Share:
12 Best Social Engineering Books
We analyzed 4+ expert sources, curated book lists, and recommendations from successful people to find the 12 best social engineering books according to the internet — not just one person's opinion. Each book on this list was mentioned by at least two independent sources, and the ranking is based on how frequently each title appears across all sources studied. This consensus-based approach ensures you get recommendations backed by multiple experts, not a single reviewer's bias.
Goal: Find the best Social Engineering books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best social engineering books" and study the top 4+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
12 Best Social Engineering Books
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).
1
What Every BODY is Saying
An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People
by Joe Navarro
Also recommended by
2 people
Scott Adams recommended this bookScott Adams
One of the books on Scott Adams' "Persuasion Reading List."
Scott Adams's recommendation of this book 
Neil Strauss recommended this bookNeil Strauss
Neil Strauss recommended this book in a blog post.
Neil Strauss's recommendation of this book
2
Social Engineering
The Science of Human Hacking
by Christopher Hadnagy
3
Social Engineering
The Art of Human Hacking
by Christopher Hadnagy
4
How To Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
Also recommended by
18 people
Warren Buffett recommended this bookWarren Buffett
"In my office, you will not see the degree I have from the University of Nebraska, or the master’s degree I have from Columbia University, but you’ll see the certificate I got from the Dale Carnegie course." - Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett's recommendation of this book - Scott Adams recommended this book
Scott Adams
One of the books on Scott Adams' "Persuasion Reading List."
Scott Adams's recommendation of this book 
Dave Ramsey recommended this bookDave Ramsey
Recommended on Dave Ramsey's website.
Dave Ramsey's recommendation of this book 
Paul Graham recommended this bookPaul Graham
"The one book we encourage startup founders to read. [...] It's critically important for anyone in business." - Paul Graham
Paul Graham's recommendation of this book 
Derek Sivers recommended this bookDerek Sivers
Derek Sivers mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Derek Sivers's recommendation of this book 
Dustin Moskovitz recommended this bookDustin Moskovitz
"Seek to be understood." - Dustin Moskovitz
Dustin Moskovitz's recommendation of this book +12
More recommendations
- Ken Block
"One of the first books that really helped me achieve my management style and what’s helped me really be successful." - Ken Block
- DJ Vlad
Most Recommended Books reached out to DJ Vlad directly.
- Strauss Zelnick
"Archaic references and overweening title to the side, it’s actually a great guide to leadership and salesmanship." - Strauss Zelnick
- Daymond John
"I love all the Dale Carnegie books." - Daymond John
- Shay Carl
"A staple that I have listened to three or four times." - Shay Carl
- Tim Draper
"[One of the books] that are recommended or required at Draper University." - Tim Draper
- Sahil Lavingia
Sahil Lavingia recommended this book on Notion.
- Barbara Corcoran
"A must read for anyone in business." - Barbara Corcoran
- Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi recommended this book on Instagram.
- Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
- Ben Greenfield
Most Recommended Books reached out to Ben Greenfield directly.
- Patrick Bet-David
Patrick Bet-David recommended this book on his website.
- Ken Block
5
Influence
The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert Cialdini
Also recommended by
18 people
Tobi Lütke recommended this bookTobi Lütke
"The most mind-bending book you can imagine, because it essentially taught you always humans are flawed and influential." - Tobi Lütke
Tobi Lütke's recommendation of this book - Scott Adams recommended this book
Scott Adams
"100 percent of effective people seem to have read [this book]. In fact, it’s one of those things that when I meet somebody and they’re operating at a pretty high level, if you mention [this book], they’ve all read it." - Scott Adams
Scott Adams's recommendation of this book 
Naval Ravikant recommended this bookNaval Ravikant
"Fundamental and had a lot to teach." - Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant's recommendation of this book 
Charlie Munger recommended this bookCharlie Munger
Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
Charlie Munger's recommendation of this book 
Adam Robinson recommended this bookAdam Robinson
Adam Robinson mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Adam Robinson's recommendation of this book 
Ramit Sethi recommended this bookRamit Sethi
Ramit Sethi mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Ramit Sethi's recommendation of this book +12
More recommendations
- Alexis Ohanian
"[Helps you] navigate the world with heightened awareness for how we're always being influenced/manipulated." - Alexis Ohanian
- Guy Kawasaki
"The guiding light for how I conduct business—and in many ways how I live my life." - Guy Kawasaki
- Max Levchin
One of Max Levchin's answers to "what's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs?"
- Noah Kagan
"People can be influenced in their behaviors by many different tactics." - Noah Kagan
- Samy Kamkar
"I love it because it was a very systematic and analytical approach to the most common ways that human being have been known to be influenced and persuaded to do something." - Samy Kamkar
- Andrew Wilkinson
"[One of] my most recommended business books." - Andrew Wilkinson
- Neil Strauss
"Understanding these [principles] make all the difference in making the leap from interest to attraction." - Neil Strauss
- Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Patrick O'Shaughnessy recommended this book on a blog post.
- Mark Manson
Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
- Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi recommended this book on Instagram.
- James Clear
"[One of] the 10 best nonfiction books of all-time." - James Clear
- Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.
- Alexis Ohanian
6
The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene
Also recommended by
7 people
Aubrey Marcus recommended this bookAubrey Marcus
"I cannot express how immensely valuable this book is, when absorbed into an open mind." - Aubrey Marcus
Aubrey Marcus's recommendation of this book 
DJ Vlad recommended this bookDJ Vlad
Most Recommended Books reached out to DJ Vlad directly.
DJ Vlad's recommendation of this book 
Ryan Holiday recommended this bookRyan Holiday
"Critical for anyone trying to accomplish anything." - Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday's recommendation of this book 
Alice Little recommended this bookAlice Little
"I think that [this book is] a great tool to get into the hands of women and get that positive thinking going." - Alice Little
Alice Little's recommendation of this book - Neil Strauss recommended this book
Neil Strauss
"Heavily researched and distilled handbook." - Neil Strauss
Neil Strauss's recommendation of this book - Rollo Tomassi recommended this book
Rollo Tomassi
"His best book." - Rollo Tomassi
Rollo Tomassi's recommendation of this book +1
More recommendations
- Patrick Bet-David
Patrick Bet-David recommended this book on his website.
- Patrick Bet-David
7
Ghost in the Wires
My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker
by Kevin Mitnick
Also recommended by
1 person
Thomas Frank recommended this bookThomas Frank
"I love stuff at the intersection of crime and computers." - Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank's recommendation of this book
8
Emotions Revealed
Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life
by Paul Ekman
9
How to Read a Person Like a Book
Observing Body Language to Know What People Are Thinking
by Gerard I. Nierenberg
10
It's Not All About "Me"
The Top Ten Techniques for Building Quick Rapport with Anyone
by Robin K. Dreeke
11
The Art of Deception
Controlling the Human Element of Security
by Kevin Mitnick
12
Unmasking the Social Engineer
The Human Element of Security
by Christopher Hadnagy
Sources
Edited by
Richard Reis
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Follow@richardreeze
Anurag Ramdasan
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
Follow@anuragwho
Comments
Did we miss something? Have feedback?
Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts