The Body Language Handbook

About the book:
“Ever wonder what that raised eyebrow, nervous twitch, or lazy slouch really means? Is it profound and important…or a meaningless quirk?

In The Body Language Handbook, the authors use candid photos of real people in stress-free situations, then juxtapose them against others showing the same people responding to different kinds of stimulus to illustrate the power of body language. By going step-by-step from the holistic to the detailed, you’ll quickly discover when body language indicates something significant, and when an itch is just an itch. You’ll learn how to:

• Identify the basic mechanics of human communication.
• Observe what is culturally normal…and when determine “abnormal” matters.
• Read changes in body language.
• Avoid misunderstandings.
• Project the right message.
• Protect yourself from manipulation.

The Body Language Handbook will not only teach you how to read the body language of others, it will also make sure you send the signals you want to send. Increase your power of communication at the office, in a courtroom or classroom, at home, and in any social setting–even the poker table!”

About the Authors:
“Gregory Hartley started his career with the U.S. Army, teaching interrogation and resistance to interrogation, as well as providing interrogation support to Special Forces in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He then translated that military experience to businesses and has provided body language and behavioral analysis for print, TV, and radio media. With Maryann Karinch, Hartley is the author of five other books about human behavior, deception and body language, including How to Spot a Liar, I Can Read You Like a Book, and Get People to Do What You Want.

Maryann Karinch is the author of 15 books, many of which address human behavior. Her corporate background includes senior communications positions with a variety of technology companies.”

My Thoughts:
I found the information presented in this book to be very interesting. The tone is rather professional, but it does describe each topic in a way that is easy to understand, by presenting examples. It made me think of non verbal communication in a whole different way. After reading this book, I can now understand people’s body language better. I learned that there are many things that need to be taken into consideration when trying to “read” a person’s body language, such as a person‘s culture, their upbringing, what actions come normal to them, their surroundings, and the movement or position of all parts of their body as a whole.

I found interesting little tidbits of information nicely placed among the book’s chapters, like why, when, and how some people have learned to fake their non verbal feelings, such as faking a smile.

This is a book that is best read from cover to cover. Choosing to skip around through the book, you could miss quite a bit of interesting and/or important information.

Not only did I discover tips on “reading” another person’s body language, I also discovered tips on ways to express my own body language so that I can convey my own feelings in the best way possible.

You can purchase this book from Amazon or check with your local bookstore.

The Body Language Handbook: How To Read Everyone’s Hidden Thoughts and Intentions
Paperback: 206 pages
Publisher: Career Press (January 20, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1601630766
List Price: U.S. $15.99