Teach Yourself Body Language [Paperback]

Gordon Wainwright (Author)

Book Description

Series: Teach Yourself (NTC) | Publication Date: July 1, 2000

More than 90 percent of all face-to-face communications are nonverbal. This "body language" can have a profound influence on how we respond to one another. Learn how to interpret these clues and use them to convey a positive personal and professional image.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gordon Wainwright is a specialist in communication studies, whose books inlcude 'Business Writing in a Week' and 'Tricky Business Letters'. As a consultant in human resouce development he conducts regular seminars for local and central governments departments and a number of multinational companies on subjects which include the use of body language in business meetings and negotiations and other professional contexts. Richard Thompson is a writer, broadcaster and communications specialist. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books; 2nd edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0658005006
• ISBN-13: 978-0658005008
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,522,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teach Yourself Body Language by Gordon R. Wainwright, December 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Body Language (Teach Yourself) (Paperback)

The purpose of this book is to learn a language that everybody knows already. A different form of communications, a form that we all express unconsciously. For example, most people do not realize just how much they use their "eyes" to seek information, to show attention and interest, or even reveal an attitude about something or someone. Just today, I experienced an individual on my job giving me this long "stare." According to Mr. Wainwright, "Long unflickering looks are used by those who seek to dominate, threaten, intimidate or otherwise influence others." (Chapter 2, page 11) A person staring can also have an adverse effect on its outcome. In my case, it was not a look of influence or encouragement! Mr. Wainwright's book is a constant reminder or should I say an "eye opener" of our own source of being. Often, we do not pay attention to our surroundings we take these small things for granted. This is an excellent study material for communicating without orally communicating. Teach Yourself Body Language is a contributing factor to personal growth and self-development. This book consists of 17 chapters, contents dealing with Eye Contact, as I mentioned above, Facial Expression, Gestures and Movement, Appearance and Physique, Body Language and Spoken Language just to name a few. This book is concise and it is not long nor boring. There are exercises after each chapter that you or a group can have some fun. For example; with the eyes, in his book it tells you that the next time you are in a public place, like in a restaurant, observe the other people present as discreetly as you can. Note how they look at each other when they are talking. Also, note how long each period of eye contact is (no need to time it-just note whether the mutual glances are short or long). There are reviews to your exercise(s) but you would have to read this book in order to find out the outcome. I give this book a 4 star! It's good reading and very informative. I would absolutely recommend this to you or any others who would like to find out more about the limitations and advantages of body language as a means of communicating. Suggestions for further reading complete the book and should prove helpful to the reader who wishes to explore the subject further.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If I knew then, what I know now., September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Body Language (Teach Yourself) (Paperback)

We all use body language in everyday interactions with each other. Most people don't realize how much body language is used to convey unspoken messages. Since a person cannot place a mirror in front of himself when his body speaks, he can't control the type of signal he is communicating to his audience. Sometimes gestures and feelings don't always coincide. To help the reader understand and use body language more effectively, Gordon R. Wainwright has developed a book entitled Teaching Yourself Body Language. Published in 1985, Teaching Yourself Body Language is often referred to as a guide to help one explore and refine his body language. Wainwright focuses on a different element of body language in each chapter. He gives a clear, concise introduction that tells what the book is about, and how it is organized. In each of the subsequent chapters, you will find that Wainwright gives background information to give the reader a better understanding of the element. In the first chapter, Wainwright explores eye contact which he considers to be "the most potent means of nonverbal communication we possess." When people look at each other, an interaction is being solicited. When this interaction occurs, eye contact is used in numerous ways to control the nature and duration of the conversation. Wainwright says one must become more observant to his surroundings, and where other people are looking. From your observations, you should be able to analyze that person's feelings and thoughts that otherwise wouldn't be put into words. From this chapter, the author moves into the facial expression element. The author notes, "We gain a good deal of our information about people's emotional states from the expressions on their faces." In this chapter, you'll learn facial expressions not only convey first impressions of personality traits, but also defines one's mood. Moving on into the next chapter, the author points out the importance of head movements. Head movements are used in talking and in listening. For example, the common nod can yield agreement, acknowledgment, and understanding depending upon the nature of the situation. The body is generally the most important element to consider when studying the unspoken word. The body as a whole tends to send the strongest message of all the elements. The size and shape of the body have a considerable influence on the way people perceive each other. Everybody has different styles, tastes, and qualities to consider when searching for friendships or relationships. The familiar quotes "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "Beauty is only skin deep" are relevant to the element of attractiveness. Some people rely on facial looks alone, others consider looks and physique; There are an infinite number of characteristics to be considered. Other interesting topics covered were Everyday Encounters, Timing and Synchronization, and Proximity and Orientation. Wainwright notes, "Body language is so central to self-presentation and impression management that it makes good sense to see its development as but a means to an end." Through this message, the author hopes to help people rise above the norm and to look past the stereotypes to make a new and improved YOU. Wainwright has done an outstanding job introducing body language. This unspoken word is not to be taken lightly by anyone. The exercises and examples that are used throughout this book make it an easy-to-use reference; therefore, giving the reader a chance to test himself on each different element of body language. Although some examples seem a little far fetched, research shows that through using body language ninety percent of the time we will encounter all types. The author wants the reader to feel in control at all times when interacting with others. By the time the book is finished the reader should be in complete control of his own destiny. This book is recommended for the reader that hopes to gain further understanding of how unspoken messages speak loud and clear. This book is highly recommended for those who work in an atmosphere where face-to-face contact is mandatory. The reader's nonverbal communication skills will definitely advance and/or improve through reading this book. It's never too late to work on body language. Don't let body language work on you; You work on body language.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wainwright does a first-rate job on a fascinating subject., July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Body Language (Teach Yourself) (Paperback)

