Joe Navarro, a former FBI counterintelligence officer and a recognized expert on nonverbal behavior, explains how to “speed-read” people: decode sentiments and behaviors, avoid hidden pitfalls, and look for deceptive behaviors. You’ll also learn how your body language can influence what your boss, family, friends, and strangers think of you.
Read this book and send your nonverbal intelligence … your nonverbal intelligence soaring. You will discover:
- The ancient survival instincts that drive body language
- Why the face is the least likely place to gauge a person’s true feelings
- What thumbs, feet, and eyelids reveal about moods and motives
- The most powerful behaviors that reveal our confidence and true sentiments
- Simple nonverbals that instantly establish trust
- Simple nonverbals that instantly communicate authority
Filled with examples from Navarro’s professional experience, this definitive book offers a powerful new way to navigate your world.
more
“Most people spend their lives looking but not truly seeing.”
What problem does this book attempt to address?
Most of us spend our days not paying more attention to our environment than we must. This leads us to miss much of what is going on in our environment, especially nonverbal communication from others. The book lays out a complete guide for learning how to read this nonverbal communication and how it applies in various situations.
Content
• Concept explanation: Excellent
• Related stories: Many
• Data references and studies: Many
• Charts and graphics: Many
• Practical application: Very Strong
The concepts in this book are laid out in a direct and easy-to-understand way. Each chapter contains are numerous anecdotes that explored how the concept has been used in real-world situations. The graphics correlate with each nonverbal communication written explanation. He also backs up his claims with research and references. In the introduction, he says he worked with a research psychologist to verify all the data he uses. Overall, the combination of all these factors makes the book extremely effective at achieving the goal teaching how to asses non-verbal communication.
Writing style & presentation
• Tone: Conversational
• Organization: Excellent
• Flow: Adequate
While the conversational tone of the book makes it interesting to read and the stories intertwined in each section is engaging, there is a lot of material covered in this book. For someone who is truly attempting to learn and improve these skills reading this book straight through is probably not a good idea. The organization of each section is necessarily repetitive in order to lay out all the information effectively. The content is not repetitive but the format is, which can make it more challenging to not start skimming through the later sections.
Bringing It All Together
One thing done very well in this book is the exceptional explanation of each nonverbal behavior. New terms are both defined and shown through relatable examples that someone who is new to reading body language would recognize (such as a child slumping their shoulders when they feel guilty). Then Navarro demonstrates how it applies in high-stakes situations including criminals, board rooms, and relationships. The graphics are quite useful and listening in audio format without the graphics would take away from the learning process.
One main thing I took away from this book was that the body is more honest than words. Learning to recognize and understand the full scope of nonverbal cues benefits in all aspects of life.
Favorite Quote
“When it comes to seeing the silent language of nonverbal behavior, many viewers might as well be wearing blindfolds, as oblivious as they are to the body signals around them.”
Overall Recommendation
– Overall recommendation: 5/5
– Who I would recommend this book for: Someone interested in practicing and developing the techniques of reading nonverbal communication.
– Who I wouldn’t recommend this book for: Someone looking for a light, quick, feel-good read.
This is a great book to read if you want to know the basics of body language.
This book helps you to better understand not only the world around you but your actions in relation to your everyday interactions with people. This book gives you a true insight a window into their inner workings of your mind and others
Having grown up in a neglectful home with bullies at school I have struggled to understand both my own and others body language and behavior. This book offers a more realistic, updated take on the topic and dispels many old ideas.
Amazing to understand the hidden messages we both send and receive with our bodies! Facial expressions are one small part, but OH, the hands, legs, and feet scream our thoughts! I bought a second copy for a new officer of the law!
Very informative. Ways to help you in everyday dealings with people, to read their body language. Well written and very useful.
This book provides useful life skills.
Very insightful
Awesome book, great information.