The Complete Idiot's Guide to Body Language

by Peter A. Andersen

Book Overview

It's beyond words... The gestures and signals made by men, women, children-and even pets-often communicate true feelings and desires more than words do. This fascinating study offers insight into... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592572480
• ISBN13: 9781592572489
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Alpha Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Body Language

Let me first briefly mention my background. I hold a Master of Arts in Communication and I teach Speech & Communication Studies at one of the top community colleges in the US. I am fairly well versed in the research literature on nonverbal communication (NVC). I very much disagree with several of the reviewers of this book, though I do agree with the majority. Interestingly enough, I disagree with the reviews that are first seen on the site. I think this book is awesome! It is the ONLY written-for-regular-people book on general nonverbal communication that I would recommend to others. While I have certainly not read every popular press book on NVC, I have read through at least sections of at least a dozen. All of the ones that I have perused contain ideas that are not supported by actual social scientific research. Dr. Andersen has written a wonderful book on NVC which is actually based upon real research. (Quick note - there are other books written for regular people which deal with certain aspects of NVC which I would recommend. For example, I would recommend any of the works by Paul Ekman, John Gottman, Deborah Tannen, and Dane Archer; I would also recommend Brian Bates' The Human Face and Malcolm Gladwell's Blink. For a general book on nonverbal communication, though, Dr. Andersen's book is the best I have ever read.) There are a couple of reasons why I suspect some of the reviewers did not like this book. I don't know that my suspicions are correct, of course. However, here is what I suspect is going on. First, I suspect that those who did not like the book are not aware of the current research in nonverbal communication. I don't mean that in a "snobby" way. Most people don't have the time or inclination to read scholarly journals. Second, I think some people wanted the book to contain the "secrets" of body language. They wanted to be able to almost read people's minds based upon their nonverbal cues. In other words, they wanted Dr. Andersen to say something like, "When people look at you and tilt their head in a certain way, it means they are thinking this way." Dr. Andersen repeatedly points out the inherent ambiguity in NVC and so, he does not include any bogus "secrets" like that. The viewpoint that you cannot read someone like a book is supported by the research in NVC but does not seem as exciting as claiming that you can. I would like to address one criticism that a couple of reviewers level at the book. They say that Dr. Andersen states the obvious in the book. As a matter of fact, he does do this a bit, but I do not consider that a bad thing at all. Stating the obvious can raise our awareness of what we already "know." Let me give you an example. I often have my students do an activity where they get into pairs and be very good listeners for each other. They do this quite well. So, they "know" how to be good listeners. At the same time, I ask them to be aware of their listening behaviors outside of

Useful for those wanting to make an impression

Body language is probably the single most important element of interpersonal communication, yet it is often so subconscious that we are not aware of how we come across to other people. Dr. Andersen methodically explains the impact our body language has on other people's perception of us, and armed with this knowledge we can craft our body language to project a more dynamic image and presence. I found the diverse topics of the book fascinating, and it's as enjoyable for curiosity's sake as for practicality's. Bravo!

Great book!

This book brings the complex and confusing world of body language to the reader in an informative, fun, and interesting way. The author combines communication theory with practical application for your everyday life. The examples, pictures, and summaries illuminate the text and make the book easy and enjoyable to read. No where else can you learn as much about body language without reading a boring text book.

Body Language Bible

The Idiot's Guide to Body Language is a must read for anyone who's ever wondered about understanding body language. This book is great for understanding body language in relationships, at work, with your family, and beyond. After reading this book I feel so much more aware of my body language as well as those around me. The Idiot's Guide to Body Language is book about body language that is grounded in theory (not just what some author thinks body language means like many magazine articles) and is accessible to the reader in the great Idoit's Guide format.

Anybody for Body Language?

In "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Body Language," Dr. Peter A. Andersen has put an impressive career's worth of scholarly research on nonverbal communication to work in a fun, accessible, and highly practical manner. Unlike many popular press renditions of body language, Dr. Andersen grounds his text in the actual research rather than relying on mere anecdote. Yet, he couches this research in highly enjoyable prose, rich with helpful photographs, activities, suggestions, and variety. It is a model of the "applied art" of writing science for the popular audience. The book breaks body language into five basic sections: the silent dialog of body language, in which common assumptions and myths are contrasted with the actual nature of nonverbal communication. Section two examines the codes of nonverbal communication, such as the eyes, the face, the body, etc. The third section examines the all-important relationship between nonverbal behavior and the exercise and perception of power. The fourth section examines nonverbal communication in everyday life, such as how body language changes from infancy to adulthood, and how it works in the workplace and classroom. The final section examines nonverbal messages in more exotic contexts such as interacting with pets, nonverbal messages in advertisements, and the role of nonverbal communication in culture. The book is delightful to read, comprehensive, and grounded solidly in the state of the art of scientific research.