Covert Persuasion: Psychological Tactics and Tricks to Win the Game,   ISBN:9780470051412

Customer Rating: 

Although I've only read a little of the book I can tell you, DO NOT BUY THIS!!!! When reading this, the first thing you have to do is shrink the the font size way down unless you only want about 15 words per page. Even then it looks like someone hit the tab key after every word. I really don't know why Amazon sells books that were formatted so poorly, hopefully they'll get their act together soon.

Customer Rating: 

My disclaimer: As with any opinion, it is only my opinion and these reviews will vary depending on who reads the book and what the reader is looking for. I look for ways to improve businesses, this book shares many ideas and gives many applicable take-a-ways.

On a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being the best:

Readability: 5 I read through this book in one sitting. I was sitting at an airport 830 miles away from home and it really helped passed the time. It is enjoyable to read.

Information and
new ideas: 5 The book is loaded with great ideas. It will certainly get your brain started if you're looking for ideas to improve your business.

Applicable Ideas: 5 There are plenty of ideas that can be used with just a little innovation.

Value: 5 I would have paid more and I am thinking of sending the authors and additional check.

I give it 5 overall. I bought the book because I was specifically looking for ideas to help me with sales process development. It delivered and the book will remain in my collection.

Keep up the good work Mr.Hogan and Mr. Speakman!

Rip Walker
Author:Rip's Book of Common Sense Selling: Improving Sales Through Process Implementation

Customer Rating: 

Forget all other sales books you have read for now. Until you have read this book, the others cannot be effective. Period. In order to employ sales techniques, one must first understand the basic psychology behind human behavior and how it relates to being influenced to do one thing or another by others. This book nails it. I have already noticed an increase in my sales, not to mention breezing through an interview to secure a new job. All of this was attributable to Covert Persuasion, seriously. A must read if you are serious about raising your A-game in sales or effective communication and influence with other people.

Customer Rating: 

Especially for anyone in sales, this book is good reading and one that you'll want to keep within arm's reach at the office for occasional reference. I'm a consultant and this book has a number of practical advise that is helpful in personal and professional application. Highly recommended! I'm currently looking for an audio version so I can periodically refresh the advise provided.

Customer Rating: 

I write this book having also read What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro & Marvin Karlins (5 stars) and Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials) by Robert Cialdini (4 Stars) all in the span of a couple of weeks. This book is not as good as these two. It is written, I presume, for the eager salesman looking for tricks but comes off as rather lame in this regard. Really, everything in it is just plain obvious to anyone who has ever been 'sold' to before (which is everyone). Skip this and read Influence instead.