The Definitive Book of Body Language: The Hidden Meaning Behind People's Gestures and Expressions

Barbara Pease · Allan Pease

Nov 2008 · Sold by Bantam

About this ebook

Available for the first time in the United States, this international bestseller reveals the secrets of nonverbal communication to give you confidence and control in any face-to-face encounter—from making a great first impression and acing a job interview to finding the right partner.

It is a scientific fact that people’s gestures give away their true intentions. Yet most of us don’t know how to read body language– and don’t realize how our own physical movements speak to others. Now the world’s foremost experts on the subject share their techniques for reading body language signals to achieve success in every area of life.

Drawing upon more than thirty years in the field, as well as cutting-edge research from evolutionary biology, psychology, and medical technologies that demonstrate what happens in the brain, the authors examine each component of body language and give you the basic vocabulary to read attitudes and emotions through behavior.

Discover:
• How palms and handshakes are used to gain control
• The most common gestures of liars
• How the legs reveal what the mind wants to do
• The most common male and female courtship gestures and signals
• The secret signals of cigarettes, glasses, and makeup
• The magic of smiles–including smiling advice for women
• How to use nonverbal cues and signals to communicate more effectively and get the reactions you want

Filled with fascinating insights, humorous observations, and simple strategies that you can apply to any situation, this intriguing book will enrich your communication with and understanding of others–as well as yourself.

Ratings and reviews

I do not really buy all the evolution schpeal. And to repeatedly call us primates reduces us (esp. men) to monkeys. Too much about sexual attractions, lots of repetition. Could have been 30% shorter and 50% less biased towards evolution.

Very good for decoding body language, however the visual examples at the end of the book used to test your knowledge were absolutely atrocious. As an example, one of them expected you to examine the peoples' legs and feet, but they were all cut off from the knee down. Needs improvement.

Very interesting, turns out I was much more oblivious than I had previously thought. So there's that. Lots of good stuff here. But be prepared for the terrifying pictures on pages 88-89. You won't be, but just a heads-up.

About the author

Allan Pease has written eleven other bestselling books on the subject of human communication and body language, including, with Barbara Pease, Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps and Why Men Don’t Have a Clue and Women Always Need New Shoes.

Barbara Pease is CEO of Pease Training International and the author of the international bestseller Memory Language. She divides her time between England and Australia, trying to find her way home from the airport.