The best 25 Body Language books

1
How to Be a 3% Man

How to Be a 3% Man

Corey Wayne
Winning the Heart of the Woman of Your Dreams
3.8 (73 ratings)

What's How to Be a 3% Man about?

How to Be a 3% Man (2013) provides straightforward practice methods, tips and guidelines for meeting and dating women. It teaches you what to say to women, when to say it, and what her responses mean.

Who should read How to Be a 3% Man?

  • Men who have a hard time approaching women.
  • Anyone looking for dating advice.
  • People hoping to improve their relationship.

2
Cues

Cues

Vanessa Van Edwards
Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication
4.5 (401 ratings)

What's Cues about?

Cues (2022) is about the signals we send unconsciously and how they affect the way others perceive us. The book is geared toward improving your professional life by managing the cues you send and responding appropriately to the ones you receive. 

Who should read Cues?

  • Professionals looking to achieve their goals
  • Those interested in the science of communication
  • People who want to improve their professional relationships

3
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People

Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People

Renée Evenson
Over 325 Ready-to-use Words and Phrases for Working with Challenging Personalities
4.2 (492 ratings)

What's Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People about?

Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People (2013) provides practical tactics for navigating tough conversations at work. Along with over 325 phrases, it includes dozens of sample conversations that show the phrases in action.

Who should read Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People?

  • Anyone dealing with difficult coworkers or bosses
  • Employees looking for practical guidance on how to talk to colleagues
  • People interested in conflict management

4
How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less

How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less

Nicholas Boothman
Make Instant, Meaningful Connections for Interviewing, Selling, Managing, Pitching
4.2 (825 ratings)

What's How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less about?

How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less (2000) is a guide to connecting, communicating and expanding your social world. These blinks will teach you how to strike up a conversation with strangers and make them like you. It’ll also show you how to decode even their most subtle gestures.

Being likable is an art you can ace.

Who should read How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less?

  • Salespeople who want to improve their interpersonal skills
  • Anyone who wants to meet new people but doesn’t know where to begin
  • People looking to expand their circle of friends

5
The Art of Public Speaking

The Art of Public Speaking

Dale Carnegie
Become a confident, effective public speaker
4.5 (223 ratings)

What's The Art of Public Speaking about?

The Art of Public Speaking (1915) remains one of the most popular and widely-read guides to making effective public speeches. Its approachable language and applicable tips have been turning would-be speech-givers into master orators for more than a century.

Who should read The Art of Public Speaking?

  • Aspiring public speakers
  • People who’ve experienced stage fright
  • Anyone trying to increase their influence

6
What Every BODY is Saying

What Every BODY is Saying

Joe Navarro
An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People
4.1 (263 ratings)

What's What Every BODY is Saying about?

This book is all about the hidden meanings we can find in our body language. Our brains control our body movements without us being conscious of it, and sometimes those movements can be very revealing. This book goes into detail about the ways you can train yourself to become an expert in observing other people’s nonverbal cues and uncovering their meaning.

Who should read What Every BODY is Saying?

  • Anyone interested in psychology
  • Anyone who wants to improve his or her observational skills
  • Anyone who wants to get better at understanding people’s true thoughts and intentions

7
The Charisma Myth

The Charisma Myth

Olivia Fox Cabane
How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
4.2 (347 ratings)

What's The Charisma Myth about?

The Charisma Myth (2013) defies the popular notion that charisma is inherited, arguing instead that everyone can cultivate their own charisma, and in doing so can have a more positive attitude, find more success, and handle obstacles more successfully.

Using wide-ranging examples of charismatic people, from state leaders to CEOs to employees, the book also outlines the different styles of charisma and how to practice demonstrating each, and offers some useful tools and exercises with which to improve their psychological well-being.

Who should read The Charisma Myth?

  • Anyone who wants to know what constitutes charisma
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to become more charismatic

8
The Like Switch

The Like Switch

Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins
An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting and Winning People Over
4.3 (195 ratings)

What's The Like Switch about?

In The Like Switch, author Jack Schafer explores the realm of nonverbal social cues and other communication practices that draws people to one another. A former FBI agent and doctor of psychology, Schafer presents useful strategies to make new friends and influence people.

Who should read The Like Switch?

