Top Communication books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Communication books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Communication

Understanding the concepts of Communication starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills -- and Leave a Positive Impression!

With practical advice and conversation "cheat sheets," The Fine Art of Small Talk will help you learn to feel more comfortable in any type of social situation, from lunch with the boss to an association event to a cocktail party where you don't know a soul.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Changing the Conversation: The 17 Principles of Conflict Resolution

From Joost Elffers, the packaging genius behind the huge New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, and The Art of Seduction, comes this invaluable manual that teaches seventeen fundamentals for turning any conflict into an opportunity for growth. Beautifully packaged in a graphic, two-color format, Changing the Conversation is written by conflict expert Dana Ca…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts

People Skills is a communication skills handbook that can help you eliminate these and other communication problems. Author Robert Bolton describes the twelve most common communication barriers, showing how these “roadblocks” damage relationships by increasing defensiveness, aggressiveness, or dependency.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a framework for interacting with other people and ourselves with empathy and compassion. The author, Marshall B. Rosenberg, was drawn to the idea of encouraging compassion after witnessing the deadly 1943 Detroit race riots as a child

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard

Bo Seo's Good Arguments translates the wisdom of competitive debate so you can learn to disagree more productively. You'll discover some of the core principles of debate – as well as which exercises professional debaters use to improve the way they think and speak.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters

In 'You're Not Listening', Kate Murphy explains why we're not listening, what it's doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend. Listening is about curiosity and patience – about asking the right questions in the right way. Improvisational comedians and con men are much better at it than most of us.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Communication Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Communication, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Made to Stick distills years of research and communication science into an easy-to-remember mnemonic and blueprint for creating 'sticky ideas'; ideas that get understood, remembered and that change something – minds or behaviours.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear

Communications expert Luntz offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the tactical use of words and phrases affects what we buy, who we vote for, and even what we believe in.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life? In the #1 New York Times international bestseller The 5 Love Languages®, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing,…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Talk Like TED

Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo provides insights from the world's top TED speakers, highlighting the qualities that make a great talk memorable and engaging. This book provides practical tips to help anyone deliver a compelling talk that captivates and inspires their audience.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Talking to Strangers

Talking to Strangers (2019) is a powerful exploration of how little we know about the people we don't know. It explores how we misjudge and misunderstand strangers, sometimes with terrible consequences, making a powerful case for more tolerance and patience in our dealings with others.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect helps you succeed by revealing Maxwell's Five Principles and Five Practices to develop this crucial skill of connecting, including: finding common ground, keeping your communication simple, capturing people's interest, inspiring people, and staying authentic in all your relationships.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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