Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Art of Influencing Anyone summary
Niall Cassidy
The classic must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to sound more convincing and persuasive
17 mins
Brief summary
The Art of Influencing Anyone by Niall Cassidy teaches us how to use psychological tricks to persuade and influence others in a positive way. It offers insights into what motivates people to take action, as well as practical tips for enhancing our interpersonal skills.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Art of Influencing Anyone
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Persuasion is not about logical arguments but about communication and appearance.
Have you ever been in a position in which someone who didn’t work hard and was under-qualified got promoted instead of you at work?
This frustrating situation is more common than you might think. It is because the decisions we make – including the decisions our bosses make – are not always based on logic. In other words, why isn’t the most obvious means of persuasion also the most effective?
It’s because instead of paying attention to logical arguments, we put more faith in the things we want to hear.
Take two people presenting their ideas to their boss to start a business project. One of them shares a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why they should take it slowly, step-by-step. The other person is brimming with enthusiasm, saying that it’s better to dive straight in, but doesn’t present any real logical arguments to do so.
Who do you think the boss will select as project leader? Most likely the second one – the person who was more engaging and was enthusiastic about what the boss wanted to hear.
This common scenario demonstrates that the speaker’s personality is in many ways more important than the content or rationale.
This is also evident in article selection for academic journals. When researchers want to publish their findings, they send their papers to academic journals, hoping that one of them will select their work for publication. So what do the people at the journals look for in an article?
First they look at the author’s name. Second, the quality of the content. This was once proven by a professor who submitted an article which was utter nonsense. Shockingly, the article was published because he mentioned his PhD; people often reason that someone who holds a doctorate must know what they are talking about!
Want to see all full key ideas from The Art of Influencing Anyone?
Key ideas in The Art of Influencing Anyone
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Art of Influencing Anyone about?
The Art of Influencing Anyone provides detailed information on how to influence people to do what you want. An invaluable read for salespeople, it is also useful for anyone who wants to learn how to sound more convincing and persuasive.
The Art of Influencing Anyone Review
The Art of Influencing Anyone by Niall Cassidy (2020) is a valuable resource for those seeking to develop their influential skills. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With practical strategies and techniques, it equips readers with the tools needed to become effective influencers.
- By analyzing real-life examples and case studies, the book provides tangible insights into the art of persuasion.
- With its engaging and thought-provoking content, it keeps readers captivated and ensures that the topic of influence remains intriguing.
Best quote from The Art of Influencing Anyone
... We all like to convince others by using logic, but logic alone is hardly enough to change people.
—Niall Cassidy
Who should read The Art of Influencing Anyone?
- Anyone who works as a salesperson
- Anyone interested in how to influence others
Categories with The Art of Influencing Anyone
Book summaries like The Art of Influencing Anyone
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Art of Influencing Anyone FAQs
What is the main message of The Art of Influencing Anyone?
The main message of The Art of Influencing Anyone is that anyone can learn the skills to influence others effectively.
How long does it take to read The Art of Influencing Anyone?
The reading time for The Art of Influencing Anyone varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Art of Influencing Anyone a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Art of Influencing Anyone is a valuable read for anyone interested in improving their communication and persuasion skills. It provides practical insights and actionable strategies in a concise format.
Who is the author of The Art of Influencing Anyone?
The author of The Art of Influencing Anyone is Niall Cassidy.
What to read after The Art of Influencing Anyone?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Art of Influencing Anyone, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How Not to Worry by Paul McGee
- Magic Words by Tim David
- Social Engineering by Christopher Hadnagy
- Overworked and Overwhelmed by Scott Eblin
- Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards
- Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick
- Human Hacking by Christopher Hadnagy with Seth Schulman
- Rewire by Nicole Vignola
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- The Art of Influence by Chris Widener