May 14, 2025

9 best books to understand human psychology and the tactics of the mind

Aakanksha Sharma

Understanding human psychology and the tactics it applies

If there is one weapon that humans have never been able to fully master, then it is the human mind. Be it their own or somebody else’s, the human mind plays tricks and tactics that are hard to guess. And so here we mention 9 books that help understand human psychology.

canva

‘The Laws Of Human Nature’ by Robert Greene

One of the first books to come to mind when it comes to human psychology and understanding the tactics of the mind is ‘The Laws of Human Nature’. It explains the basics of human motivations, what fuels people, what changes their behaviour and habits, and more.

PROFILE-BOOKS

‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ by Daniel Kahneman

There are two sides to everything, even our brain. And within these sides, there is a slow, calculative side that helps us make important decisions, and there is the fast, reckless side that just works on instinct and moves on.

PENGUIN-UK

‘The Lucifer Effect’ by Philip G. Zimbardo

A book based on an incomplete experiment, ‘The Lucifer Effect’ shows the dark side of even the most righteous people. It shows and elaborates about how even the most right and moral of humans can tip to the bad side under certain conditions.

Ebury-Digital

‘Emotional Intelligence’ by Daniel Goleman

Emotional intelligence does not always get the importance it should, and people only look at IQ. But in this book, Goleman explains how emotional intelligence makes people who they are, be it their personality, their communication, the skills they acquire, and more.

Bloomsbury-Publishing-India-Private-Limited

‘Games People Play’ by Eric Berne

Did you know that your closest friend and even the enemy you made back in 2024 is playing an unconscious mind game? ‘Games People Play’ shares with people how everyone is playing an unconscious game, hidden from the other person, and how it benefits them.

Penguin

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‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’ by Robert Cialdini

Another must-read in the genre, ‘Influence’ is about what makes people agree and say yes to things. Be it requests, deals, work hours, fancy dinners, or even purchases. It talks about what really influences people and how important of a skill it is.

Harper-Business

‘The Art of Thinking Clearly’ by Rolf Dobelli

When we want to decide something, be it saying yes to a person or buying a property, we think from different angles. But sometimes, in this thought, there are certain biases that can occur, or mistakes can be made. And this book helps eliminate this aspect.

Sceptre

‘Drive’ by Daniel Pink

If you thought money and fame are the primary drivers for people, Pink is here to prove it wrong. He talks about how autonomy, creation, and having independence of work also drives people to work better and harder.

Riverhead-Books

‘Predictably Irrational’ by Dan Ariely

‘Predictably Irrational’ points out the weird aspects of human behaviour and mind, and how when people think they are making optimal decisions, they end up doing something different. And this difference comes from ingrained feelings or how their mindset is shaped.

Harper-Perennial

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