5 powerful books about mankind.

In this blog I am introducing you to 5 powerful books I read/heard about the development and behavior of mankind.

Reading – It Can Change Your Life Positively

Reading is an activity many believed and proved can change your life positively and unexpectedly. You might not be knowing about something existing or even not be looking for changes but books bring miraculous changes that too surprisingly.

In this blog I am introducing you to 5 powerful books I read/heard about the development and behavior of mankind. This is a gateway, to understand your existence and how our behavior is shaped, and more importantly how we can change, and at times influence other’s behavior. 

Here there is a summary of 5 books to understand humans.

Thinking Fast And Slow Book Summary (PDF) by Daniel Kahneman

Why This Book Matters:

This book makes an important distinction between the two systems of thinking we use in our decision-making: our impulsive, quick-thinking brain, and our more deliberate, analytical mind.

Daniel Kahneman explains how to take control of these two separate systems so they can work in tandem to think in the ways we need to when we need to.

The Two Types Of Thinking:

1. System 1 Thinking: impulsive, automatic, and intuitive
   1. This system drives most of our thinking, as our brains use the minimum amount of energy possible for basic tasks.
   2. Example: Pulling into the grocery store parking lot not remembering any part of the drive because your brain is making decisions on auto-pilot.
2. System 2 Thinking: thoughtful, deliberate, and calculating
   1. This system is used a very small percentage of the time because it takes more effort and forces us to slow down and make calculated decisions.
   2. Example: Staying in the thoughtful, System 2 Thinking at the grocery store helps us avoid making impulse purchases.

Key Takeaways:

1. Many of the opinions we form are just a matter of exposure to the message
   1. A message we hear repeatedly is one that we are more likely to believe because we spend so much time thinking on auto-pilot.
   2. Example: Political campaigns repeat messages relentlessly to influence opinions of the Populus without ever presenting real substance.
2. We form inaccurate impressions because we don’t take the time to collect data
   1. Our minds oversimplify what we see despite the inaccuracy of first impressions.
   2. Example: We had a good first conversation with a new guy at last night’s party. So we tell everyone what a great guy he is, even though we don’t know him at all.
3. We allow a micro-experience to drive our expectations of the whole
   1. We focus on what we expect to see instead of what is more statistically probable.
   2. Example: A tossed coin comes up heads three times in a row. On the fourth toss, we expect to see tails, even though the statistical probability is still 50%.
4. Our auto-pilot focused minds formulate estimations only relative to other data
   1. To estimate item cost we judge it relative to its pre-assigned value instead of formulating an estimation from scratch for ourselves.
   2. Example: We judge how much we would pay for a vehicle based on its MSRP.
5. Our auto-pilot thinking keeps us attached to old ideas or things even when they’re not helpful
   1. We may be better off just letting go, but we’ve already invested so much.
   2. Example: Staying in law school because you’ve already spent so much money on it, even though you realized you hate it.
6. Our memories are driven by duration neglect and the peak-end rule
   1. We let the memory of a few events affect our judgment of the overall experience.
   2. Example: Those with a painful experience at the end of a surgical procedure rated it more traumatic than those who endured the same procedure for twice as long without a similar peak in pain.

Sapiens Book Summary (PDF) by Yuval Noah Harari

Why This Book Matters:

Written by the acclaimed Israeli historian Prof. Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens traces the roots of our evolution from our ancient-most ancestors to the 21st century. It also explores the reasons that made us the most dominant species on this planet.

The Big Takeaways:

1. Although not the first in line, Homo Sapiens still managed to rule the Earth above all others.
   1. If Despite having so much in common with other human species earlier, Homo Sapiens managed to evolve better and outran all other human species.
2. Homo Sapiens were the first to witness the Cognitive Revolution 70,000 years ago.
   1. The survival of Homo Sapiens after all other species is due to better cognitive thinking, communication, and inventiveness.
3. The Agricultural Revolution, around 12,000 years ago, was the second milestone for Sapiens.
   1. Our ancestors abandoned nomadic life in preference for a settled one via agriculture. This led to the dawn of civilized life.
4. Language is another great asset that Homo Sapiens learned to master.
   1. Our ancestors developed to communicate with each other much more efficiently than any other species. This gave them a unique edge and better chances of adaptation.
5. The coming of the Scientific Revolution was a realization of humans’ dependence on predetermined fate.
   1. The Scientific Revolution eventually led humans to the modern era, and for the first time in their history, humans gained control of their fate.

Influence Book Summary (PDF) by Robert B. Cialdini

Why This Book Matters:

With three million copies sold, Influence is considered one of the best books ever written about human influence and persuasion.

Whether you want to be more persuasive or wise up to other people’s tactics to persuade you, understanding the book’s six fundamental ways to influence people will be a game-changer in your professional and personal life.

The Six Main Ways To Influence Other People:

1. Humans have a need to reciprocate
   1. If you help someone or do them a favor then they feel a deep obligation to help you back.
   2. Example: Waiters that leave mints with the bill tend to get tipped more.
2. Scarcity increases desire
   1. “Opportunities seem more valuable to us when availability is limited. People are often more motivated by the thought of losing something than by gaining something of equal value.”
   2. Example: When Four Loko (alcoholic beverage with caffeine) was outlawed, there was a crazy rush to buy as many as possible before they were all gone.
3. People are swayed by authority (or authority symbols)
   1. It’s important to make yourself seem credible before you make an attempt to influence someone.
   2. Example: People are significantly more likely to buy from a website that has press badges/mentions than one that does not.
4. We are obsessed with being consistent with our words and actions
   1. If you get someone to publicly commit to something then they’re significantly more likely to follow through.
   2. Example: Salespeople and websites use this knowledge that people want to be consistent with their commitment to “upsell” customers. They first get a customer to buy a low ticket item before offering a higher ticket item that offers more of the same benefits.
5. People are more likely to say yes to people that they like
   1. We like people who are similar to us, pay us compliments, and cooperate with us towards a shared goal.
   2. Example: People who discuss something in common before engaging in business talks are much more likely to make a deal.
6. We are influenced by the choices of other people
   1. When uncertain about something, most people follow what everyone else is doing.
   2. Example: This is why sitcoms use artificial laughter to make things seem funnier and why many ushers will add dollar bills to collection trays before asking for collections.

The Power Of Habit Book Summary (PDF) by Charles Duhigg

Why This Book Matters:

This ground-breaking work is an essential read for anyone who wants to adopt new positive habits or get rid of tough-to-break bad habits.

Duhigg spells out the exact formula for what it takes to create change on an individual, organizational, and societal level.

1. The first step in habit change is to understand the habit loop: cue, routine, reward
   1. The habit is initiated via an external cue that sparks a routine and ends with a reward.
   2. Example: An external cue is a smell of chocolate chip cookies in the cafeteria you walk by after work, the routine is to buy a cookie, and the reward is the sugar rush and satisfaction from the cookie.
2. Habits are hard to break because they create a craving for a reward
   1. As we experience the reward on a regular basis, the anticipation becomes neurologically engraved in our minds.
   2. Example: A cookie from the cafeteria every day at the same time becomes a reward in your mind that you start to anticipate each day.
3. To change a habit, substitute a new routine in response to the cue
   1. When you experience an external cue, practice an alternative routine, but give yourself a similar reward.
   2. Example: If you enjoy the socialization component of going on a smoke break at work, go to a coworker’s desk instead so you get that feeling of satisfaction from chit-chatting with friends.
4. Find your keystone habit
   1. The keystone of an arch keeps the whole structure together, just as a keystone habit keeps you on track with many positive habits.
   2. Example: Doctors see better weight loss results in obese patients by having them focus on one keystone habit at first, such as food journaling, which in turn spurs other positive weight loss habits such as eating healthier foods.
5. Willpower is a muscle that can be trained
   1. Willpower is a finite resource in that it does run out, but you can increase your willpower with practice and by mentally rehearsing a situation you know will require willpower.
   2. Example: If you know that you often stop for fast food on days when you have to stay late at work, decide on a healthy alternative before you leave work on a long day.
6. We have the ultimate responsibility for changing our habits
   1. Bad habits or lack of good habits can be detrimental to living a happy and productive life and even harmful to ourselves and others, but it is possible to change if you understand the cycle of cues, routines, and rewards.
   2. Harrah Casino sued Angie Bachman for $500,000 in debt. Her defense was that she was a victim of her gambling habit, but ultimately, she was aware of her habit and had the power to change it.

Expert Secrets – Russell Brunson

Why This Book Matters:

Expert Secrets Book Summary is all about finding a niche online that would be looking for your advice. With actionable tips and templates to take away. Russel Brunson has created the go-to guide for selling information products online.

Why did I put this book in understanding human behavior? In the current scenario, Money is god, and business owners are kings. And the concept of this book will tell you humans can be molded to buy. In all positive sense, this is a must-read book for everyone, despite being a business owner or not.

The Main Idea

“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

ZIG ZIGLAR, AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

What does it take to have a great business career?

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent the first part of your career learning and honing your skills until you have become an expert in your field. To grow further from that point, you then have to use your life lessons and career smarts to impact and help others.

The real secret to having a great career (once you’ve paid your dues and become an expert) is to do three things well:

Successful people get to the stage at which makes more money loses its appeal and making a contribution to the world becomes more and more important. In the long run, what always matters most is how many lives you impact and how many people you can inspire to do better.

The concepts I’ve laid out here took me over 10 years to discover from dozens of different mentors and a whole lot of trial and error. I wish I’d had something like this when I got started. I hope that instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll realize this is actually a huge shortcut. Build your culture, create your products, tell your stories, and build your funnels.

Convert Your Visitors into Customers

1. Find your message. If you look at history’s biggest mass movements, they all follow the same pattern. A charismatic leader or attractive figure comes along who focuses on a bright future and offers their audience a new opportunity to tap into that future. To find your message so you can then build your following, you’ll need to do the same. Become crystal clear on who you want to serve, what you want to do, and the culture of your future tribe.

2. Build a tribe. The key pure and simple to building a mass movement is to learn how to tell great and memorable stories which build belief in the minds of your tribe members. Instill those beliefs well and people will become far more receptive to the opportunities you offer. When people have confidence what you are telling them works, they will be predisposed to having you influence them more in the future.

3. Change the world. The final step is to get the right people to come into an environment where you can deliver your message and encourage them to either join your tribe or act on your new opportunity. The most effective way to achieve that is to use sales funnels. Funnels fuel your tribe and enhance your impact. Master this and you’ll have a constant ongoing stream of people to share your message with.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming your message will be so enticing people will join your tribe without any effort on your part to sell them. That’s never true. To get your message out there and to build a tribe, you’re going to have to learn how to sell.