• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 23:53
CEST 05:53
KST 12:53
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection7Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO8 Preview7[ASL21] Finals Preview: Two Legacies21
Community News
Weekly Cups (June 8-14): Clem and Solar double, PTR tested0RSL: S6 Finals played at BlizzCon 202611Douyu Cup 2026: $20,000 Legends Event (June 26-28)10[BSL22] Non-Korean Championship from 13 to 28 June4Weekly Cups (May 25-31): Clem doubles, 2v2 circuit heads toward finale0
StarCraft 2
General
TL Poll: How do you feel about the 5.0.16 PTR balance changes? Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO8 Preview Updates to The Core/Core Lite for v5.0.16? RSL: S6 Finals played at BlizzCon 2026 Weekly Cups (June 8-14): Clem and Solar double, PTR tested
Tourneys
GSL CK #4 20-21th June Douyu Cup 2026: $20,000 Legends Event (June 26-28) Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule ! Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond)
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Work In Progress Melee Maps [D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3
External Content
Mutation # 530 One For All The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 529 Opportunities Unleashed Mutation # 528 Infection Detected
Brood War
General
vespene.gg — BW replays in browser BW General Discussion Where is EffOrt? BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Quality of life changes in BW that you will like ?
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Grand Finals [BSL22] Grand Finals - Sunday 21:00 CEST Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2
Strategy
Relatively freeroll strategies Creating a full chart of Zerg builds Why doesn't anyone use restoration? Any training maps people recommend?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Beyond All Reason ZeroSpace Megathread Total War: Warhammer 40K Path of Exile
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread [H]Internet/Gaming Cafe Tips and Tricks Trading/Investing Thread
Fan Clubs
The HerO Fan Club! The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [TV/BOOK] *SPOILERS* Game of Thrones Discussion [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Facing Challenges in Mobile App Development
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Does Workplace Frustration D…
TrAiDoS
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
I'm an arrogant trash talke…
FlaShFTW
Gauntlet SC2: A Retrospectiv…
Ctone23
Why RTS gamers make better f…
gosubay
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 8246 users

Psychology/Sociology Book Recommendations!

Blogs > StarN
Post a Reply
StarN
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
United States2587 Posts
May 18 2009 18:25 GMT
#1
I want to read more psychology books. I finished "Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi [Cheek-sent-me-high]. It is quite possibly the most life changing book I've ever read. It has improved every aspect of my life, from work ethic to my ideas of friendship and love. I highly recommend "Flow" to everybody, although it is not meant for everybody. I'm currently reading "The Evolving Self" also by Csikszentmihalyi. I'm hoping after I finish that, I can start on a social psychology book (or sociology), if you have any recommendations I'd love to hear them!

Specifically I am interested in understanding how to get optimal responses from the people I interact with. Whether it be friends, family, co-workers, bosses, teachers, etc. But really any book on the subject I believe I will find helpful.

Retired BW Noob
Polemarch
Profile Joined August 2005
Canada1564 Posts
May 18 2009 18:34 GMT
#2
These aren't exactly what you're asking about, but...

Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works or The Blank Slate will help you understand human nature (evolutionary psychology).

Brafman's Sway: The irresistable pull of irrational behavior is also good, describing a number of ways people act irrational.

If you're looking to optimize your interpersonal skills, I'd recommend something that focuses on self-improvement rather than more general psychology. Stephen Covey's 7 Habits is good. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People is also good.
I BELIEVE IN CAPITAL LETTER PUNISHMENT!!!!!
Cygnus
Profile Joined February 2004
United States853 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-18 18:42:04
May 18 2009 18:35 GMT
#3
Not a book, but if you haven't seen this you may find it has some interesting information. http://changingminds.org/index.htm
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-20 06:13:45
May 18 2009 18:36 GMT
#4
The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, a analysis of human foolery and a spontaneous culture. Magnificent book, lets you see the foolery of mankind from a different perspective. If you did not read it, please do, for its a collaborative guide to our self identity as a race.

Edit: Also try:
Predictably Irrational
Stumbling on Happiness
But in all seriousness, one of the best ways to understand psychology and man is through literature, just take into perspective the narrator life and surroundings and timeline and you will understand a whole lot about society at that time and the moral dilemmas of people at that time. Dostoevsky does a great job of establishing psychology in his psych novels, hell, Nietzche himself said the only psychologist I have learnt from is Dostoevsky, his short stories are magnificent and so is The Brothers Karamazov. Marquez has also a magical surreal grip over the human character and anthropology, check some of his novels out.
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
freelander
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
Hungary4707 Posts
May 18 2009 18:37 GMT
#5
That name is not that hard to pronounce

Also, Mihály should be pronounced as Me-High :D
And all is illuminated.
StarN
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
United States2587 Posts
May 18 2009 18:41 GMT
#6
On May 19 2009 03:37 freelander wrote:
That name is not that hard to pronounce

Also, Mihály should be pronounced as Me-High :D

maybe cause you're both Hungarian!

For the longest time I was saying "Zik Zent Me Hall-E" Until someone made fun of me for it xD
Retired BW Noob
freelander
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
Hungary4707 Posts
May 18 2009 18:42 GMT
#7
rofl
And all is illuminated.
StarN
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
United States2587 Posts
May 18 2009 18:45 GMT
#8
On May 19 2009 03:36 samachking wrote:
The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, a analysis of human foolery and a spontaneous culture. Magnificent book, lets you see the foolery of mankind from a different perspective. If you did not read it, please do, for its a collaborative guide to our self identity as a race.

