33 books
—
3 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Get the Truth: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Persuade Anyone to Tell All” as Want to Read:
Get the Truth: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Persuade Anyone to Tell All
by
An instant New York Times bestseller!
Getting someone to tell the truth is an essential skill that very few people possess. In the boardroom, classroom, or our own homes, every day we interact with others and try to get the truth from them.
People are often untruthful out of fear of negative consequences associated with divulging information. But if a person is made to forge ...more
Getting someone to tell the truth is an essential skill that very few people possess. In the boardroom, classroom, or our own homes, every day we interact with others and try to get the truth from them.
People are often untruthful out of fear of negative consequences associated with divulging information. But if a person is made to forge ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
March 24th 2015
by St. Martin's Press
(first published October 7th 2014)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Get the Truth,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Get the Truth: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Persuade Anyone to Tell All
Not much substance, lots of dramatic fluff. There is basically just one main idea - when you need someone to be honest with you, be their friend. Don't make them feel like they're being attacked, it will make them defensive. Work to understand their point of view. The authors give some examples, including having to interrogate people who are guilty of terrible crimes. It can be really difficult to be empathic in that situation, but that's what you need to do to encourage them to open up.
The book ...more
The book ...more
Really, really bad. The first 150 pages were descriptions of successful interrogations of terrorists and criminals that could be summed up in 2-3 sentences. Wait, you didn't waste your time! Here's a hypothetical interrogation of O.J. Simpson! The End.
Oh, wait. Not the end. Here's a 60 (!) page appendix that covers what the title promises. Oh, and here's a transcript of the actual.O.J. Simpson interrogation in case you paid money for this book and will accept higher word count in place of writi ...more
Oh, wait. Not the end. Here's a 60 (!) page appendix that covers what the title promises. Oh, and here's a transcript of the actual.O.J. Simpson interrogation in case you paid money for this book and will accept higher word count in place of writi ...more
The book did a couple of surprising things:
1) Completely invalidated enhanced interrogation as a way to get to the truth. (See also, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves for why.)
2) Had a lot of content that is extremely useful in sales, negotiations, mediation, and legal advocacy. The authors missed a pretty big market in how the publisher chose to title the book. ...more
1) Completely invalidated enhanced interrogation as a way to get to the truth. (See also, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves for why.)
2) Had a lot of content that is extremely useful in sales, negotiations, mediation, and legal advocacy. The authors missed a pretty big market in how the publisher chose to title the book. ...more
This review may be a bit biased because I've attended the authors live workshop. I found this to be an excellent refresher and reference for the materials and exercises we covered in the workshop. Having spent a large portion of the last 40 years interviewing and interrogating both before and during my career as a lawyer, I found the methods and techniques laid out in this book, and its companion, Spy the Lie, to be a refreshing change from methods I employed.
I only wish this book had been writt ...more
I only wish this book had been writt ...more
Such a promising title, such an engaging topic, such great potential... and everything gone to waste on this one. What precious information this book may have can be summed up in a brochure. The stories about successful interrogations make the bad guys act like fiveyearolds with no clue how to withstand an interrogation well within their line of work. And the whole book was so dumbed down, unnecessarily... I was really looking forward to this one and all I got from it was Ugh!
Super interesting! Confirms so much of what I've always believed, and done. Ha! Makes me wish I'd gone into the CIA. Works out well for teacher/student conversations as well though.
...more
This is a book by experienced interrogators on techniques and strategies to get people to tell the truth against their will. It contains many interesting stories and intriguing theories. However, I found it hard to draw from the book lessons that can be applied to daily lives.
The primary strategies in the book rely on the ability to separate the subject of interrogation from the reality. You get him to think in short terms such as winning your approval while forgetting about the long-term conseq ...more
The primary strategies in the book rely on the ability to separate the subject of interrogation from the reality. You get him to think in short terms such as winning your approval while forgetting about the long-term conseq ...more
Interesting ideas about how to talk with someone in order to elicit the truth, in addition to how to apply some of the ideas to negotiation situations.
The authors clearly and helpfully detail effective interrogating techniques (e.g., bait questions, planting mind viruses, using catch-all questions), while also describing some unconscious biases that can prevent an interrogator from being effective (e.g., confirmation bias, optimism bias, the halo effect).
To really be good at this would take a ...more
The authors clearly and helpfully detail effective interrogating techniques (e.g., bait questions, planting mind viruses, using catch-all questions), while also describing some unconscious biases that can prevent an interrogator from being effective (e.g., confirmation bias, optimism bias, the halo effect).
To really be good at this would take a ...more
Not much of it. A lot of dramatic stuff, as someone said. Everything mainly focuses on a monologue you should say, but it's not really much substance to it.
