10 Books To Master Effective Communication
This list includes powerful books focused on all types of communication, including romantic, platonic, interpersonal and professional. Communications books fit under the self-help books umbrella because they emphasize personal improvement and growth. These rankings are based on commercial and critical success of the books and the authors' credentials.
Charisma helps people communicate better by captivating their audience. But what if you lack the inherent charisma of a Barack Obama or Ronald Regan? Author Olivia Fox Cabane argues that you can learn to be charismatic by practicing your skills of persuasion and becoming more inspirational.
This book is best for those who worry about how they come off in social situations. Olivia Fox Cabane's The Charisma Myth is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Part of good communication is recognizing that coming to decisions often requires mutually beneficial solutions—you have a better chance of reaching an agreement when each person gets something they want. Getting to Yes highlights how to sell your solution while acknowledging the other person's needs, focusing on your interests instead of your positions.
This book is best for anyone who likes step-by-step instructions for self-improvement endeavors. Roger Fisher, William L. Ury and Bruce Patton's Getting to Yes is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Even if you never find yourself at an actual negotiating table, you will find the strategies in this book valuable in achieving everyday compromises at work and at home. The authors teach at Harvard Business School, and they base their insights on behavioral research, including tips for defusing tense situations and selling your own self-interests.
This book is best for those who want detailed strategies for winning tense negotiations. Deepak Malhotra and Max Bazerman's Negotiation Genius is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Jefferson Fisher is a communication expert who provides actionable tips to make every conversation an impactful part of transforming your relationships. He advocates for abandoning arguments in favor of discussion, turning down the heat while also standing your ground. Hearing instead of reacting can improve your work and home life, he argues.
This book is best for anyone struggling to stand their ground in conversations. Jefferson Fisher's The Next Conversation is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Can you ever really know someone? Malcolm Gladwell offers a fascinating blend of self-help, history and current events in his book examining how to use communications strategies to analyze and relate to people we don't know. Gladwell details how dangerous it can be to rely on misconceptions about strangers and outlines better approaches to them.
This book is best for anyone who enjoys memoirs or history books. Malcolm Gladwell's Talking to Strangers is available from publisher Little Brown.
Conflict resolution is another large part of effective communication. Mediator Dana Caspersen breaks down 17 principles for changing conflict into a growth opportunity by pursuing constructive dialogue instead of digging in. She offers exercises that encourage using communication during conflict to eliminate destructive communication patterns that lead to frustration.
This book is best for anyone stuck in the same communications rut. Dana Caspersen's Changing the Conversation is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
TED Talks have become a cultural touchpoint for their intelligence, influence and inspiration. They are the epitome of public speaking success, so little wonder Carmine Gallo's book harnessing their secrets is such a great read. He zeroes in on the small things speakers do to grab an audience's attention and never relinquish it.
This book is best for anyone looking to refine their public speaking skills and is also one of the best audiobooks on this list. Carmine Gallo's Talk Like TED is available from publisher Macmillan.
Marshall B. Rosenberg's book has sold more than 5 million copies for a reason. He sets up a dichotomy by defining violent communication—achieved by using finger-pointing, blame and often racial bias—and nonviolent communication, which emphasizes consciousness and careful use of language. By sharing rather than lording power over others, we can achieve goals.
This book is best for anyone who wants to explore gentler communication styles or has benefitted from concrete strategies laid out in books on grief or psychology. Marshall B. Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication is available from publisher PuddleDancer Press.
A New York Times bestseller that has also sold more than 5 million copies, Crucial Conversations focuses on high-stakes conversations in the business world, though it can also help illuminate everyday communications. By embracing the 'persuasive not abrasive' mindset, you can talk about any topic and get your point across.
This book is best for anyone who wants to up their impact in high-stakes situations. Kerry Patterson's Crucial Conversations is available from publisher McGraw Hill.
One of the most famous titles ever written, How to Win Friends & Influence People is Dale Carnegie's enduring blueprint for getting people to like you and using communication to get what you want—and what you deserve. It includes tips applicable to both business and social circumstances and has sold 15 million copies.
This book is best for anyone who wants to climb the social or career ladder. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends & Influence People is available from publisher Hachette.
Bottom Line
Everyone has personal and/or professional goals that would benefit from improved communication. Whether you want to communicate better with a spouse, boss or friend, you can find the key in these well-written and well-executed books to assist with many situations.
Improving communication in your relationship with your partner can benefit you both. One of the best books for this is couples therapist Sue Johnson's Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love (2008), which teaches couples to become more attuned to each other.
Body language is a huge part of communication, and law enforcement officials are experts in interpreting it thanks to their specialized work that focuses on criminal reactions. Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins's What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People (2008) gives fascinating insights into body language, including why the body tells more than the face.
Speaking is a skill that you can improve with practice and insight. Another bestseller by Dale Carnegie, The Art of Public Speaking (1915) addresses tone, delivery, concentration and even charm in a guide that can help anyone improve their public speaking skills.
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