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The Body Language of Liars: From Little White Lies to Pathological Deception―How to See through the Fibs, Frauds, and Falsehoods People Tell You Every Day
Being fooled or conned can happen to anyone; It doesn't matter how intelligent, old, rich, or famous you are. Whether you have been scammed in business, swindled out of money, betrayed by a friend, relative, or coworker, or cheated on by a spouse, rest assured you are not alone. The world is full of these most toxic people--liars.
You can never be sure if people are lying until you analyze their body language, facial expressions, speech patterns, even their online writing patterns.
Now, world-renowned body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass shares with you the same quick and easy approach she uses to unmask signals of deception--from "innocent" little white lies to life-changing whoppers.
Featuring photographs of celebrities and newsmakers such as Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, O.J. Simpson, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, and many others at the actual moment they were lying, their specific signals of deception will be permanently etched in your mind. Analyzing the body language of troubled or divorced couples such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, you'll learn the "obvious" signs to look for.
You can never be sure if people are lying until you analyze their body language, facial expressions, speech patterns, even their online writing patterns.
Now, world-renowned body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass shares with you the same quick and easy approach she uses to unmask signals of deception--from "innocent" little white lies to life-changing whoppers.
Featuring photographs of celebrities and newsmakers such as Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, O.J. Simpson, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, and many others at the actual moment they were lying, their specific signals of deception will be permanently etched in your mind. Analyzing the body language of troubled or divorced couples such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, you'll learn the "obvious" signs to look for.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 11, 2018
I do like psychology and from time to time I read a non-fiction book on the subject. This is probably the fifth one I've read on body language and for what it is, I think it's good.
What I especially liked about this book was the examples given on famous people and very public examples of their lies in the form of photos and video which is freely available on the net. It was good to be shown examples that were not staged to show the ideal example, but candid subtleties to study in real time - when possible.
Examples in this book include Bill Clinton, O.J. Simpson, Lance Armstrong, Bernie Madoff, Lindsey Lohan, Drew Peterson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, etc.
The author tells you exactly where the lie was given away with body language, showing photos (sometimes) which captures her point.
The one thing I did think this book needed was a better explanation of a baseline and getting one in everyday life, especially with those we've just met. And there were some examples where some characteristics are in fact not lies, but shyness, discomfort and low self-esteem, which might have needed some mention.
Other than that, I can recommend this one for those who are interested in the subject, but I would also recommend reading a bit more on the subject from other sources.
* Another form of psychology I enjoy is Graphology - which is handwriting analysis. I know, it doesn't have anything to do with this book, but I want to mention it because I do think it holds some merit.
Years ago, while I was working through my second Graphology book, I was watching the movie TOTAL RECALL - the original with Arnie. In the movie he writes something down, and I noted the way he made his 'M'. When I looked it up in the book, the one thing that stuck in my mind was chauvinism. When he was accused of sexual harassment on his movie sets a few years ago, it popped into my mind immediately.
While Graphology may not be one of the accepted sciences in some circles, I find a lot of merit in it, and have been for years. Watch a famous person on television, talking live, and Google their signature analysis - you might be surprised what you read...especially with certain politicians.
What I especially liked about this book was the examples given on famous people and very public examples of their lies in the form of photos and video which is freely available on the net. It was good to be shown examples that were not staged to show the ideal example, but candid subtleties to study in real time - when possible.
Examples in this book include Bill Clinton, O.J. Simpson, Lance Armstrong, Bernie Madoff, Lindsey Lohan, Drew Peterson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, etc.
The author tells you exactly where the lie was given away with body language, showing photos (sometimes) which captures her point.
The one thing I did think this book needed was a better explanation of a baseline and getting one in everyday life, especially with those we've just met. And there were some examples where some characteristics are in fact not lies, but shyness, discomfort and low self-esteem, which might have needed some mention.
Other than that, I can recommend this one for those who are interested in the subject, but I would also recommend reading a bit more on the subject from other sources.