If you really want to read it, just skip to the Appendix II and you might find some info about real life applications, but that's also mostly common sense stuff, nothing groundbreaking. ...more
If you really want to read it, just skip to the Appendix II and you might find some info about real life applications, but that's also mostly common sense stuff, nothing groundbreaking. ...more
I remember my first clinical course, back during graduate school there was a student who believed the process of therapy was unstructured, for example, "Why can't I just ask what I want to ask?." He repeatedly fought back as the professor tried to provide us with even the most basic understanding of the therapeutic process. After that 1st semester, the student was asked to leave the program and never returned.
The therapeutic process has a structure that is systematic and predictable - it is not ...more
The therapeutic process has a structure that is systematic and predictable - it is not ...more
Fun, fast read. Airport bookstore material. Recommended by a colleague.
The general thesis of their approach is:
1. Be calming, respectful, non-adversarial.
2. Fact-gather in an objective, methodical manner.
3. Then once you have sufficient confidence: transition from dialogue to an extended monologue.
4. The point of the monologue (and the crux of the whole strategy) is to get them stuck listening, and not long-term rationalizing.
5. The content you want to deliver is a colloquial re-telling of the ...more
The general thesis of their approach is:
1. Be calming, respectful, non-adversarial.
2. Fact-gather in an objective, methodical manner.
3. Then once you have sufficient confidence: transition from dialogue to an extended monologue.
4. The point of the monologue (and the crux of the whole strategy) is to get them stuck listening, and not long-term rationalizing.
5. The content you want to deliver is a colloquial re-telling of the ...more
The main premise is that the best way to extract true information is to do so in a friendly non-combative and nonjudgmental way. Useful and interesting as long as you DO NOT SKIP THE APPENDIX. (Except, you can skip the transcript of the real OJ interview though- interesting but not necessary.) I worry that anyone who reads this would be more resistant to interrogation though.
As the followup to the very interesting and somewhat useful Spy the Lie, this book is not entirely without merit, but it coasts on the coattails of its predecessor in obvious ways, padded just up to, but not quite to the point of being a blatant cash grab. In careers that spanned decades, it’s curious that the authors felt compelled to use the same half dozen or so anecdotes to make their points in this book too. The adroit interrogations that seemed impressive in the first installment now seem
...more
Although this short, easy-to-read book has some fascinating case studies, comparatively few readers outside intelligence, law enforcement, or human resources truly need a DIY manual on interrogating liars. Nevertheless, much of the advice given here seems sensible in conducting any sort of stressful interview: lowering your voice, slowing your speech rate, and being as engaging as possible—including perhaps even bringing doughnuts.
The authors also amusingly (considering their topic) suggest con ...more
The authors also amusingly (considering their topic) suggest con ...more
Few books portray such value as this one. If you’re in law enforcement, or just obsessed with honesty like myself, this book will teach you so many practical tools to extract the truth.
After reading Spy the Lie a while back, my only complaint had been that it was too short. I wanted more! And then low and behold, I came across Get the Truth and it absolutely delivered.
Beautifully balancing real life examples, common mistakes, and psychology, Get the Truth will have you approaching situations in ...more
After reading Spy the Lie a while back, my only complaint had been that it was too short. I wanted more! And then low and behold, I came across Get the Truth and it absolutely delivered.
Beautifully balancing real life examples, common mistakes, and psychology, Get the Truth will have you approaching situations in ...more
If you want to know how to get people to tell you the truth, you need to understand some basic techniques. You need to develop a long monologue, that is empathetic, build trust with the person you are 'interrogating' and be extremely patient. That is how the basics seem to be provided to you. Yet that is a rather simplistic view. The real skill is know when to switch your technique because you identify that a shift in behaviour has occurred.
I have to say I found the hypothetical interview with O ...more
I have to say I found the hypothetical interview with O ...more
This is the second book I've read by these authors, the first being Spy the Lie. I must say I have been pleasantly surprised with both of them. I picked them up to help hone my professional skill set and they certainly helped me accomplish that goal. They were precise, practical, and very informative. If you are looking to develop skills related to investigations, specifically in the realm of interview and interrogation techniques, then this is a great place to begin. But beyond being really gre
...more
The basic message is "Nice guys finish first".
It's an important message as there still seems to be a widespread perception that harsh interrogation is the best way to get people to confess.
Well, the experts seem to think otherwise.
It reminded me of the negotiating book "Never Split the difference" by Chris Voss. There the objective is different but there is a similar message that empathy and building rapport is what generally gets the best results.
I also thought of a section I read about the Naz ...more
It's an important message as there still seems to be a widespread perception that harsh interrogation is the best way to get people to confess.
