How to Read a Person Like a Book: Using Body Language to Know What People Are Thinking - Softcover

Gerard Nierenberg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0757003141 ISBN 13: 9780757003141

Publisher: Square One Publishers, 2009

Synopsis

*** OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD ***

Imagine meeting someone for the first time and within minutes-without a word being said-having the ability to tell what that person is thinking. Magic? Not quite.Whether people are aware of it or not, their body movements clearly express their attitudes and motives. These simple gestures, which most of us don't even notice, can communicate key information that is invaluable in a range of situations.

Howto Read a Person Like a Book is designed to teach you how to interpret and respond to the nonverbal signals of business associates, friends, loved ones, and even strangers. Best-selling authors Gerard Nierenberg, Henry Calero, and Gabriel Grayson have collaborated to put their working knowledge of body language in to this practical guide to recognizing, understanding, and using nonverbal communication. With How to Read a Person Like a Book, you will learn:
 

* How to tell if someone is not being truthful.

* When to push forward or back off during a negotiation.

* How to identify an aggressive or submissive handshake.

* When someone has lost interest in what you are saying.

* How to put people at ease by mirroring their gestures.

* Why your body language can make or break a deal.

Whether in an office, on a date, or on a family outing, the simple technique of reading body language is a unique skill that offers real and important benefits-and How to Read a Person Like a Book will help you hone that skill.

About this title

About the Author

Gerard I. Nierenberg, a successful lawyer, pioneered the idea of the "everybody wins" philosophy--now usually referred to as "win-win"--which ensures that all parties benefit from the negotiation. Nierenberg has written twenty best-selling books, including The New Art of Negotiating, and is founder of The Negotiation Institute, which offers state-of-the-art training to professionals around the world.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

People-watching always proves to be a fascinating diversion. You’ve probably done it from time to time at the mall, at the grocery store, in meetings, during social gatherings, at sporting events, and so on. And if you’re like us, you’ve probably found yourself wondering what someone was thinking--what the story was behind a certain action or decision.

You probably already know that the “faces” people make or the way they tilt their heads, for instance, suggest certain thoughts or feelings. What people convey with their bodies, regardless of whether or not any words are said, speaks volumes about their intentions and emotions. And if words are spoken, knowing what a person is communicating via body language can, in many cases, help affirm or contradict what you are hearing.

Being aware of the emotions and intentions behind certain mannerisms can help you in all areas of your life. The more you practice “reading people like a book,” the more you’ll understand what makes them tick. With this deeper understanding, you’ll be able to deal more effectively with people on a professional, personal, and casual level.

By reading this book, you’ll learn how to train yourself to pay attention to the nonverbal language going on all around you. You’ll begin to “listen” with your eyes, watching carefully for the words, sentences, and paragraphs people write with their gestures and expressions. In Chapter 1, you’ll train yourself to become a keen observer of people. Then, in Chapter 2, you’ll come face to face with the expressions people make and the meanings behind them. The rest of the body plays as much of a role in nonverbal communication as the face, so in Chapter 3, you’ll learn the individual meanings of body gestures. You know that individual words do not convey a complete thought; even a sentence leaves many things unsaid. In much the same way, expressions and body gestures need to be strung together to provide a more complete picture of someone’s feelings or intentions. Therefore, Chapter 4 examines various attitudes along with the gesture clusters that are common to them. Finally, Chapter 5 takes a look at body language and relationships. In that important chapter, you’ll see how the gestures you’ve already learned about may surface in interactions with your child, your romantic partner, your staff, and other significant people in your life, and you’ll discover how you can employ your own body language to enhance these relationships.

You can learn a lot by reading body language, but please take this brief warning to heart: It’s easy to believe that you have a good grasp of nonverbal communication after just a bit of exposure, but it’s a mistake to become complacent. Be careful not to jump to conclusions based on some light reading and practice. Gaining a deeper understanding of people through studying their behaviors should be a lifelong learning experience, so don’t try to figure everything out all at once. Instead, focus on something new each day, or even each week, depending on the complexity of the behavior or person. Indeed, each hour you spend consciously observing body language is merely a small step up the long staircase of knowledge. Always keep in mind that “reading a person like a book” is an observational art, not an exact science. There are many variables and interpretations to take into account, so be observant, know your material as well as your subjects, and allow room for some surprises!

Edition details

• Publisher: Square One Publishers
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0757003141
• ISBN 13: 9780757003141
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 118