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I like that it mentions other cultures as a significant factor affecting body language, but I wish it had a more international approach. Overall, this book is a good introduction to body language issues, but it's not exactly "forensic-quality" material as far as I can tell. Much like the other book, this one doesn't waste too much time on celebrity and politician speculation/gossip, although it does note "intimate" handshaking styles of Bill Clinton and George Bush for example. Some of the images seem a little bit fake but for the most part they seem like good visual examples of actual body language. I have a few of these types of books and this book works well with the book What Every BODY is Saying (which I highly recommend). With all of such books, I am wary of some of what they attempt to teach because of the possibility that they actually start to encourage people to display certain types of body language rather than to objectively study their occurance in the human species (and perhaps in other primates). Luckily this book does touch on fakery and mimicry issues at least a little bit as those also have a bearing on body language. This book makes the same mistakes and ommisions.
This book is not as heavily tied into discussion of limbic system reactions and instincts, for example. Other cultures and subcultures do have differences in body language. It covers some things that the other book leaves out and has a different style to it that some readers might find more appealing and personal. I think to have access to those types of publications you have to actually be working in the field and be subscribed to academic research journals or be in what I'd call "forensic" type training programs. Most of these types of books suffer from having a purely English-speaking, Eurocentric, American approach and use such examples. Also, I have yet to see any body language books address medical conditions or medicine side effects that can and do profoundly affect body language in a variety of ways (neurologically, physiologically, etc). But it does does mention it a little bit to more substantiate some claims. Bottom line: it makes a fun coffee table book and you can also learn a little bit, but you will be far from becoming an FBI body language specialist.
This book does have some useful information on body language. But, there is too much filler. Also, there is not enough information on feet, legs and torso. Nevertheless, not a bad read.
I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND THIS BOOK HAS GIVEN ME A GREAT ADVANTAGE ON THE PEOPLE THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH. I HAVE LEARNED TO READ PEOPLE BETTER AND THEIR BODY LANGUAGE.
There is a great deal of information here on how our body language will invite others to be more open with you. I say it was a benefit because I was able to apply what I read while observing the people in the airport. I had the benefit of reading THE NONVERBAL ADVANTAGE, by Carol Kinsey Goman, while traveling on business. The subtitle here is SECRETS AND SCIENCE OF BODY LANGUAGE AT WORK, and this is critical knowledge for anyone in business, but it goes much further than that. It was a real eye opener and really even gave me somewhat of a sense of empowerment knowing that I knew what people were really saying with their bodies.Several years ago, I went through a training course on Integrity Interviewing, so I knew a lot of this stuff already, but I was very surprised at how much I DIDN'T know. I'm not just talking about reading other people, but my own actions as well. This is somewhat of a training manual on social skills, both business and personal. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit greatly from reading this book.
The latest research and opinions on nonverbal communication skills are examined in a fine survey for coaches, business leaders and workers alike, with chapters telling how to understand and speak body language to take advantage of workplace atmosphere. Chapters offer analysis of this language, and use black and white photos to analyze and provide examples of common body language.Diane C. DonovanCalifornia Bookwatch
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