Well, the experts seem to think otherwise.
It reminded me of the negotiating book "Never Split the difference" by Chris Voss. There the objective is different but there is a similar message that empathy and building rapport is what generally gets the best results.
I also thought of a section I read about the Naz ...more
The original book, Spy the Lie, was really good. They use the exact same stories in this one, though, so if you've read the first book, the dramatic impact of the stories is a bit spoiled because you know about them already.
Other people have mentioned this book feels padded, and I tend to agree. The techniques they talk about are pretty standard now, and if you look up any modern police guide to interrogation, you'll get the same information. That having been said, a good "refresher" on those t ...more
Other people have mentioned this book feels padded, and I tend to agree. The techniques they talk about are pretty standard now, and if you look up any modern police guide to interrogation, you'll get the same information. That having been said, a good "refresher" on those t ...more
I wasn't sure if I had read this before or not. It sounded so familiar. Maybe. I'm going to call it read. If not, then no one can really tell. I had the book open in front of me for a while. I was staring at it. How can anyone tell whether I was taking in what was scrawled on the pages again or not?
Maybe my confusion comes from the fact that I have read some other FBI/CIA documents.
This book made me question many previous assumptions I made about the people around me.
Who are you, anyway? ...more
Maybe my confusion comes from the fact that I have read some other FBI/CIA documents.
This book made me question many previous assumptions I made about the people around me.
Who are you, anyway? ...more
A fascinating topic with some interesting insights, but the book was let down by an overall structure that wasn't strongly cohesive. (For example, the discussion of cognitive dissonance would have been most useful woven into the chapter about monologuing, but instead it was relegated to an appendix.)
...more
good addition to "spy the lie". Felt a little reprtitive if youve read the first book, but this makes it accessable to those who didnt. Expands on the first book well with clear examples and explanations. Reccomended for those who have an interest in people, psychology, or investigative wok.
...more
Was kind of interesting but didn't finish since it really is only useful to an extremely niche audience. Tactics on how to interrogate someone. At first i thought it would be useful for negotiation or marketing but after a while i gave up on it.
...more
Enjoyed the writing, adored the examples, and I learned a few tricks and tips, but I am no where close to being able to get the truth from others. ;)
An appropriate sequel to the authors' first book 'Spy the Lie'.
...more
Well worth a read for anyone who appreciates the need for truth in a nation currently in a crisis created by “alternative facts”.
As another reviewer observed, while this was fascinating, I think it would be helpful to have more suggestions for situations where there's not a clear "interview" arranged. Many of us aren't going to be in that situation. Still, the suggestions were really interesting and I'll be seeing if there's any areas in life I can apply them.
...more
It’s almost identical with Spy The Lie - same examples, same concepts, nothing really new. So no worth reading both.
This was very interesting information. The personal stories were really incredible. A fascinating look at the way we behave, react and can be influenced.
Spy the Lie was better. The first half of the book read much like Spy the Lie, but the appendices seemed pointless. The last 20 or so pages is nothing but the OJ Simpson interrogation.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Related Articles
Luvvie Ajayi Jones—author, cultural critic, digital entrepreneur—might be best described as a professional truthteller. Her crazily popular...
49 likes · 0 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“As you begin your information collection, it’s vitally important for Jan to feel good about the path she’s chosen, so that she’ll be inclined to continue to share truthful information with you. Your focus, then, needs to be on rewarding Jan for her decision, and we’ve found that a simple thank-you is a very powerful reward: “Jan, thank you for that. That took a lot of courage.” You’ll also need to squash any urge to bask in your victory—far from haughty, your tone should be sympathetic: “I know that was very difficult, but you did the right thing.”
—
1 likes
“Compound question – A question type that is to be avoided because it contains more than one question, making behavioral analysis of the response difficult due to potential confusion over what part of the question is causing the deceptive behavior. Example: “How frequently do you go running, and where do you typically run?” Confirmation bias – A cognitive bias in which people search for or interpret information in a way that supports an initial belief or a desired outcome. Convincing statement – A true or irrefutable statement made in an effort to convince the accuser and to influence his perception, rather than to convey information that addresses the facts of the case. Denial behavior – A category of verbal deceptive behavior in which a person appears to have a problem with denying an allegation. This can take the form of failing to deny the allegation altogether; providing a nonspecific denial (Example: “I would never do something like that”); or providing an isolated delivery of the denial by burying it in a long-winded answer. Direct observation of concern (DOC) – A transition statement that lies at the low end of the confidence spectrum. Direct observation of guilt (DOG) – A transition statement that lies at the high end of the confidence spectrum.”
—
0 likes
More quotes…