  • Anyone who wants to learn how to form a solid friendship from the start
  • Anyone interested in psychology
  • Anyone interested in communication strategies for business

9
How to be Heard

How to be Heard

Julian Treasure
Secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening
3.6 (140 ratings)

What's How to be Heard about?

How to be Heard (2017) identifies proven ways to become a powerful speaker, the kind that commands people’s attention and keeps them hanging on your every word. Author Julian Treasure also examines the steps people can take to improve their listening skills, allowing them to better understand what’s being said and making the listener feel that they’re being heard. These tips can help improve both communication skills and our most important relationships.

Who should read How to be Heard?

  • Couples who want to repair their relationships through better listening
  • Readers eager to overcome their fear of public speaking
  • Managers and leaders who want to inspire people with their words

10
Captivate

Captivate

Vanessa Van Edwards
The Science of Succeeding with People
4.1 (164 ratings)

What's Captivate about?

Captivate (2017) is your guide to human behavior and social success. Whether you’re trying to connect with others at home, at work or out in the world, Van Edwards set about breaking down the mechanics of how to capture people’s attention and engage in meaningful interaction.

Who should read Captivate?

  • Young people who want to improve their social skills
  • Singles looking to become dating pros
  • Managers and entrepreneurs who want their employees to do their best

11
TED Talks

TED Talks

Chris Anderson
The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
4.4 (114 ratings)

What's TED Talks about?

TED Talks (2016) is the definitive guide to delivering a killer public speech. These blinks cover everything from stage fright to choosing the perfect outfit and will prepare to give a talk that’ll inspire any audience.

Who should read TED Talks?

  • Any entrepreneur who wants to share his project and ideas
  • Lecturers and students working to improve their public speaking
  • Anybody who feels that a fear of public speaking is holding them back

12
Words Can Change Your Brain

Words Can Change Your Brain

Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman
12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflict, and Increase Intimacy
4.4 (389 ratings)

What's Words Can Change Your Brain about?

Words Can Change Your Brain (2012) is an easy-to-follow guide on the art of effective and compassionate communication. Informed by the brain’s natural behavior and responses, these blinks outline measures we can take to become better at listening, expressing ourselves, and fostering trust and cooperation with others. 

Who should read Words Can Change Your Brain?

  • Anyone who wants to improve their communication skills
  • People who’d like to approach difficult conversations with confidence
  • Those curious about the science of communication

13
Just Listen

Just Listen

Mark Goulston
Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone
4.2 (183 ratings)

What's Just Listen about?

Just Listen (2009) combines time-tested persuasion and listening techniques with new methods to help you get your message across to anybody. By learning how to be a better listener, how the brain works and how people think, you’ll be able to motivate people to do what you want because you’ll better understand their needs.

Who should read Just Listen?

  • Anyone who wants to improve their communication skills
  • Anyone working in therapy or mediation
  • Anyone who wants to be more persuasive

14
Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies

Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies

Romilla Ready and Kate Burton
A beginner's guide to one of psychology's hottest topics
4.0 (249 ratings)

What's Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies about?

Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies (2015) is an introduction to the basic principles behind NLP. If you’ve ever struggled to say what’s on your mind, NLP may be of use to you. Discover the human traits that can keep us from understanding each other and the helpful methods that can lead to clear and effective communication.

Who should read Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies?

  • Readers who strive to communicate clearly
  • Students of neuroscience and linguistics
  • Anyone open to new ideas and techniques for improvement

15
Steal the Show

Steal the Show

Michael Port
From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches, How to Guarantee a Standing Ovation for All the Performances in Your Life
4.1 (206 ratings)

What's Steal the Show about?

Steal the Show (2015) is a practical guide designed to help performers scared of the limelight to settle their nerves and up their game. Drawing on author Michael Port’s experience as a professional actor, these blinks are packed with tips and hacks to help you persuade, inform and motivate. Whether you’re presenting your company’s latest figures in a meeting, pitching a new business idea or interviewing for a dream job, these strategies are guaranteed to help you make an impression. 

Who should read Steal the Show?

  • Anyone who wants to become a better public speaker
  • Anyone who’s struggling to find their true voice and needs some help
  • Anyone who wants to live more honestly

16
Presence

Presence

Amy Cuddy
Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges
4.4 (205 ratings)

What's Presence about?

