Earlier this year our staff shared their favorite children’s books for aspiring attorneys. We couldn’t leave out our book picks for the mature audience. The following are picks that any lawyer, law student, or individual who’s been consumed by a trial might enjoy. And with the holidays coming, these could make great gifts, too.

 The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene’s MANIFESTO is a master class on the power games that people play. Many books have been written in this realm, but none take such a cold, amoral, look at the struggle of power and influence as The 48 Laws of Power. One of the most clarifying items gleaned in this work is a newfound understanding of otherwise inconsistent or illogical behavior by politicians. Much of what politicians do that would make little sense in typical human interactions is often done in strict adherence to Greene’s laws laid out here. While not a legal book, per se, it’s hard to read this and not see how important it is to the work we do as lawyers.

 Helter Skelter (Vincent Bugliosi) – The fact that this book is about Charles Manson overshadows its brilliance from a strictly legal perspective. Vincent Bugliosi, Manson’s prosecutor, takes you through the chilling and intricate trial to convict the cult leader of murder. Manson was never alleged to have been personally involved in the killings central to this novel. Bugliosi’s approach to his craft are something for every lawyer, and every professional, to emulate.

 And the Sea Will Tell – Another Vincent Bugliosi book (after he switched from prosecution to defense), about a murder that took place on an atoll in the south pacific. A surface level retelling of the facts of this case would lead anyone to believe Bugliosi’s client was obviously guilty of murder. But Bugliosi built his criminal defense practice on the impossibly principled approach of defending only those he believed to be innocent and then representing his clients with the sole goal of proving that innocence. Inch by inch, Bugliosi, walks the reader through how he became able to believe in, and then ultimately try to prove, his client’s innocence.

Influence – Many books have been written on persuasion, but this is the definitive work in the field. A telling story of how compelling this book is, after Charlie Munger read it, he gifted Robert Cialdini a share of Berkshire Hathaway’s A-stock to thank him for putting it out into the world. While not written from a legal point of view, the art of persuasion is so central to our role that makes this a must read. I’d go so far as to say it is far more important than any book assigned in law school.

 Conspiracy – As billed, this book has it all: sex, conspiracy, power, money. It’s a true story, yet it feels like Grishamesque page turner. Conspiracy is the story of Peter Thiel’s plot to ruin Gawker, which he does by secretly financing Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker because Gawker improperly published a sex tape of Hogan. Sensational as it is, at its core this book is a structured enumeration of how a novel lawsuit is built and pursued, brick by brick.

 Reptile – David Ball and Don Keenan do a masterful job in putting together what might be considered the psychological guide to presenting a case to a jury. Regardless of the subject matter you are dealing with, this case presents an outline on how to best frame your arguments and communicate your position in a way that appeals psychologically by activating the ‘reptilian’ part of our brains. The term reptile has since become omnipresent in the litigation world.

 Are there books you’d recommend for our staff to read? Please let us know in the comments.