Body Language 101: The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When People Are Lying, How They Are Feeling, What They Are Thinking, and More [Paperback]

David Lambert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2008

A full-color, illustrated guide to the hidden meanings in movements, gestures, and expressions.

This amazing, revealing handbook contains all anyone will ever need to know about reading body language. With it, you can become a veritable human lie detector, spotting exactly when people are telling the truth, when they are lying, and even how they are feeling. What can you tell by folded arms, by the distance away someone stands when talking to you, from facial expressions, or from blinking eyes? The answer? Almost everything! With hundreds of examples illustrated in full color, Body Language 101 can help anyone from any culture know more about his or her friends, spouse, colleagues, lovers, competitors, and enemies.

260 color photos and illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Containing more than 260 illustrations, Body Language 101 serves as a comprehensive dictionary of nonverbal communication. Human behaviorist Lambert uses research from the areas of kinesics, zoology, gender studies, and psychology to demonstrate how people use body language to reinforce speech or indicate their mood. The guide triple-indexes the material, with one section organized by body parts (e.g., arms-linked, legs-crossed), the second by actions and their meanings (e.g., signs of conflict, sincerity, and deceit), and the third by emotions and meanings (e.g., embarrassment, ownership). A particularly interesting chapter covers signs of deceit, with photographs illustrating dishonest gaze behavior and foot actions. This is easily one of the best books on the subject, even surpassing Susan Quilliam's Body Language. Highly recommended for all libraries.
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About the Author

David Lambert is a keen observer of human behavior. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (November 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602392919
• ISBN-13: 978-1602392915
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Obvious, everyday gestures described, not helpful at all., June 11, 2009

By 

Diverse "bobh" (Glendale, WI, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Body Language 101: The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When People Are Lying, How They Are Feeling, What They Are Thinking, and More (Paperback)

The plus: Lots of good photos.
The negatives: The photos of the gestures don't need explaining.

You'll learn astonishing body language signs like
(1): If someone raises their arm, they are greeting you.
(2): When someone is surprised, their eyebrows raise, their eyes widen, and they make an 'O' mouth.
(3): When someone is sad, the corners of their mouth move down. When happy, the corners go up.
(4): If a man drapes his leg over a chair, it means he's indifferent to your opinion.
(5): If a woman smiles at a man and then lowers her head, leans towards him, and strokes her leg, it means she's interested in him.
(6): People often greet each other by extending arms and shaking the hand. But in some cultures, they hug.

You won't learn anything from this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A bit basic though nicely done, November 27, 2008

By 

Fishstick (Over there) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Language 101: The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When People Are Lying, How They Are Feeling, What They Are Thinking, and More (Paperback)

The book is very clear and readable, nicely organized and well-illustrated. However, the material covered is very basic (e.g., legs crossed, common signs of boredom and irritation, common courting signals, personal space, etc.) If you are looking for something basic, though, this is strongly recommended for its clarity (including wonderful illustrations and pictures) and conciseness.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More about basic gestures than body language, January 4, 2009

By 

J. Davis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Body Language 101: The Ultimate Guide to Knowing When People Are Lying, How They Are Feeling, What They Are Thinking, and More (Paperback)

I purchased this book for insights primarily on telling when people are lying, to help identify opponents' unconscious "tells" in poker games. The book's subhead suggests such insights will be featured prominently. But the book instead is almost entirely about gestures, not body language. The reader is treated to such basic instruction as what people mean when they nod their head up and down ("I agree with you") or when they are twiddling their thumbs ("a gesture of boredom"). It might be useful for someone who has lived in total isolation his whole life. For the rest of us, it's not very helpful.