* Another form of psychology I enjoy is Graphology - which is handwriting analysis. I know, it doesn't have anything to do with this book, but I want to mention it because I do think it holds some merit.
Years ago, while I was working through my second Graphology book, I was watching the movie TOTAL RECALL - the original with Arnie. In the movie he writes something down, and I noted the way he made his 'M'. When I looked it up in the book, the one thing that stuck in my mind was chauvinism. When he was accused of sexual harassment on his movie sets a few years ago, it popped into my mind immediately.
While Graphology may not be one of the accepted sciences in some circles, I find a lot of merit in it, and have been for years. Watch a famous person on television, talking live, and Google their signature analysis - you might be surprised what you read...especially with certain politicians.
November 19, 2015
This book focuses almost entirely on 3 celebs, Lance Armstrong, OJ Simpson and Lindsay Lohan with tons of examples of them in various poses (often repeated) and how to spot when they were lying, so if they do it again, you know you got them!
Something interesting to take out of this book, someone avoiding eye contact with you is probably lying, someone staring at you is also probably lying, basically if they have eyes, they will probably lie. Yes, its in the book, not a lie. That is just a taste of what you can expect in this 'how to spot when Lance Armstrong' is lying guide.
If you still would like to read this, just write down each heading and sub heading and that will sum up the entire book in less than a page and saves you the effort of reading the entire book.
Something interesting to take out of this book, someone avoiding eye contact with you is probably lying, someone staring at you is also probably lying, basically if they have eyes, they will probably lie. Yes, its in the book, not a lie. That is just a taste of what you can expect in this 'how to spot when Lance Armstrong' is lying guide.
If you still would like to read this, just write down each heading and sub heading and that will sum up the entire book in less than a page and saves you the effort of reading the entire book.
July 17, 2015
Booooring. I’ve never read something as boring as this. As in, I actually skipped a few chapters, because I didn’t think I could’ve made it. Last chapter, the one about psychopaths was somewhat interesting, but relatively. I think at that point I would’ve found even a Homeric catalogue of ships interesting. And the cockiness of the author (you’ve learned a lot! Come back reading this if you need more help!) actually made me laugh. As if!
March 20, 2018
Should be 2.5 rating. Of the 215 pages, you can easily skip 185. The book is redundant, poorly written and is yet to be edited. With sentences like, "I once attending a course." What does that mean?
The book is problematic for a few reasons. The author makes it clear at the state she is writing this because she is angry at another woman. That anger fills every page. Simply things like sneezing are now a telltale sign of a lie. The problem is, the book assigns every action possible to be a reason for concern. If you have a high voice, it is a sign you are a liar. If your voice is low: liar. At some point, it becomes a rather useless book.
The last two chapters did finally get to some interesting thoughts but overall, it is clear the woman writing the book did so to make a quick buck and have some mild revenge at someone she disliked. There is absolutely no scientific evidence applied to any of her assumptions. She presents to studies that support her beliefs. In most cases she simply says, 'if it feels weird, the person is probably lying.' I get the impression the author thinks everyone is lying which, as the author herself would say, that probably means she's lying too.
The book is problematic for a few reasons. The author makes it clear at the state she is writing this because she is angry at another woman. That anger fills every page. Simply things like sneezing are now a telltale sign of a lie. The problem is, the book assigns every action possible to be a reason for concern. If you have a high voice, it is a sign you are a liar. If your voice is low: liar. At some point, it becomes a rather useless book.
The last two chapters did finally get to some interesting thoughts but overall, it is clear the woman writing the book did so to make a quick buck and have some mild revenge at someone she disliked. There is absolutely no scientific evidence applied to any of her assumptions. She presents to studies that support her beliefs. In most cases she simply says, 'if it feels weird, the person is probably lying.' I get the impression the author thinks everyone is lying which, as the author herself would say, that probably means she's lying too.
January 22, 2020
People give away in a lot of different ways when they are lying. You have to be a very good observer and you have to have established a baseline on how the specific individual normally behaves. Without establishing a baseline, one might misinterpret someone's normal behavior. I did not find any surprises in the book. I found confirmation of the hunches I had through my own experiences on whether someone is lying.