Edit: Also try:
Predictability Irrational
Stumbling on Happiness
But in all seriousness, one of the best ways to understand psychology and man is through literature, just take into perspective the narrator life and surroundings and timeline and you will understand a whole lot about society at that time and the moral dilemmas of people at that time. Dostoevsky does a great job of establishing psychology in his psych novels, hell, Nietzche himself said the only psychologist I have learnt from is Dostoevsky, his short stories are magnificent and so is The Brothers Karamazov. Marquez has also a magical surreal grip over the human character and anthropology, check some of his novels out.

I like your thoughts there! Literature can unfold the scientific/rational mind in different ways that essays/research findings can not. I'll keep that in mind
Retired BW Noob
StarN
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
United States2587 Posts
May 18 2009 18:49 GMT
#9
On May 19 2009 03:34 Polemarch wrote:
These aren't exactly what you're asking about, but...

Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works or The Blank Slate will help you understand human nature (evolutionary psychology).

Brafman's Sway: The irresistable pull of irrational behavior is also good, describing a number of ways people act irrational.

If you're looking to optimize your interpersonal skills, I'd recommend something that focuses on self-improvement rather than more general psychology. Stephen Covey's 7 Habits is good. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People is also good.


Those first two books both seem very interesting!

As far as the Covey and the Carnegie go, I never found that "self-help" books (in the sense that you'd find them in the self help section rather the psychology section), helped me much, because I spent much of my high school years reading Tony Robbins, as well as the Covey and the Carnegie book. They generally seem to have the same message as the positive psychologists do, but the way the positive psychologists break things down and conduct experiments/observations allows me to understand things more deeply.
Retired BW Noob
Foucault
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Sweden2826 Posts
May 18 2009 19:07 GMT
#10
Foucault: Madness and civilization
Goffman: Total institutions

There are so many fields in modern day psychology umm.....I'm not sure on actual books though, cuz I've only read course literature. "Psychology" by Passer & Smith is awesome though
I know that deep inside of you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. Let 'em pop bro. //////////////////// AKA JensOfSweden // Lee Yoon Yeol forever.
freelander
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
Hungary4707 Posts
May 18 2009 19:31 GMT
#11
Ok you got me interested, I will read Flow
And all is illuminated.
Frits
Profile Joined March 2003
11782 Posts
May 18 2009 19:55 GMT
#12
Mastering social psychology
Robert A. Baron, Donn Byrne & Nyla R. Branscombe

Very scientific though, not really a self help book, mostly for studying.
poilord
Profile Blog Joined January 2007
Germany3252 Posts
May 18 2009 22:37 GMT
#13
Have you read some of Cialdini's work yet? I'm a complete noob when it comes to psychology, but I've read some of his books and found them very interesting.
Salv
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Canada3083 Posts
May 19 2009 00:26 GMT
#14
I'd recommend "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks & "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell.
ero
Profile Joined April 2009
United States66 Posts
May 19 2009 13:17 GMT
#15
Stumbling on Happiness is the closest thing I've read to Flow in that it's a "pop psychology" book that manages to be self-help without intending to be self-help.
Pika Chu
Profile Blog Joined August 2005
Romania2510 Posts
May 19 2009 16:00 GMT
#16
There are lots i can recommend, but what do you want exactly? It seems that you don't want psychology/sociology books but rather self improvement books or practical psychology/sociology books.

A very good book that you'll like if you liked the Flow is Ivan Ognev and Vladimir Russev's book: The psychological security. The title is a direct translation from romanian so it might not be it, i do not know it's name in english version.

Anyway, it's an awesome book, one of the best reads i've ever had, really an innovation.
They first ignore you. After they laugh at you. Next they will fight you. In the end you will win.
Sky
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
Jordan812 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-20 07:37:16
May 20 2009 07:35 GMT
#17
On May 19 2009 03:25 StarN wrote:
Specifically I am interested in understanding how to get optimal responses from the people I interact with. Whether it be friends, family, co-workers, bosses, teachers, etc.


How to Win Friends & Influence People ....by: Dale Carnegie

Online copy available at Scrib'd
...jumping into cold water whenever I get the chance.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
PiGosaur Cup
00:00
#86 (PTR Edition)
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RuFF_SC2 134
ProTech87
Nina 68
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 3758
Sea 3194
GuemChi 3036
Mind 159
ggaemo 45
Bale 18
Dota 2
LuMiX0
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox1357
C9.Mang0690
AZ_Axe237
Other Games
summit1g8366
WinterStarcraft394
ViBE185
Maynarde83
Trikslyr47
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1295
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH262
• davetesta119
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Rush1147
• Lourlo1144
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
5h 8m
The PondCast
1d 6h
OSC
1d 20h
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
GSL
3 days
Maru vs ShoWTimE
Classic vs Reynor
herO vs Lambo
Solar vs Clem
BSL22 NKC (BSL vs China)
3 days
XuanXuan vs Jaystar
Mihu vs Messiah
eOnzErG vs Dewalt
Bonyth vs Jaystar
TerrOr vs Messiah
XuanXuan vs Mihu
eOnzErG vs Jaystar
Replay Cast
3 days
GSL
4 days
Patches Events
4 days
BSL22 NKC (BSL vs China)
4 days
Dewalt vs Messiah
Bonyth vs Mihu
TerrOr vs XuanXuan
eOnzErG vs Messiah
Jaystar vs Mihu
Dewalt vs XuanXuan
Bonyth vs TerrOr
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
4 days
WardiTV Weekly
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-06-16
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Heroes Pulsing #1

Ongoing

IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Acropolis #4
CSCL: Masked Kings S4
YSL S3
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
SCTL 2026 Spring
Maestros of the Game 2
WardiTV Spring 2026
Murky Cup 2026
Heroes Pulsing #2
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1

Upcoming

CSL 2026 Summer (S21)
CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
HSC XXIX
Douyu Cup 2026
BCC 2026
Heroes Pulsing #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.