Notes from Chapter 1 of Cialdini’s Influence: the turkey that mothers a stuffed predator, the jewellery that sold only after the price doubled, and the contrast principle that makes a ₹2,000 tie feel cheap. Why our mental shortcuts are mostly right — and exactly how they get used against us.
I’ve started reading Robert Cialdini’s Influence, a book about why we say yes. Here’s why a book on persuasion belongs on a reading journal that mostly talks about markets — and what the seven principles are.
My study notes on Chapter 15 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook — the heaviest chapter at 15 marks and newly added in 2026: chart types, Dow Theory, the three trends, every reversal and continuation pattern with diagrams, support and resistance, trendlines and channels, and all six technical indicators.
My study notes on Chapter 14 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook: every regulator, the key Acts, insider trading and PFUTP regulations, the full SEBI Research Analyst Regulations 2014 with all the trading blackouts and disclosure rules, the Code of Conduct, GSM and ASM surveillance, the advertisement code and CSCRF.
My study notes on Chapter 12 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook: simple, annualised and compounded returns with worked math, every type of investment risk, systematic vs unsystematic, beta and VaR, sensitivity analysis, margin of safety, Jensen’s Alpha, Sharpe and Treynor ratios, and the behavioural biases that quietly wreck returns.
My study notes on Chapter 10 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook — the second 12-mark chapter: price vs value, the three valuation approaches, DDM/FCFE/FCFF, Gordon growth, CAPM and WACC, terminal value, every earnings and asset multiple, SOTP — with the case-study math worked out.
My study notes on Chapter 9 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook: dividends, rights issues, bonus issues, stock splits and consolidation, M&A, demergers, schemes of arrangement, loan restructuring, buybacks, delisting and share swaps — with the arithmetic and every regulatory threshold.
My study notes on Chapter 8 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook — the 12-mark financial analysis chapter: reading the balance sheet, P&L and cash flow statement, audit reports, every key ratio with formulas, DuPont analysis, and worked solutions to the exam-style case studies.
My study notes on Chapter 7 of the NISM Research Analyst workbook: understanding business models, pricing power, competitive advantage, SWOT analysis, evaluating management competency and corporate governance (with all the SEBI thresholds), promoter pledging, business risk, credit ratings and ESG.