The Authority Bookshelf
14 Books to Help You Build Thought Leadership, Impact, and Profit
by Matt Gordon, the Authority Muse
As experts go about the business of becoming and being a “Thought Leader,” they quickly realize that it takes more than an expertise and a desire to teach and help. It also requires mastery of communication, persuasion, and psychology to build and influence an audience.
That’s where I come in. I help people become not just an Authority, but… (wait for it)… an Educated Authority.
I’ve distilled this list down to 14 books that are the most important and useful books about building, maintaining, and influencing an audience. They are books that every Thought Leader should read.
Movements & Propaganda
Crystallizing Public Opinion by Edward Bernays
Propaganda by Edward Bernays
The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer
The Father of Spin by Larry Tye
Psychology & Persuasion
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini, PhD
Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation by Sally Hogshead
The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries & Jack Trout
Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless by Steve Salerno
Forbidden Keys to Persuasion by Blair Warren
The One Sentence Persuasion Course by Blair Warren
Stories & Communication
Authority Archetypes
Selected biographies of the Authority Archetypes most applicable to your style.
Take the Authority Archetype Quiz for the full list.