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Books, Rated
Suggested reading - Body Language books, reviewed.
In no particular order:
Peoplewatching
(2002)
By Desmond Morris
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Peoplewatching is the culmination of the author's observations and writing. Desmond Morris, a zoologist, has spent decades showing us how people consciously and unconsciously signal their attitudes, desires and innermost feelings. He is a groundbreaker and a major voice on the subject of body language.
By Desmond Morris
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Peoplewatching is the culmination of the author's observations and writing. Desmond Morris, a zoologist, has spent decades showing us how people consciously and unconsciously signal their attitudes, desires and innermost feelings. He is a groundbreaker and a major voice on the subject of body language.
Understanding NVC
(2022)
By Marcel Danesi.
Rated: 5 stars.
Not a big book and it's relatively expensive but Danesi excellently presents numerous theories, making this a strongly recommended guide to understanding real and virtual nonverbal communication, using semiotic theory.
By Marcel Danesi.
Rated: 5 stars.
Not a big book and it's relatively expensive but Danesi excellently presents numerous theories, making this a strongly recommended guide to understanding real and virtual nonverbal communication, using semiotic theory.
Read People
(2018)
By Rita Carter
Rated: 3.5 STARS
Read People attempts to explain behaviours, and shows how understanding why people act in certain ways will make you more adept at communication, more persuasive and a better judge of others' motivation. In 20 dip-in lessons with tips and toolkits, Rita Carter tries to translate the signs that reveal a person's true feelings. There are some leaps of assumption but it's a nicely produced and structured book.
By Rita Carter
Rated: 3.5 STARS
Read People attempts to explain behaviours, and shows how understanding why people act in certain ways will make you more adept at communication, more persuasive and a better judge of others' motivation. In 20 dip-in lessons with tips and toolkits, Rita Carter tries to translate the signs that reveal a person's true feelings. There are some leaps of assumption but it's a nicely produced and structured book.
Without Saying A Word
(2018)
By Kasia Wezowski and Patryk Wezowski
Rated: 4 Stars
The authors are on the front-line of body language teaching and research and this, their best book, explains how even the subtlest motions have meaning. Distilling decades of research, the book deciphers these unspoken signals. They have too strong an emphasis on facial expressions and fleeting micro expressions but it's a good introduction to the study of body language.
By Kasia Wezowski and Patryk Wezowski
Rated: 4 Stars
The authors are on the front-line of body language teaching and research and this, their best book, explains how even the subtlest motions have meaning. Distilling decades of research, the book deciphers these unspoken signals. They have too strong an emphasis on facial expressions and fleeting micro expressions but it's a good introduction to the study of body language.
Gestures
(1979)
By Desmond Morris, Peter Collett, Peter Marsh and Marie O'Shaghnessy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
A classic of its time that holds value. The distribution and meaning of human gestures was mapped for the first time in this scientific charting. The variety of meanings were gathered through field work, in different parts of the world. A single gesture can be read in many different ways and these differences are explored. There are lots of illustrations including art and photographs and maps.
By Desmond Morris, Peter Collett, Peter Marsh and Marie O'Shaghnessy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
A classic of its time that holds value. The distribution and meaning of human gestures was mapped for the first time in this scientific charting. The variety of meanings were gathered through field work, in different parts of the world. A single gesture can be read in many different ways and these differences are explored. There are lots of illustrations including art and photographs and maps.
Cues
(2022)
By Vanessa Van Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
The author's best book to date, Cues could be titled 'How to be Charismatic (or likeable). Many small and interesting studies are refered to, and even more tips are offered. There's great bredth of content to be discovered, including things like how font choice can be perceived. Some of the theories are tired and fraying (proxemics, expressions) but it packs a lot in, all written in an accessible style. If you like the Science of People website you'll love this book. The author clearly loves NVC.
By Vanessa Van Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
The author's best book to date, Cues could be titled 'How to be Charismatic (or likeable). Many small and interesting studies are refered to, and even more tips are offered. There's great bredth of content to be discovered, including things like how font choice can be perceived. Some of the theories are tired and fraying (proxemics, expressions) but it packs a lot in, all written in an accessible style. If you like the Science of People website you'll love this book. The author clearly loves NVC.
Nonverbal Communication
(2010)
by Judee K Burgoon, Laura K. Guerrero and Kory Floyd
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Drawing significantly on both classic and what was contemporary research, Nonverbal Communication speaks to students with modern examples that illustrate nonverbal communication in their lived experiences. Three of the foremost scholars in nonverbal communication have compiled a broad and weighty presentation of the literature and main theories. Grounded in multidisciplinary research it's practical and informative.
by Judee K Burgoon, Laura K. Guerrero and Kory Floyd
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Drawing significantly on both classic and what was contemporary research, Nonverbal Communication speaks to students with modern examples that illustrate nonverbal communication in their lived experiences. Three of the foremost scholars in nonverbal communication have compiled a broad and weighty presentation of the literature and main theories. Grounded in multidisciplinary research it's practical and informative.
How to Read a Person Like a Book
(1971)
By Gerard Nierenberg and Henry Calero
Rating: 4 Stars
A small paperback from 1971, it's not exactly at the cutting edge of scientific reseach but it's a book I'm very fond of. It's based on years of direct observation, research and experience. The quotes and illustrations are a good addition and many of the theories hold up. There have since been updates with Gabriel Grayson joining the authors, but this copy still has things to teach us, especially in the areas of business and negotiation.
