Customer Reviews

Teach Yourself Body Language

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Body Language (Teach Yourself) is a very helpful and informative tool that can be used to interpret the unspoken language. Wainwright clearly defines the nature of body language and gives examples of how it can be used and improved. He draws attention to the nonverbal aspects of communication giving the reader exercises to demonstrate and suggestions to further explore after each chapter. To the reader it is almost like learning a different language. Body language is used everyday, yet Wainwright projects his ideas in a way that the reader is implored to use eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and body movement to his or her advantage only to see what results they receive. These issues are addressed in the first 5 chapters. Advice is given to the reader to observe other people in an attempt to better interact with them. Wainwright approaches the importance of good posture and stance in Chapter 6. He writes that posture can be a clue to personality and to character and that erect posture displays a different temperament from one who slouches about with rounded shoulders. (53). Proximity and orientation, which breaks down to using space more effectively, will allow the reader to move forward in the developing mastery of body language. Wainwright's philosophy with regards to body language cannot only be used with every day encounters but on the job as demonstrated in chapter 13. He approaches the use of body language and how it can be effectively used in the workplace paying particular attention to those occupations in which there is face-to-face communication with members of the public. Throughout each example there are pointers given to allow the reader to know how to use the different forms of body language as discussed in earlier chapters to his/hers advantage. From attitudes to workmates and motivating others to industrial relations and team building, Wainwright equips you with the right essentials to aid in the communication process.

The book is very interesting and would be an excellent guide for anyone who would want to familiarize themselves with the art and mastery of body language. It is very surprising how thru the effective use of body movements while speaking or listening, a person can be perceived in a totally different light. In each of the 15 chapters there are wonderful tips that will enable the reader to improve and broaden their interpersonal skills in an effort to help them communicate with others.

Body language is not only interesting, but also important to comprehend. We use body language in everyday encounters and on professional levels. Many depend on body language as an aid in communication; therefore, failure to understand body language can mean a failure to communicate. Gordon Wainwright has conveyed this importance in his boook "Body Language". "Body Language" describes in depth the many aspects of our unspoken language that we tend to forget. More often than not, we walk away from situations not really understanding another person or wondering if we were misunderstood. By clarifying eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, and head or body movements, Gordon Wainwright helps the reader grasp the true meaning of hidden messages. Wainwright focuses on subjects such as posture and stance that are often overlooked when analyzing one's self. The book informs the reader of what people find attractive in another person from physical looks to actions. These subjects cross over from our personal lives into our professional lives when we are faced with job opportunities and promotions. The book is helpful in suggesting numerous ways to improve body language that will help increase the readers' chances of being selected for that new position instead of being passed over. "Body Language" is a great resource to improve on public speaking skills and to help the reader better understand public speakers. In addition, the book edifies awareness of the cultural differences of body language. This is of importance because misinterpretations in body language could affect negotiations between companies. "Body Language" interacts with the reader by asking them to perform exercises makig the information more comprehendible and still enjoyable to read. Reading this book will improve your body language skills and help you to become a better communicator. If you don't read it, you're taking the chance that others may think you're saying something you're not.

I was very pleased with this book. This was a thorough introduction to body language and the exercises that the author recommends really help put it all into perspective. I finished the book last week and now find myself studying people all of the time, and constantly using the techniques the book describes to find out more about people. The book is easy to read and focuses on the main areas of body language - eyes, face, gestures, posture, proximity, etc. The information is introductory in nature, but the author provides titles at the back that you can use to explore the subject further. A practical book that was well worth the money.

Go to the mall, the zoo or any other place which has large congregations of people from diverse backgrounds and you will discover differences in body language. These differences in body language may lead one to guess a person's income, educational level, occupation, etc. This book is a very general overview of body language and discusses things to look out for when studying body language. Eye grammar (dialation, eyeball movement, breaking contact), gestures, posture and other basics are covered. At the end of each chapter, there are exercises and experiments to help the reader understand how certain body language is used. Not all of the experiments are explained as well as they could have been and it's not always clear what the results of the experiments/exercises mean. The personal attraction assessment scale (chapter 14 page 157) is a good example of inadequate information being given. The personal attraction assessment scale is a chart with physical characteristics where you are to judge (from 1 to 10) others on various physical features such as hair, face, waist, etc. What exactly does it accomplish to know that some men/women prefer a pretty face to nice hair or vice versa? What is the point in finding out that some men are leg men or that some women favor body build? It doesn't take a survey to find out that different people consciously look for different things when searching for a mate.

A discussion on squints, smirks and facial side dominance is curiously missing from this book. Smirks and squints are very basic to body language. What does it mean when a smirk is on the left side of the face as opposed to the right? What about the left side of the face being higher than the right or vice versa? Everyone knows that a smile means that you're happy about something, but which side of the face dominates tells a lot more. When people get older, they tend to wrinkle in patterns. Which side of the face is more prominently wrinkled also tells about a person's personality. All of this good information which is basic to body language was left out. The greatest value of this book is to know what to be mindful of when making observations in studying body language and to also improve your image to others.

Gordon Wainwright made the involved science of body language an easy to understand and interesting topic of his book. Each chapter gave full explaination of all facets of our unconscience method of communicating. I particularly enjoyed the simple field tests he suggested at the end of each chapter which enabled the reader to fully undrstand on a first hand baisis what impact our slightest body movements have on others perceptions of us. For anyone interested in discovering the seceret messages we transfer to eachother everyday, Gordon Wainwright's "Body Language" holds pricisly what they want.

After reading Gordon R. Wainwright's, BODY LANGUAGE, teach yourself, it's true what he states in the first sentence. "In this book you will learn a language which everybody knows already." But, Wainwright gives a more detailed explaination of the different areas in which a person can be read or how a person my feel just by the way he or she presents themselves through head movement, facial expression, posture, and most importantly, eye contact. Furthermore, Wainwright discusses how a person's body actions come into play when having contact with the public or within their work environment. This book was enjoyable to read if learning about others and yourself is what you are into. However, I did not like how the author kept reminding the reader what was forecoming in other chapters, he really over did it.

I found Wainwright clearly an authority. His book is quite well organized. He goes into quite some detail for a book well under two hundred pages. How refreshing after suffering through all the fluff other authors proffer. It is not an easy read, but as long as you don't attempt to consume it all in one sitting, I suspect you will find it well worth the price of the book.

On the downside, Wainwright does not seem particularly comfortable with the Exercises he asks his readers to perform. I would not be surprised if this "exercise" requirement was foisted upon him as a editorial imperative of the "teach yourself" series (his publisher).