Social Influence

Social Influence

A person with purple hands holds a phone displaying text messages that read, "OMG then what happened??.
Throughout history, the ability to tell increasingly believable stories has become available to more people. Kevin Ashton says that’s a blessing and a curse.
A set of large blue numbers from 1 to 9, with the number 2 in bold red and black scribbles drawn over it.
What’s in a number? Only a vanishingly small slice of your life, it turns out.
An open book, symbolizing dangerous books, burns with flames rising from its pages against a black background, its fiery reflection shimmering on a glossy surface.
In "That Book Is Dangerous," author Adam Szetela examines the rise of the “Sensitivity Era” in publishing and how outrage campaigns try to control what books authors can write and readers can read.
Book cover for "Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader" by Martin Dubin, featuring a windshield wiper graphic on a yellow background that cleverly highlights the blindspotting theme.
You might love your leadership role and inspire fierce loyalty — but what if that comes at the expense of a disastrous balance sheet? Here’s a way forward.
Book cover with a gray textured background, featuring the title "DE KAI RAISING AI" and the subtitle "An essential guide to raising AI and parenting our future," all in white capital letters.
In "Raising AI," De Kai argues that today's AIs are already more like us than we think they are.
An open book reveals the art of smart manipulation: on the left page, a marionette illustration dances gracefully, while on the right, a flock of sheep grazes peacefully in a sunlit field.
We manipulate constantly — but few of us want to be called “manipulative.” Here, ex-Google executive Jenny Wood redefines an unfairly maligned trait.
A person in a suit holds a paper with a smiley face over their head, giving the thumbs-up with the other hand—perhaps caught in the people-pleaser trap, masking true feelings for approval.
The road to “uncaged leadership” means reimagining your professional identity and value. Here’s how.
Abstract collage showcasing two mirrored, sepia-toned portraits of an older man with wild hair and a mustache, surrounded by scientific equations on a patterned background. This piece invites viewers to ponder the right question amidst the chaos of creative thought.
Take it from Bezos, Musk, and Einstein — rethinking lines of inquiry can transform business, investing, and innovation strategy.
Collage featuring mouths, graphs, and text elements: a bold "CANCELLED" stamp, line graphs indicating a tipping point, and "change coming," all set against the backdrop of a striking matchstick.
In his latest book, Malcolm Gladwell explores a strange phenomenon of group dynamics.
Illustration of a key with an ear inside its head part on the left and a hand holding another hand with a keyhole between them on the right. The background, reminiscent of Dale Carnegie's principles, features blue and black geometric shapes.
After almost a century in print, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" still has lessons to teach us.
An image of a person holding a pair of binoculars with the new happy face on it.
Happiness is not a five-star holiday. It's often the result of struggle — and asking for help, as author Stephanie Harrison recently told Big Think.
A man in a suit is holding a pipe, presenting an air of sophistication.
Bertrand Russell shows us how to recognize emotional arguments smuggled into presumed statements of fact.
A woman in an orange shirt standing in front of a crowd.
About three out of every four people arrested in the U.S. are men. That rate is similar across the world.
A group of people collaborating and showcasing trust as they sit together on a rope, against a captivating black background.
Wherever businesses are a powerful force for society, successful leaders embrace the “mission mindset” of shared purpose.
A man sitting on a bench with his dog.
Over a third are worried that vaccines can cause "canine autism."
a bunch of signs that are on the side of a building.
You’ve probably noticed that most retailers use prices ending in 99. That’s intentional.
Million Stories
learner engagement
There are several different types of learner engagement, from emotional to cognitive. Here's how to improve each.
a group of people's faces with different colors.
We bring multifaceted selves to our interactions, and in these interactions co-create each other again and again. 
a close up of a cookie monster holding a banana.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “If you want to test a man’s character, give him power and a plate of cookies.” (Something like that.)
Research shows that spending more time on social media is associated with body image issues in boys and young men.
a human talking to a digital avatar
The danger posed by conversational AI isn't that it can say weird or dark things; it's personalized manipulation for nefarious purposes.
Some experiences continue to pay dividends time and time again.
Million Stories
By exposing people to small doses of misinformation and encouraging them to develop resistance strategies, "prebunking" can fight fake news.