The 11 best books on social skills

Do you feel uncomfortable or insecure when interacting with other people? Do you think that when you go to social gatherings you are out of place? Don’t you know how to adapt well to these situations? We propose a list of the 10 best books on social skills so that you can acquire and develop them.

But first of all, remember! Social skills are manifested in the behaviors we have when we interact with others. They are key to adapting to different situations, because They help us relate to others in an appropriate and satisfactory way.. And you know the best? Which can be obtained and trained through practice!

Books about social skills you should read

Below, we offer you a list of the 8 best books on social skills

1. The world in your hands by Elsa Punset

If we have to talk about one of the reference authors in books on social skills, that is Elsa Punset. Philosopher, journalist and popularizer, who after publishing her bestseller A backpack for the universe in 2014, He continues to be able to transmit his positivism and enthusiasm to us.
His book incorporates a series of strategies and simple exercises to care for, understand and train your mind.. To do this, use sport as a reference. He believes that, just as it has taken us decades to understand that practicing sports considerably improves our physical health, it is still difficult for us to assimilate that social intelligence enriches our interpersonal relationships.

The content director at Social and Emotional Learning Laboratory (LASE) also considers that social, emotional and digital skills are basic to be able to “respond to the challenges of 21st century societies.”

2. The myth of charisma by Olivia Fox Cabane

It has been translated into Spanish by María Isabel Merino Sánchez. This is one of the most recommended books on social skills if you want to change the sensations you generate in yourself and in others when you face a social event.

It is especially designed for those people who consider themselves reserved, insecure, shy or who have a general deficit in social skills. The myth of charisma tea It will enhance your ability to influence people and will help you improve your emotional regulation.

To better develop our ability to promote our own well-being and that of the people around us, Olivia Fox believes that there are three basic keys: presence, power and closeness. This compendium of fun, science and practicality will make you more sociable and confident. It seems easy! Why not try it?

3. Ideas that stickby Chip and Dan Heath

This is a translation of the book Made to stick, which has become one of the best sellers in the field of social psychology. It revolves around the idea of how to communicate effectively.

The authors seem to have discovered the secret of communicative success. They try to explain why some messages become memorable. And, on the contrary, others, who a priori They have better prospects for success, they fail to survive and fail, quickly passing into oblivion.

His real case examples illustrate what to do and what not to do so that an idea has impact and sticks in memory. Likewise, you will discover the mistakes we make most frequently when we try to communicate. They give you guidelines to become someone with the capacity to influence.

4. The power of introverts by Susan Cain

Are you shy or introverted? Susan Cain not only answers this question, but makes one of the most enriching contributions in this field in recent years.

Explain why being an introvert is not always a negative trait. Furthermore, it can work in our favor and give us an advantage when moving through certain terrain. Throughout the book, the fight that Susan has with her transcends a myth: the one that states that extroverts are more valuable than introverts.

However, the author tries to clarify that what differentiates some from others is “simply” the need they have to receive a greater or less amount of stimulation. Besides, offers practical resources to these people less so that this trait does not prevent them from socializing correctly.

5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

What is it about people that seem to make friends wherever they go? This book shows you the strategic value of human relationships and gives you the key to enhancing the human side of life. Try to explain how to communicate emotionally with others, but without losing your persuasiveness and assertiveness.

It also provides you Tips for expressing your opinion effectively and how to defend your point of view appropriately. Underlines the importance of negotiation skills as a method to avoid conflicts and solve problems.

In addition, at the end it offers a practical synopsis to help us better internalize all the concepts explained. Definitely, It is one of the essential classics in this matter and one of the best books on social skills.

6. The language of the body by Allan and Barbara Pease

Did you know that only 7% of what you communicate is verbal? That means that almost everything you transmit is done with your body. 93% no less. This is one of the books on social skills that It teaches us to decipher what body language means.
It is agile, entertaining, concrete, precise and very illustrative, as it includes a wide variety of practical advice. It delves into active listening, that is, the importance of not only paying attention to the words that the other says, but also paying attention to what they do not say, but show and try to communicate. If you want to know how to interpret others, what they think even if they are silent or their tell-tale gestures, without a doubt, it is one of the best books and one that you will enjoy a lot.

7. The power of presence by Amy Cuddy

Amy Cuddy is a famous social psychologist, known for her work on non-verbal language and body communication. This book takes up these topics to show us different strategies to feel more secure and confident, as they will allow us to understand the importance of our posture and our body language in our social relationships and in the image we project to others.

8. …Just listen! by Mark Goulston

Learning to listen is a fundamental step to improve our social skills. This book invites us to become more patient and attentive listeners and to recognize the importance of listening to generate true emotional connections.

The author, Mark Goulston, is an American psychiatrist with an approach focused on empathy and the importance of communication in building healthy and satisfying human relationships.

9. How to improve your social skills by Elia Roca

Empathy, that ability to put yourself in the place of another. Compassion, understood as acceptance and forgiveness, respect or courtesy, They are social skills that are difficult to develop because in our education no one stops to teach us how to do it. Elia Roca does so, also highlighting the importance of beliefs, values ​​and other cognitive factors that influence their development.

Furthermore, this author, an expert in clinical psychology conceive these 10 chapters as an effective self-help program. That is, a program that each person can self-apply. Elia has more than two decades of research in this area behind him. This means that the techniques and recommendations that he offers us in his book are backed by solid experience and a good accumulation of knowledge.

10. Practical manual for the treatment of shyness and social anxiety by M. Antony and R. Swinson

If you are one of those people whose shyness and social anxiety prevents you from establishing effective interpersonal relationships, then this book is for you. Doctors Antony and Swinson have selected several successful treatments for social anxiety and have adapted them to a non-professional audience.

Therefore, this book presents gradual strategies that have been proven to be understandable, effective and safe to help the reader address social situations in a more appropriate way. This is a book that anyone who experiences anxiety in interpersonal relationships can benefit from.

eleven. The magical seeds of patience by Efrat Haddi

Cultivating social skills from childhood continues to be one of the great challenges of current psychology. What if we could read our children a story before bed that would also teach them to improve their patience? This is one of the books on social skills that will allow us to do so.

To do this, it tells the story of Daniel, a boy who receives a mysterious gift from his grandfather. From there, the author tries to The little ones travel with the protagonist through numerous illustrations. Thus, they will discover the importance and benefits of social skills.

Social skills, values ​​and development, something that is not usually included in most books on social skills

The magical seeds of patience It is recommended for children over 3 years old. Haddi is a mother of three children and much of her book is a product of her experience. Therefore, her work becomes a great alternative for adults. It offers an entertaining and very educational way to educate in values.

In this sense, both the The child’s brain development and the learning of social skills should be parallel and uninterrupted processes. Furthermore, the acquisition of the latter has a window of opportunity during the first years of the child’s life. Especially in the preschool stage and during primary schooling.

In summary, and also in line with what Lacunza, AB (2010) says, it is crucial to teach them from childhood the importance of developing good skills for their social performance, where empathy, assertiveness, and patience come into play. or active listening. In the same way, books on social skills that we have proposed will surely help you move forward in this sense!

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