By Gerard Nierenberg and Henry Calero
Rating: 4 Stars
A small paperback from 1971, it's not exactly at the cutting edge of scientific reseach but it's a book I'm very fond of. It's based on years of direct observation, research and experience. The quotes and illustrations are a good addition and many of the theories hold up. There have since been updates with Gabriel Grayson joining the authors, but this copy still has things to teach us, especially in the areas of business and negotiation.
Rethinking Body Language
(2016)
By Geoffrey Beattie
Rated: 4 Stars
Clearly influenced by the work of David McNeill, Beattie challenges old assumptions about body language to offer a new theoretical perspective. Rather than the expression of emotions and the negotiation of social relationships, the author argues that gestures reflect aspects of our thinking but in a different way to verbal language. There's frame-by-frame analysis of spontaneous hand movements that accompany speech. It's strong on incongurance (mismatch).
By Geoffrey Beattie
Rated: 4 Stars
Clearly influenced by the work of David McNeill, Beattie challenges old assumptions about body language to offer a new theoretical perspective. Rather than the expression of emotions and the negotiation of social relationships, the author argues that gestures reflect aspects of our thinking but in a different way to verbal language. There's frame-by-frame analysis of spontaneous hand movements that accompany speech. It's strong on incongurance (mismatch).
The Power of Body Language
(2007)
By Tonya Reiman
Rated: 4 Stars
Tonya Reiman is a regular TV body language expert who works as a motivational speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer. It's a well structured book with photos and lots of great headings in the form of questions. With an understanding of the meanings of specific gestures, facial cues and body positions Reiman looks at trust, job interview, handshakes, space, touch, first impression, and faking confidence, suggesting sex differences in reading body language.
By Tonya Reiman
Rated: 4 Stars
Tonya Reiman is a regular TV body language expert who works as a motivational speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer. It's a well structured book with photos and lots of great headings in the form of questions. With an understanding of the meanings of specific gestures, facial cues and body positions Reiman looks at trust, job interview, handshakes, space, touch, first impression, and faking confidence, suggesting sex differences in reading body language.
The Body Language Bible
(2008)
By Jidu James
Rated: 3 Stars
With a raft of down-to-earth quick-fix tips, The Body Language Bible takes the reader through the minefield of self-marketing and image: how to read it and how to project it. James attempts to teach us how to interpret movements and then shows us how to get what we want, be it business, friendship or falling in love. A mix of body language and communication psychology (voice and the impact of words).
By Jidu James
Rated: 3 Stars
With a raft of down-to-earth quick-fix tips, The Body Language Bible takes the reader through the minefield of self-marketing and image: how to read it and how to project it. James attempts to teach us how to interpret movements and then shows us how to get what we want, be it business, friendship or falling in love. A mix of body language and communication psychology (voice and the impact of words).
Body Language
(2008)
By James Borg
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Body Language is a decent entry level book. In seven simple lessons it attempts to cover different ways to read others and control your own gestures to get the response you want. A decent guide to the importance of impressions and hidden messages.
By James Borg
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Body Language is a decent entry level book. In seven simple lessons it attempts to cover different ways to read others and control your own gestures to get the response you want. A decent guide to the importance of impressions and hidden messages.
Understanding Body Language
(2021)
By Scott Rouse
Rated: Stars 3.5
Very readable, it's a accessible entry level book from a star of The Behavior Panel. Waddya get? Decent tips of how to read people written as a guide to self-improvement. It's nicely produced, if a tad light on content.
By Scott Rouse
Rated: Stars 3.5
Very readable, it's a accessible entry level book from a star of The Behavior Panel. Waddya get? Decent tips of how to read people written as a guide to self-improvement. It's nicely produced, if a tad light on content.
Body Language
(2012)
By Robert Phipps
Rated: 3 Stars
From getting a job to getting a pay rise, and from closing a deal to managing the people around you, TV's Robert Phipps shows how your body language can work for you. It busts a few myths and offers tips, especially in the business arena but there are better books out there.
By Robert Phipps
Rated: 3 Stars
From getting a job to getting a pay rise, and from closing a deal to managing the people around you, TV's Robert Phipps shows how your body language can work for you. It busts a few myths and offers tips, especially in the business arena but there are better books out there.
Postures
(2019)
By Desmond Morris
Rating: 5 Stars
Examining the body language displayed in works of art is a great idea and who better than Desmond Morris, artist and anthropologist, to tackle this endeavour. The gestures portrayed can reflect the mores of a particular period in history, the customs of a certain culture or a fashion in artistic styles. Exploring these with masterful subtlety, Morris uncovers fascinating insights about changing social attitudes and conventions through history and around the world, finding surprising similarities as well as now rarely used gestures.
The symbolism behind these poses is fascinating.
By Desmond Morris
Rating: 5 Stars
Examining the body language displayed in works of art is a great idea and who better than Desmond Morris, artist and anthropologist, to tackle this endeavour. The gestures portrayed can reflect the mores of a particular period in history, the customs of a certain culture or a fashion in artistic styles. Exploring these with masterful subtlety, Morris uncovers fascinating insights about changing social attitudes and conventions through history and around the world, finding surprising similarities as well as now rarely used gestures.
The symbolism behind these poses is fascinating.
If you have any body language book recommendations then please get in touch.
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