Experts claim we can communicate much more with our body movements and posture than we can possibly achieve using the spoken word. Gordon R. Wainwright explores the often misunderstood notion of nonverbal communication in his book, entitled Body Language. Published in 1985, the book was written as an effort to educate the reader on how to perceive, understand and use body language to aid our communication with others and enhance our daily lives. Through excellent examples and explanations, Wainwright does an first-rate job of addressing this complex topic. He frequently includes exercises, many of which are enjoyable and humorous, to help in understanding the different topics of the book By the end, I felt truly educated on a subject I had often wondered about, but really did not understand well. The informative introduction section explains well what the book is about and how it is organized. Wainwright focuses on a different aspect of body language in each of the 15 chapters that comprise the body of the book. Following the introduction, Wainwright discusses eye contact and direction of gaze, which he calls the "most potent means of nonverbal communication we possess" (6). As he does in most chapters, Wainwright introduces the chapter with background information and past studies to help the reader gain a broad perspective of the topic. He then explains the origins of why eye contact is such a fundamental aspect of nonverbal communication. His analysis is rational and easy to understand and is not verbose. Allowing the reader to learn on his or her own and not just from reading the text, Wainwright uses effective exercises throughout the book. The eye contact exercise instructs you to find a crowd, in a bar or restaurant for example, and observe people in conversation, paying close attention to how they maintain eye contact. Wainwright then includes an "Exercise review," in which he lists a number of observations you probably saw. I found these exercises insightful, and it added credibility to the book when I observed what he predicted I would see. Wainwright's next topic deals with the role of facial expressions, including an in-depth discussion of smiling. He writes, "The smile is probably the most universally used and the most positive facial expression" (27). The entertaining exercise of this section has you purposely greet everyone you meet in a day, whether you like them or not, with a warm smile and salutation. As predicted by Wainwright, I found that most people kindly returned the smile and were more pleasant than normal in conversation. He also brings out another anecdote about the smile. We typically smile because we are happy; however, this can also work in reverse. In what might be an unpleasant situation, forcing yourself to smile may actually make you happier. It is these usable tidbits that keep the reader interested and why Body Language is such an excellent book. Following the discussion of facial expressions and head movements, Wainwright goes on to focus on body movements, the role of posture, and orientation and proximity, each given their own chapter. He explains the myth of the universality of body movements. Although there are body movements that are common throughout the world, many are very specific and can be completely contrary among different cultures. Wainwright does a fine job of tying body movements to his next two topics, posture and proximity, both of which can reveal what one is truly thinking if intelligently observed. Other interesting chapters of the book include in-depth discussions of touching, physique, timing and synchronization, and sexual attraction. As I have stated throughout, I felt Wainwright did an outstanding job with this book, keeping the reader engaged in the subject matter. The only negative comment I have is that, at times, some of the chapters included some redundant material; however, the subject matter was interesting enough to keep the reader's attention. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their interpersonal skills and communication with others. It would be especially effective for anyone that works in a face-to-face occupation, such as counseling, sales, or law enforcement.