of dumb ideas floating around. “We know when history will repeat and when it won’t.” “we can tell the difference between evidence and coincidences.” “The simplest explanation is usually true.” wrong, wrong, and dangerous!
If we’re not careful, loserthink would have us believe that every Trump supporter is a bigoted racist, addicts should be responsible for fixing the opioid epidemic, and that your relationship fell apart simply because you chewed with your mouth open. Even the smartest people can slip into loserthink’s seductive grasp. This book will teach you how to spot and avoid it-andd will give you scripts to respond when Hollow arguments are being brandished against you, whether by well-intentioned friends, strangers on the Internet, or political pundits. You’ll also learn how to spot the underlying causes of loserthink, like the inability to get ego out of your decisions, thinking with words instead of reasons, failing to imagine alternative explanations, and making too much of coincidences. Your bubble of reality doesn’t have to be a prison.
This book will show you how to break *-and, what’s more, to be among the most perceptive and respected thinkers in every conversation. From the creator of Gilbert and author of win bigly, a guide to Spotting and avoiding loserthink: sneaky mental habits trapping victims in their own bubbles of reality. If you’ve been on social media lately, or turned on your TV, you may have noticed a lot of dumb ideas floating around. “We know when history will repeat and when it won’t.” “we can tell the difference between evidence and coincidences.” “The simplest explanation is usually true.” wrong, wrong, and dangerous! If we’re not careful, loserthink would have us believe that every Trump supporter is a bigoted racist, addicts should be responsible for fixing the opioid epidemic, and that your relationship fell apart simply because you chewed with your mouth open.
Even the smartest people can slip into loserthink’s seductive grasp. This book will teach you how to spot and avoid it-andd will give you scripts to respond when Hollow arguments are being brandished against you, whether by well-intentioned friends, strangers on the Internet, or political pundits. You’ll also learn how to spot the underlying causes of loserthink, like the inability to get ego out of your decisions, thinking with words instead of reasons, failing to imagine alternative explanations, and making too much of coincidences. Your bubble of reality doesn’t have to be a prison. This book will show you how to break *-andd, what’s more, to be among the most perceptive and respected thinkers in every conversation.
The Luck Factor
The Luck Factor: The Scientific Study of the Lucky Mind
A practical (and research based) approach to increasing our luck. This book is highly recommended.
From Amazon – Why do some people lead happy successful lives whilst other face repeated failure and sadness? Why do some find their perfect partner whilst others stagger from one broken relationship to the next? What enables some people to have successful careers whilst others find themselves trapped in jobs they detest? And can unlucky people do anything to improve their luck – and lives?
Ten years ago, Professor Richard Wiseman decided to search for the elusive luck factor by investigating the actual beliefs and experiences of lucky and unlucky people. The results reveal a radical new way of looking at luck: in many important ways, we make our own luck. If you think you’re unlucky, that bad luck may be the direct result of you believing you’re unlucky.
Wiseman identifies the four simple behavioural techniques that have been scientifically proven to help you attract good fortune. He then shows how you can use these methods to revolutionise every area of your life – including your relationships, personal finances and career.
Predatory Thinking: A Masterclass in Out-thinking the Competition
‘A brilliant advertising copywriter and a great team leader. His ideas are equally applicable to writing a novel, making a film, launching a product, managing a football team, instituting life changes and any activity you can imagine. Genius’ – Sunday Times
From Amazon – Drawing on Eastern and Western philosophy, and colourful characters from Picasso and Socrates to Warren Beatty, this book represents a lifetime of wisdom learned at the creative cutting edge.
Predatory Thinking is a masterclass in how to outwit the competition, in ordinary life as well as in business. It is the philosophy that has underpinned Dave Trott’s distinguished career as a copywriter, creative director, and founder of some of London’s most high-profile advertising agencies.
Trade Mindfully
Overcome psychological obstacles to increase trading success Successful traders need to be well-versed and skilled in a wide range of business and economic areas. But now, in addition to effective trading strategies and sound money management techniques, traders need to possess the know-how to handle the mental and emotional challenges of working in a highly volatile environment. Recommended.
From Amazon – Overcome psychological obstacles to increase trading success.
Successful traders need to be well-versed and skilled in a wide range of business and economic areas. But now, in addition to effective trading strategies and sound money management techniques, traders need to possess the know-how to handle the mental and emotional challenges of working in a highly volatile environment.
