More essential than ever, Robert Cialdini's absolute classic book outlining six principles that you can use to convince people to do things and/or defend yourself against coercion. The science in this book is solid, the experiments and examples are unforgettable, and the writing is crisp and compelling. Learn how it's done so you can defend yourself against coercive advertising, car salespeople, and, er, politicians. But don't be seduced by the dark side. — David

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini [Amazon]

18: Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde by Lawrence Azerrad

During its 1970s heyday, the Concorde, the commercial supersonic plane that did NYC to London in under three hours, wasn't just a revolution in aerospace engineering; it was an icon of industrial design, set the bar in luxury travel, and, quite literally, embodied the jet-set lifestyle. Now, hyper-talented designer Lawrence Azerrad, who previously wrote about the Concorde for Boing Boing, has created a glorious art book about the plane and its scene in the sky. The book overflows with historical and technical information and stunning photos of the plane, its marketing materials, and amenities designed by the likes of Raymond Loewy who designed the plane's flatware that Andy Warhol famously swiped every time he flew. — David

Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde by Lawrence Azerrad [Amazon]



