Pre-Suasion

Channeling Attention for Change

By: Robert B. Cialdini

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the legendary best seller Influence, social psychologist Robert Cialdini, shines a light on effective persuasion and reveals that the secret doesn't lie in the message itself but in the key moment before that message is delivered.

What separates effective communicators from truly successful persuaders? Using the same combination of rigorous scientific research and accessibility that made his Influence an iconic best seller, Robert Cialdini explains how to capitalize on the essential window of time before you deliver an important message. This "privileged moment for change" prepares people to be receptive to a message before they experience it. Optimal persuasion is achieved only through optimal pre-suasion. In other words, to change minds, a pre-suader must also change states of mind.

His first solo work in over 30 years, Cialdini's Pre-Suasion draws on his extensive experience as the most cited social psychologist of our time and explains the techniques a person should implement to become a master persuader. Altering a listener's attitudes, beliefs, or experiences isn't necessary, says Cialdini - all that's required is for a communicator to redirect the audience's focus of attention before a relevant action.

From studies on advertising imagery to treating opiate addiction, from the annual letters of Berkshire Hathaway to the annals of history, Cialdini draws on an array of studies and narratives to outline the specific techniques you can use on online marketing campaigns and even effective wartime propaganda. He illustrates how the artful diversion of attention leads to successful pre-suasion and gets your targeted audience primed and ready to say yes.

©2016 Robert Cialdini (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Narrating this fascinating audio, John Bedford Lloyd provides a businesslike, confident tone that helps listeners stay engaged with the author's reasoning and the specific techniques offered. Lloyd's calm and deliberate diction is reassuring and doesn't compete with Cialdini's conversational writing." ( AudioFile)

Cialdini's Masterclass!

Where does Pre-Suasion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best! Cialdini has distilled his science into a magnum opus. Many years after his seminal book "Influence" he has taken the science of social psychology to a new level.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pre-Suasion?

His skilled writing presents complex facts in a compelling and memorable way. For instance, when describing what attracts our attention, Cialdini categorizes them as the Sexual, the Threatening, and the Different..... given the acronym that forms, it makes an excellent example of itself. Throughout the book his prose exemplifies the style and power of the communication skills he shares.

Have you listened to any of John Bedford Lloyd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope but he does a good job of emphasizing the relevant words and as far as I can tell hasn't mispronounced any. Thumbs up!

Any additional comments?

This book is not for beginners, it's a masterclass. Employing arcane psychological concepts like priming, memory biases and manipulation of attention seem intended for professionals and people with a psychology or persuasion background. If you haven't read Cialdini's first book, Influence, along with some basic psychology literature, this book may be hard to understand, or even accept. Reading a detailed breakdown of how to get someone to confess to a crime they didn't commit, or how to manipulate someone into a cult, or how to get a terrorist to defect, is not meant for weak hearts or stomachs.

another good one

enjoyed listening and fully intend on listening again - some audiobooks you need to concentrate on a little more and this is one of those

A well written scientific narrative on the psychology of presuation

This book is as informative and well written book as the infamous Influence by the same author. These two books deserve a careful re-read

Fascinating Insight

Great book for marketers and advertisers and anyone in general. Highly Recommend. A great addition to INFLUENCE.

Awesome book

this is a book that every salesperson should read. you'll improve your sales by 100%

oh my Gosh, such an incredible book

i loved it, took a took a thousand notes, bought the physical book to keep it forever

I must read for all humans!

Explains the subtle ways we are manipulated by small things. Ever thought "why the hell did I buy/do/allow that"? With this book, you can start to make sense of the why's of poor decisions.

Technical but eye-opening

The book can get complicated at times, especially considering the audio format, but is still clear in it's principles. It creates awareness for many everyday circumstances and is helpful in being persuasive, at the same time that it appeals to avoid being manipulative.

very persuasive, we'll read, insightful, recomme

very persuasive, we'll read, insightful, recommend to all who breath. .I mean we all are influence peddling

A lot of info

Tons of info, it probably could have been split into two books. Fascinating information though.