3 Books About Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication

Have you ever wondered how Sherlock Holmes could read people so well, “decode” them, as he would say? It is through paying attention to their actions and body language. These subtle cues give away a lot about people, even more so than they want you to see. Words can be deceptive but actions and body language cannot. It is proven psychological and scientific evidence that these signs are more or less accurate in regards to reading people’s emotions.

For example, whenever a person is lying, not interested in you or the conversation, they might not tell you outright. However, their body language would be giving this away; they might have crossed arms as a sign of avoidance, body turned away from you or not making eye contact. On the other hand, a person who is welcoming and interested will have no crossed arms or legs, feet pointing forward and/or leaning into the other person.

As our society gets more prosperous and advanced by the day, we have lost our ability to read people due to overly simplified communication media. Primitive humans could rely on their subconscious minds to read the body language of others. That’s how communication happened because languages were created. Even today, being able to understand people without words is beneficial at the office or when we’re out with friends. It helps us create deeper connections, improves your presence, increases your chance to influence others and even spot liars.

Here are 3 books about body language and non-verbal communication:

• What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People – Joe Navarro

What Every Body is Saying is an ex-FBI agent’s guide to reading non-verbal cues and decoding people’s emotions. You’ll also learn some body language mistakes and how to avoid them, how to spot deception as well to influence others with your own body language. What you say is often far less important than how you say it. Body language, dress, and demeanour affect how you are perceived and understood. This book reveals all the secrets on how to modify your subconscious statements to your greatest advantage and also read what other people are saying nonverbally. These skills will increase your ability to accurately assess moods, decode behaviours, anticipate problems, avoid hidden pitfalls, influence negotiations, and understand the secret motivations of those around you.

Joe Navarro moved to the US from Cuba at the age of 8. Speaking no English at all, he taught himself the art of body language. Not being able to understand his friends didn’t stop him from making friends. His ability to read non-verbal cues stuck with him all his life and would prove very beneficial during his 25 years at the FBI. he served as an agent specializing in counterintelligence and behavioural assessment. Whether you're trying to better your relationships at work or home, this book is a must-read.

“The problem is that most people spend their lives looking but not truly seeing, or, as Sherlock Holmes, the meticulous English detective, declared to his partner, Dr. Watson, “You see, but you do not observe.”

“We all have a stake in the truth. Society functions based on an assumption that people will abide by their word - that truth prevails over mendacity. For the most part, it does. If it didn't, relationships would have a short shelf life, commerce would cease, and trust between parents and children would be destroyed.”

• The Definitive Book of Body Language: The Hidden Meaning Behind People’s Gestures and Expressions – Barbara Pease

The Definitive Book of Body Language reveals that studies have shown that only 7% of our communication is verbal, what we say out loud. 38% is vocal, how we say it. And the remaining 55% is non-verbal, our subtle actions, gestures and body language. This book dissects a wide range of different types of body language that we can really learn to decode actions and gestures. You’ll learn to interpret even the slightest twitch or movement. You will learn how to:

• Make a good impression
• Make people respond to you more positively
• Influence others’ actions and thoughts
• Spot lies and liars
• Communicate better with others
• Deal with people in general
• Build meaningful relationships

Are you trying to find whether your date is into you or what your boss really thinks of you? This book is for you.

“Tilting the head to the side is a submission signal because it exposes the throat and neck and makes the person look smaller and less threatening. Its probable origin is in the baby resting its head on its parent's shoulder or chest, and the submissive, non-threatening meaning it conveys seems to be unconsciously understood by most people, especially women.”

“Women have an innate ability to pick up and decipher non-verbal signals, as well as having an accurate eye for small details. This is why few husbands can lie to their wives and get away with it and why, conversely, most women can pull the wool over a man's eyes without his realizing it."

• The Power of Body Language: How to Succeed in Every Business and Social Encounter – Tonya Reiman

Unlike other books on this fascinating topic, The Power of Body Language is your practical, personal playbook for getting what you desire from others. Especially, if you want to better understand the opposite sex in regards to business, friendships, or dating, this book is for you. Learn how to:

• Become a “master communicator”
• Take control of your own secret signals
• Gain the trust of others
• Detect lies and deception
• Ace a job interview
• Make the right first impression
• Exude confidence – even when you’re not feeling it
• The different “languages” that men and women speak
• Read a face to understand their inner emotional state

There are a lot of situations that the author has cleverly put through such as how a particular person has managed to a really high-flying job just by using her method; from her clients to politicians and executives.

“There is no bigger compliment than giving someone your full and focused attention.”

 “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”

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