January 27, 2018
I thought this book was helpful in general. Needed a good editor though. I found more typos then I would have expected of a book that was traditionally published. However, some of the things that distinguished a liar threw me for a loop. As a person with allergies, I'd probably be seen as a serious compulsive liar to someone who didn't know me. I would have enjoyed a wider variety of samples. In my channeling on the sources of bad behaviors, I find the moon's phases plays an important role too, but I'm not the ordinary sort. This book I think is a good primer to start your investigation into liars, but don't stop there. For in depth discussions, there that will fill in the blanks. I give Ms. Glass a high three for writing a book that is useful.
April 7, 2014
A very interesting concept, but unfortunately a badly written book. The information on how to tell if people are lying is fascinating, but the author keeps repeating herself. You see the same examples (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, OJ Simpson), the same photos and even the same information. Too bad, because the topic itself is truly fascinating and I believe the author has a lot of experience and credibility in this area. A solid editing job and a lot more structure would have improved this book greatly.
January 18, 2014
The author does an excellent job examining the "telltale" signs of a liar; from body language to the tone of their voice. Very interesting and good reference to have when dealing with co workers, employers, and sales people.
March 19, 2015
not a new subject about how to detect liars through facial, body movement and responses. Many books about FBI liars' detection are available in the market. Another book I would highly recommend is Micro Expression. (Yes, just like the TV series Lie to Me)
April 9, 2018
Enjoyable. Lots of real world examples.
April 29, 2017
As you can see I didn't really enjoy this book much. it was difficult to pick up. However I just wanted to finish it, which what got me back to it till today. There are a lot of information on how to spot a liar, with so many details, from eyes to mouth to face, how you sit, walk, stand, pose, talk, tone, words, and every muscle in your body. According to this book, whatever you do, you are lying, then it just depends on many things. Too much to remember. I highlighted most important bits, so when I want to reread this I won't have to read everything again. The subsequent reads would very fast reminders. I'm sure there other books that are much better in presenting the content, which why I only have 3 stars, but it's not a bad book to try.
July 21, 2026
This book is almost entirely fluff. This book is best for someone who wants to feel like they're insightful without knowing anything, it's a long tabloid article.
All of the body language referenced as indicative of lying is extremely subjective based on the person displaying that body language. The book mentions that the reader should "get a baseline" but then the book goes onto "analyze" body language of people who the author didn't get a baseline of. The "analysis" is done using black and white photos of politicians and celebrities which is counter to getting a baseline, you cannot get a baseline from a photo. The most absurd photo is one meant to show blushing or reddening of the face, but it's a BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO.
Don't waste your time on this low quality cash grab.
All of the body language referenced as indicative of lying is extremely subjective based on the person displaying that body language. The book mentions that the reader should "get a baseline" but then the book goes onto "analyze" body language of people who the author didn't get a baseline of. The "analysis" is done using black and white photos of politicians and celebrities which is counter to getting a baseline, you cannot get a baseline from a photo. The most absurd photo is one meant to show blushing or reddening of the face, but it's a BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO.
Don't waste your time on this low quality cash grab.
May 13, 2018
Although the author offers specific information on how to detect a lie or deception, I find her information is not enough to judge people. Even though the author repeatedly state that a baseline must be established, a person's circumstances changes which might contribute to some of the "tells" which in the author's opinion, are indicative of lying, however might be harmless. I find this book puts a very suspicious minds into the reader which might make the life of the reader a bit harder not to mention distrustful of everyone.
August 1, 2024
This book had a lot of typos and it makes me not want to take Dr Lillian Glass seriously...She does a good job on the discussion, kind of uses the same 8 examples through out the book. I cannot say I feel like an expert liar spotter like she claims I am after reading this book, but I was shooting for general awareness. I need more books on pathological liars. Helpful? Sure. But, meh.
