In short

When it comes to persuasion, success can begin before you open your mouth.

In his global bestseller Influence, Professor Robert Cialdini transformed the way we think about the craft of persuasion. Now he offers revelatory new insights into the art of winning people over: it isn’t just what we say or how we say it that counts, but also what goes on in the moments before we speak.

This is the world of ‘pre-suasion’, where subtle turns of phrase, seemingly insignificant visual cues, and apparently unimportant details of location can prime people to say ‘yes’ even before they are asked. It’s a world where the cautious blurt out personal information if asked a particular initial question, where on-line purchases are influenced by unrelated background images, and where exam results are affected by the layout of the classroom. And as Cialdini reveals, it’s a world you can master. If you understand the tools of pre-suasion, you will better placed to win a debate, get support for an idea or cause, promote a campaign - even persuade yourself to do something you find difficult.

Drawing on the latest research, and packed with fascinating case studies, Pre-Suasion is both a rigorous work of cutting-edge scholarship and a compelling account of the strange workings of the human mind. It’s also a supremely practical guide to enhancing your powers of influence.