Our mind is our greatest weapon, but discovering the best human psychology books is essential to using it effectively. Much to the contrary: in the vast majority of cases, so much of its potential remains untapped. Or, even worse, we can turn it against ourselves, using it to our own detriment. Wouldn’t it be great if we could change this regrettable state of affairs? Well, as it happens, we can!
A lot of very, very smart people have dedicated their lives to making sense of how the mind works and, best of all, they’ve written down their findings in the best human psychology books for our benefit. Read on to discover 2023’s top 10 most fascinating and illuminating books that divulge the mysteries of the human brain, teaching us how to take full advantage of the amazing organ with which we’ve all been gifted.
The axiom offered in the book’s subtitle—“people do business with people they like”—may seem self-evident, and yet, people too often fail to treat business relationships as actual relationships. The 11 Laws of Likability outlines how to form meaningful interpersonal connections with others in a professional context in order to draw the greatest advantages from business interactions.
“Hell is other people,” a French philosopher famously wrote. How the World Sees You challenges this long-standing maxim, exploring how your unique personality and the way people perceive you can be used to your own advantage. At the same time, the book also provides you with the tools necessary to better read those around you and make sure that social dynamics always work in your favor.
How’s this for credentials: Josh Waitzkin, the author of The Art of Learning, is a former child prodigy, a celebrated author, has won countless chess tournaments and holds a collection of martial arts titles! It’s safe to say you can trust this man with teaching you the fundamentals of learning, which he does with marvelous cogency in The Art of Learning, showing you how to overcome even the toughest obstacles in pursuit of your goals.
Imbalances in our brains can give rise to such conditions as anxiety, depression and addiction, all of which are great hindrances to our success, not to mention significant sources of unhappiness in our lives. In Reclaim Your Brain, M.D. Joseph A. Annibali investigates the biological causes for such problems, coming up with effective strategies to prevent and combat them in order to keep one’s life on the right track.
Whether consciously or not, people are constantly playing mind games with one another – it’s a natural, even if often undesirable, trait of human psychology. However, the negative impact of these games can be mitigated by learning to recognize, sidestep and counteract them. Games People Play gives you the tools for doing so, allowing you to forge deeper and more meaningful relationships with those around you.
In the majority of cases, it’s not about what you say, but about how you say it. This is especially true when you’re hoping to motivate someone to do something—one right or wrong word can make all the difference. In his persuasive and lucid book, Tim David teaches you seven ‘magic’ words that, when used correctly, will be sure to win others over to your team.
Who hasn’t watched a TED Talk and thought, “Man, this guy sure knows how to give a killer speech!”? For most people, public speaking is the ultimate phobia. And yet, there’s an eloquent orator hiding inside each of us, just waiting to be unleashed. Don’t just watch TED speakers enviously, learn their secrets and rise to the challenge—this book will show you how.
Though it might be a long time ago, most of us will remember the feeling of being the new kid at school. As adults, it’s no different. Be it a new workplace, a conference, or a party, the social anxiety (or, in some cases, the full-blown terror) returns and we might as well be children all over again. Thankfully, it’s all a matter of changing your mindset and with the techniques laid out in What To Do When You’re New, you’ll never feel awkward amongst strangers again.
Our memory is one of our greatest assets, yet, for some people, it’s a constant source of anguish. It shouldn’t be! Even if you constantly lose your house keys or forget people’s birthdays, that’s just a natural aspect of how memory works. By delving deep into the mechanisms of memory, The Seven Sins of Memory will not only appease your worries about being too forgetful, but also show you how to overcome your handicaps.
How do con artists succeed? Everyone knows pyramid schemes are frauds, and yet so many people fall for them anyway. That’s because con artists know and exploit specific flaws in how all our minds work. This fascinating book will teach you all the tricks that are used to fool others so that you’ll never let yourself be fooled again. Or, perhaps, so that you can become the world’s next big con artist”
Sarah leads brand marketing at Blinkist. She enjoys reading, writing, and researching publishing innovations. She is a fan of well-organised Google Docs and cheese jokes.\nSarah’s recommended read is \nThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up\n by Marie Kondo.
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