January 31, 2020
The author states that he has been a body lanuage analyst "for years." Which is pretty vague. The book is contidictory- A person leaning away is a sign of lying. But leaning back is also a sign of lying. Staying still, or moving is also a giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2019
Really amazing book. Gives you detailed understanding about body language.
October 9, 2019
I feel—as do many, I presume—that this book could have been so much better, had it been properly edited. Nevertheless, I now do have the knowledge I hoped I would receive.
October 27, 2020
Extremely underrated! An awesome book to decipher the liars among us, as well as photos that show exactly what to look for
September 19, 2022
It's a quick and easy read, but the references are repetitive and dated. Interesting!
January 1, 2024
Dobrze się czyta, na pewno dużo jest się w stanie nauczyć. Jednak zbyt obszerne opisy przykładów zaczynają nudzić. Niestety posiada białe strony które też przeszkadzają.
July 15, 2021
Level up!
July 2, 2015
Poorly written book with the insufferable 'anecdotal' self-help style of writing, in which one piece of genuinely interesting information is sandwiched maddeningly between two pieces of long, boring "personal" stories that are blatantly fabricated.
It took chapters to get into what the book was purportedly about and, even then, I found the information provided pretty obvious. The pictures of celebrities in various situations that weren't even lying - including mug shots or at arraignments, in which their body language screamed "shame" and not "lying" - were incredibly tacky. I really had to wonder what on Earth I was reading. Even by pop psych standards, this was a genuinely awful book.
I had to abandon this book, something I very rarely do.
It took chapters to get into what the book was purportedly about and, even then, I found the information provided pretty obvious. The pictures of celebrities in various situations that weren't even lying - including mug shots or at arraignments, in which their body language screamed "shame" and not "lying" - were incredibly tacky. I really had to wonder what on Earth I was reading. Even by pop psych standards, this was a genuinely awful book.
I had to abandon this book, something I very rarely do.
March 14, 2025
Este o carte impresionantă prin precizia descrierilor limbajului nonverbal și prin studiile de caz ce servesc ca exemple.
Totuși, nu este elocventă prin repetarea acelorași personalități cunoscute din viața mondenă ca mincinoși.
Cartea și-a atins scopul prin conturarea imaginii mincinosul, dar pentru cititorii care așteaptă ceva mai multe detalii privind limbajul nonverbal și complexitatea interpretării lui, o enunțare a "cadrului de referință" importantă înțelegerii gesturilor este ineficientă.
Totuși, nu este elocventă prin repetarea acelorași personalități cunoscute din viața mondenă ca mincinoși.
Cartea și-a atins scopul prin conturarea imaginii mincinosul, dar pentru cititorii care așteaptă ceva mai multe detalii privind limbajul nonverbal și complexitatea interpretării lui, o enunțare a "cadrului de referință" importantă înțelegerii gesturilor este ineficientă.
June 11, 2016
The subject matter is very interesting but the poor presentation spoils it all. I could have used a lot more examples and an actual guide on how to determine a baseline, or a checklist or just something more practical that I could really use in real life. This book is written in a very superficial way and it would have been more time-saving to publish all this information in a bulleted list. Will need to read other books on the topic for sure.
November 26, 2013
I disagree. Based on this book, I'm the biggest liar of all time. Ever.
May 12, 2014
Glass' book is fun to read and her use of celebrities to illustrate her examples is engrossing. This is a great book to read.
June 22, 2014
Interesting read, def recommend it.
January 30, 2015
Lots of valuable information
Great book. Interesting read.
I couldn't put this book down. I work with someone I suspect is a liar and now I have something to Gage it by. Thank you!
Great book. Interesting read.
I couldn't put this book down. I work with someone I suspect is a liar and now I have something to Gage it by. Thank you!
August 14, 2015
I thought this was going to be an interesting book. I was wrong. Very American, very celebrity oriented, not the psychological interpretive work for which I was hoping. Read if you like celeb mags.
Read
July 21, 2016I'm excited to read this wonderful book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews