Ever notice how life’s a lot like a marketplace where we’re all haggling for what we want? That’s the scoop in Rae A. Stonehouse’s book “The Power of Persuasion: Mastering the Art of Influence.” Stonehouse gets why you tried to bargain for an extra slice of pie as a kid, and why you’re now pitching your heart out to your boss for that pet project. His book’s all about sharpening those smooth-talking skills we use every day without even realizing it.

Stonehouse isn’t just throwing ideas around; he’s done his homework for a talk called “The Power of Influence: Speaking to Make Things Happen.” In his book, he dishes out the skinny on how to charm, sway, and win folks over whether it’s your partner, your colleague, or a room full of strangers. “The Power of Persuasion” is your secret playbook for turning chit-chat into a superpower, making sure when you speak, the world listens—and acts.