Trade Mindfully is a unique resource that applies cutting-edge psychological techniques to trading skills, allowing readers to improve their mental outlooks and maximize the potential of their trading strategies. This book draws upon recent psychological research in behaviorism to teach new approaches that call for better focus, more confidence, and more positive perspectives and outcomes.
One of the key concepts covered in the book is mindfulness, a state of mind traditionally touted in the East for its ability to reduce stress and increase perspective, useful qualities for traders looking to rise above emotional obstacles and the poor results they cause. The author also discusses the importance of High Value Trading Actions (HVAs), specific actions that are under a trader’s control. With this guide, trading professionals will be able to form solid strategies based on a combination of these notions and practices, leading to higher levels of trading performance.
- Applies sound psychological practice and evidence-based research to the trading profession
- Covers the psychological perspectives and mental skills needed to succeed in today’s trading world
- Focuses on key concepts that lead to deliberate practice, specific trading activities, and increased awareness and focus
- Designed to help traders deal with the emotional challenges that come with uncertainty and risk
Trade Mindfully touches on the most essential concepts for anyone intrigued by what trading psychology has to offer, and delivers the best strategies for achieving the right mental skills for peak performance.
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing (Second Edition)
- “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
- “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
- “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”
- “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
- “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”
Highly recommended. A great wake-up call.
From Amazon – After too many years of unfulfilling work, Bronnie Ware began searching for a job with meaning. Despite having no formal qualifications or experience, she found herself working in palliative care.
During the time she spent tending to the needs of those who were dying, Bronnie’s life was transformed. Later, she wrote a blog post about the most common regrets that the people she had cared for had expressed to her. The post, also called ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’, has been read millions of times all over the world since it was first published.
By applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, Bronnie developed an understanding that it is possible for everyone, if they make conscious choices, to die with peace of mind.
Bronnie’s delightful memoir is a courageous, life-changing book that will leave you feeling more compassionate and inspired to live the life you are truly here to live.
Thinking in Bets
Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts
From Amazon – Annie Duke has leveraged her expertise in the science of smart decision making to excel at pursuits as varied as championship poker to public speaking. On February 6, 2018, Annie’s first book for general audiences, “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts” will be released by Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this book, Annie reveals to readers the lessons she regularly shares with her corporate audiences, which have been cultivated by combining her academic studies in cognitive psychology with real-life decision making experiences at the poker table.
For two decades, Annie was one of the top poker players in the world. In 2004, she bested a field of 234 players to win her first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. The same year, she triumphed in the $2 million winner-take-all, invitation-only WSOP Tournament of Champions. In 2010, she won the prestigious NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Annie now spends her time writing, coaching and speaking on a range of topics such as decision fitness, emotional control, productive decision groups and embracing uncertainty. She is a regularly sought-after public speaker, addressing thousands in keynote remarks at conferences for organizations ranging from the Investment Management Consultants Association to the Big Ten Conference. She has been brought in to speak to the executive teams or sales forces of organizations like Marriott and Gaylord Resorts, among others. She is a sought-after speaker in the financial sector, with clients such as Susqehanna International Group and CitiBank.
Annie regularly shares her observations on decision making and critical thinking skills on her blog, Annie’s Analysis, and has shared her poker knowledge through a series of best-selling poker instruction and theory books, including Decide to Play Great Poker and The Middle Zone: Mastering the Most difficult Hands in Hold’em Poker (both co-authored with John Vorhaus).
Annie is a master storyteller, having performed three times for The Moth, an organization that preserves the art of spoken word storytelling. One of her stories was selected by The Moth as one of their top 50 stories and featured in the organization’s first-ever book. Her passion for making a difference has helped raise millions for charitable causes. In 2006, she founded Ante Up for Africa along with actor Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein, which has raised more than $4 million for Africans in need. She has also served on the board of The Decision Education Foundation. In 2009, she appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice, and raised $730,000 for Refugees International, a charity that advocates for refugees around the world.
In October 2013, Annie became a national board member for After School All-Stars. In 2014, Annie co-founded How I Decide, a nonprofit with the goal of helping young people develop the essential life skills of critical thinking and decision making. In 2015, she became a member of the NationSwell Council. In 2016, she began serving on the board of directors of The Franklin Institute, one of America’s oldest and greatest science museums.
Annie currently resides in the Philadelphia area. You can visit her website at www.annieduke.com.
Recommended NLP books
Recommended Coaching books
Recommended Sales books
