Jonah Berger
Jonah Berger is a Wharton marketing professor and author who studies consumer behavior, social influence, word of mouth, and persuasion. He is best known for Contagious, alongside Invisible Influence, The Catalyst, and Magic Words. His books have become international bestsellers and have been translated into more than 35 languages.
Biography & Author's Journey
Jonah Berger’s public writing grew out of an academic career built around questions of judgment, influence, and behavior. He earned a B.A. in Human Judgment and Decision Making from Stanford University in 2002, completed a Ph.D. in marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2007, and joined the Wharton School that same year. At Wharton, he advanced from assistant professor to tenured associate professor and built a research agenda around word of mouth, digital marketing, natural language processing, and the forces that make ideas, products, and behaviors catch on. ((https://faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Jonah-Berger-CV-2.pdf))
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Master social influence & persuasion
Master social influence & persuasion
Understanding human psychology and mastering persuasion are essential skills for anyone who works with people—whether you're leading teams, negotiating deals, or simply trying to communicate more effectively. This learning plan systematically builds your ability to read people, influence outcomes ethically, and handle difficult conversations, making it invaluable for professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to improve their interpersonal effectiveness.
The Best Persuasion Books
Learn the psychology of influence with books on persuasion—master conversation, negotiation, and getting buy-in without manipulation.
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Control a conversation, people magnet
Control a conversation, people magnet
In an era where social capital is a primary driver of success, mastering interpersonal influence is essential for leaders and networking professionals. This plan provides a structured roadmap for anyone looking to transform from a passive participant into a charismatic, persuasive communicator who commands any room.
Learn behavior psych & control conversations
Learn behavior psych & control conversations
Understanding the mechanics of human behavior is essential for anyone looking to navigate complex social dynamics or professional negotiations. This plan is ideal for leaders, sales professionals, and communicators who want to master the art of ethical influence and conversational control.
Human behavior
Human behavior
Understanding the hidden drivers of human nature is essential for navigating social dynamics and making smarter personal choices. This plan is ideal for leaders, marketers, or anyone looking to master behavioral psychology and improve their interpersonal influence.
Study Psych, Politics, Marketing & Business
Study Psych, Politics, Marketing & Business
This plan bridges the gap between behavioral science and professional leadership, offering a holistic view of how influence operates in society and markets. It is ideal for aspiring leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs who want to master the human elements of business and politics.
Create & sell viral US consumer products
Create & sell viral US consumer products
This learning plan is essential for entrepreneurs and product managers looking to break through the noise of the competitive U.S. consumer market. It combines behavioral psychology, growth strategy, and revenue science to help you build products that don't just sell, but spread organically and create lasting market impact.
Psychology and Marketing
Psychology and Marketing
Understanding the 'why' behind consumer actions is essential for any modern marketer or entrepreneur. This plan bridges the gap between scientific research and practical application, making it ideal for professionals looking to drive conversions through ethical psychological insights.
Community Voices
"Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information go viral than anyone in the world"
— Daniel Gilbert
"Jonah Berger is one of those rare thinkers who blends research-based insights with immensely practical guidance"
— Jim Collins
"In this cogent and compelling book, Jonah Berger outlines a smarter, more effective approach"
— Daniel H. Pink
"Jonah Berger is as creative and thoughtful as he is spunky and playful"
— Dan Ariely
"With great insight, Jonah Berger removes the cloak of invisibility from powerful sources of influence and resolves mysteries of human behavior"
— Robert Cialdini
"As he did with Contagious, Jonah Berger takes us deep beneath the surface of things, with mesmerizing results"
— Arianna Huffington
"Jonah Berger has done it again: written a fascinating book that brims with ideas and tools for how to think about the world"
— Charles Duhigg
"Jonah Berger has a knack for making science sparkle, and he doesn’t just tell you how to write and speak more persuasively, he shows you"
— Adam Grant
"Jonah Berger’s research combined with his crisp storytelling style is sure to turn this book into a modern classic in behavioral science"
— Guy Raz
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
