The best book I've ever read
 

One of my students turned me on to this book and I'll forever be thankful. It is probably the most influential book I've ever read - and I've read a shitload of books in my life. It touches base on everything from social propaganda (media control over the masses), how politicians or marketing companies influence our thoughts and decision making processes, all the way to social prejudices and cognitive dissonance - which was probably one of my favorite chapters. It's full of "A HA" moments.

If you're a business owner, it's a must read. Trust me.

The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement: David Brooks: 9780812979374: Amazon.com: Books

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...k_Cover%29.jpg


"We human beings are social animals. As such we are influenced by others ? the people around us as well as those no longer living. We are also influenced by people we have never met ? by Presidential candidates, editorial writers, and film stars endorsing a product. How does this influence take place? Why do we accept influence or, put another way, what?s in it for us? What are the variables that increase or decrease the effectiveness of social influence? Can good people be influenced to perform evil acts? How does one person come to like another person? Is it through these same processes that we come to like our new sports car or a box of Wheaties? How does a person develop prejudices against an ethnic or racial group? Is it akin to liking ? but in reverse ? or does it involve an entirely different set of psychological processes? How can prejudice be reduced? Does watching aggression on TV increase a person?s aggressiveness? When criticizing a close friend, how can you avoid offending him or her?"

I needed a book for my upcoming vacation. Right up my alley.

thanks for the heads up

You'll enjoy it. :thumbsup

Looks interesting.

Gotta make my way thru Stephen King's JFK first.

Fuck yes! Bukowski for the win. Still need to read Women. Just re-read Ham on Rye and Post Office. Need to complete the trilogy.

Women it's his very best, otherwise I'd stick to his poetry.

About to do my next book buy over the coming days and this looks interesting, thanks mate for the heads up :thumbsup

now how did I know he was Jewish before I even saw his name :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Aronson

Here's my official ranking of Bukowski's novels.

1. Ham On Rye
2. Post Office
3. Women
4. Factotum
5. Hollywood
6. Pulp

Impossible to say what the best book of all time is but for some reason the first one that popped into my mind was The Master and Margarita and the second one to come to mind was A Confederacy Of Dunces.

Check out "Influence" by Robert Cialdini if you want a real eye opener. IF you can find it. :)

unless it's some pseudonym I'm missing, the linked book and the image are 2 different books/authors, no?

2 different books, by 2 different authors.... what's interesting is that both are apparently good books...

one was on a New York Times bestseller list, other is a classic social psychology textbook written few decades earlier....

my guess is OP is recommending the one by Brooks...

Thanks for the heads up.

Right now I'm in the middle of the Lonesome Dove series. It's got indians, whores, gunfights, cattle, dirt, buffalo and rivers with snakes in them. But I'm going to take a look at "The Social Animal" if it's available on Amazon Kindle.

Sounds like too "conspiracy minded" to me. Why not instead read a book about marketing? You know; for marketers? I have a bunch of those in my bookshelf if you want some recommendations.

Building Strong Brands by A. Aaker might suit to supplement this "conspiracy" stuff from the perspective of "conspirators".

this thread needs a :wehateporn: smiley

He is already on the book cover. :)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...k_Cover%29.jpg

the catcher in the rye

lets try it then.

How is psychology and being aware of societal influence a 'conspiracy'?

How can you call out an entire book as 'conspiratorial' on a few lines of blurb?

Stick to fucking with wehateporn's off kilter mind and try not to clutter up a useful thread with your equally slightly off kilter grasp of English grammar and nuances, and arguing points for ever because you don't grasp what's actually being said. Thanks.

Nice, will check out!

I already told my point very clearly, maybe it is your English that sucks. And if you want to learn about psychology per se, I don't think this books is good for it neither.

I can tell a lot from few lines of "blurb" and the title of the book. "Social animal"? No shit Sherlock. I did also recommend better book to read. That isn't good enough for you?


EDIT: Is the linked book even the same as presented in this thread? The author is different.
DOUBLE EDIT: It isn't.

Amazon.com: The Social Animal (9781429233415): Elliot Aronson: Books

Have this book and agree it is 'useful' and will teach you something.

Which book?

The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement by by David Brooks

or

The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson

Thanks.

I dont need a book to see whats done in front of me.