Covert Persuasion: Psychological Tactics and Tricks to Win the Game

As a student of marketing and sales techniques, Covert Persuasion sits at the top of my stack of my books on the subject. Having purchased and read Hogan's Psychology of Persuasion, The Science of Influence, Talk Your Way to the Top, and Irresistible Attraction, I trusted Hogan's skills enough to buy Covert Persuasion new and without reading any excerpts. I was not disappointed. Since the book is the intellectual child of his Psychology of Persuasion and Science of Influence, I urge you to get those books as well. All three books are overflowing with the latest research on persuasion. My favorite chapter was chapter number 6, entitled The Focused Outcome Mindset, which explains that to be successful, one must imagine a desired outcome, design active steps toward that desired outcome, and continue to take those steps. I got a sense as I read Chapter 6 that Hogan was not merely restating what has been put down in many a self-help book, but showing us the drive and determination it takes him to stay at the top of the marketing research and speaking games. The man is determined. (Did you know it took him five years to get The Psychology of Persuasion in print?) In Chapter 4, Hogan introduces us to what he calls hypnotic language patterns. I wouldn't tell you to read this chapter first, but you might want to know what it says and apply it to your career or business. If I could show you a way to learn hypnotic language patterns, would you listen to me? (I just used several of Hogan's hypnotic language patterns; read the book and find them!) In Chapter 10, Hogan recounts 27 Observations About People (And How to Covertly Persuade Them). Therein, you'll find such critical principles as People Do More to Avoid Pain Than They Will Do to Gain Pleasure, Negative People Infect Others. Avoid Them, Peer Pressure Doesn't End with High School and many others. These will not only help you get inside potential customers' minds, but if applied, will help you in life. This is the kind of book that you will leave highlighted , sticky noted, and dog-eared. When you get it you will feel as if you've got a weapon no one else has! Lastly, make sure you apply the techniques in the book. As he writes in Chapter 6, no book can change your life. Only you can. William Powell Jr. Author - Valkyrie ISBN: 1-59080-529-1and dietersdictionary.com

Loaded with information and tactics on persuasion, this book is a must have for anyone who wants to learn the art of persuasion from the master. Kevin Hogan never ceases to amaze me each time he comes out with a new program or book. They all have the best and newest cutting edge information on the market; and "Covert Persuasion" is no different. Hogan and Speakman reveal secrets you won't find anywhere else on how to persuade anyone using mind tricks and psychological tactics. If you have the need to persuade anyone in your business or in your personal life, I suggest you get this book Now!

I got this book and consumed it in one sitting and the moment you crack the cover you'll understand why. I was floored by the level of detail and insight contained in the text. This book gives you detail after minute detail on exactly how to persuade anyone . . . even those who don't want to be persuaded. Hogan and Speakman have unmasked and detailed some of the most effective persuasion techniques ever tested today. What I really like is the way that they tell you about the technique, show you exactly how to apply it step by step and then walk you through exercises that make the new knowledge yours. This is a guidebook, a treatise on persuasion and an eye opening exploration into what is possible when persuasion is systematically and ethically applied. One of the most interesting sections in the book is the Persuasive Language patterns and the $10,000 persuasion trick. I also enjoyed this book as a guidebook to predicting human behavior and the tactics and strategies for predicting outcomes will bring you back time and again as you practice them and experience their effectiveness. An amazing book and a must read for every serious persuader. Dave Lakhani Author - Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want and The Power of an Hour: Business and Life Mastery in One Hour a Week.

I like this book because it focuses on practical tools that work. You'll recognize some strategies and tactics, others will be new to you, and a number will surprise you. Hogan goes beyond the worn platitudes and shows what research has shown to work in persuasion. "Covert Persuasion" is packed with examples to show how you can put these tools into practice. I love chapters 8 and 9. We've all heard about the importance of using stories to persuade. And that's correct. But they need to be the right stories with the necessary ingredients. And they need to be told the right way. How can we avoid the mistakes that so many of us make in storytelling? Chapter 8 gives you 20 keys to using covert persuasion in story. You'll then read stories that grab you...because they illustrate those 20 keys. You'll be able to tell stories that move others in the direction you want. Chapter 9 shows how to use questions most effectively in persuasion. It's much more than making a list of questions and plowing through them. Which questions should we use in what parts of the persuasion process? This chapter gives excellent information and examples. The last chapter gives you four worksheets to quickly choose ways to deliver your next message most effectively. Anyone I can think of...whether or not they formally consider themselves as "salespeople"...will earn a high return by using these tools in daily interactions with others.

If you're debating about getting this book like I did, stop thinking and get it. There are not just one or two things in this book, but more than fifty different ways to persuade people, many that I haven't encountered before. I've already started using some of the tactics, and they truly seem to be working. I've never written a review for a book before, but this one is so good that everyone should get it.