Presence (2016) takes a valuable look at the relationship between our mind and body, and how it can influence our psychology and ability to communicate effectively. By examining body language and postures, author Amy Cuddy reveals some simple tips that can transform the lives of shy and self-conscious people into confident powerhouses. 

Who should read Presence?

  • Anyone wishing to up their communication skills
  • Anyone who wants to be more confident in life
  • Anyone who hasn’t yet experienced the benefits of power posing

17
Human Hacking

Human Hacking

Christopher Hadnagy with Seth Schulman
Win Friends, Influence People, and Leave Them Better Off for Having Met You
4.5 (279 ratings)

What's Human Hacking about?

Human Hacking (2021) is a guide to the art of ethical social engineering. Using the same tools of psychology and influence deployed by security hackers, it demonstrates how to boost social interactions in daily life. It covers a range of tips on how to adjust your natural communication tendencies to steer encounters to your advantage, with practical tools on how to influence others using empathy and compassion.

Who should read Human Hacking?

  • Those interested in becoming more persuasive
  • People interested in making new friends
  • Anyone interested in social engineering

18
The Silent Language of Leaders

The Silent Language of Leaders

Carol Kinsey Goman
How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt – How You Lead
4.2 (69 ratings)

What's The Silent Language of Leaders about?

Strong leaders have to project the right body language and be able to read it well in their team members if they want to lead them to success. The Silent Language of Leaders (2011) offers tips for reading and controlling body language, even in cultures where social cues differ.

Who should read The Silent Language of Leaders?

  • Anyone in a leadership position
  • Anyone who works in a multicultural environment
  • Anyone interested in body language or psychology

19
I Don't Agree

I Don't Agree

Michael Brown
Why we can’t stop fighting – and how to get great stuff done despite our differences
4.0 (220 ratings)

What's I Don't Agree about?

I Don’t Agree (2020) is a practical guide to improving your conflict resolution skills. Disagreement is seen as bad, and even scary. But, actually, conflict can be a powerful engine for growth if you know how to deal with it effectively. I Don’t Agree provides ten practical strategies that will help you become an expert in dealing with conflict in all areas of your life.

Who should read I Don't Agree?

  • Employees seeking to improve their collaborations
  • Anyone wanting to resolve a bitter argument
  • Parents who want to learn how to teach conflict resolution skills to their kids

20
Emotions Revealed

Emotions Revealed

Paul Ekman
Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life
3.8 (38 ratings)

What's Emotions Revealed about?

Emotions Revealed (2003) puts emotions under the microscope, revealing where they come from and how to recognize them, whether they’re yours or someone else’s. If you’ve ever wanted to know if someone was being dishonest or trying to deceive you with a friendly smile, these are the blinks for you!

Who should read Emotions Revealed?

  • Law enforcement officers who need to recognize the emotions of criminals and victims
  • Therapists and psychologists who want to help patients cope with their emotions
  • Empathetic people who want to connect more effectively with others

21
Digital Body Language

Digital Body Language

Erica Dhawan
How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance
4.4 (221 ratings)

What's Digital Body Language about?

Digital Body Language (2021) is your rulebook to clear online communication. Combining cutting-edge research with personal know-how, it demystifies the digital signals that so often stand in for traditional body language.

Who should read Digital Body Language?

  • Leaders and employees seeking more streamlined digital collaborations
  • Virtual workers who want to improve their online tone and clarity
  • Anyone who’s struggled to convey what they really mean from behind a screen

22
Unmasking the Face

Unmasking the Face

Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen
A Guide to Recognizing Emotions From Facial Expressions
3.4 (15 ratings)

What's Unmasking the Face about?

Unmasking the Face (2003) is an illuminating read about the subtleties of facial expressions. From the dynamics of surprise, fear, anger and happiness, to the eight styles of facial expression, these blinks shed light onto the complexity of an everyday skill that deserves more attention: reading other people’s emotions.

Who should read Unmasking the Face?

  • Readers interested in the psychology of social interaction
  • Professionals who deal with displays of emotion on a daily basis
  • People who want to gain insight into how they’re perceived by others

23
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face?

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face?

Alan Alda
My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating
3.9 (46 ratings)

What's If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? about?

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? (2017) explains how improvisation techniques, as practiced by actors and comedians, can be used as training methods for better communication. Alda uses illuminating examples of miscommunications from his own life to show how we all can be better at relating and talking to one another.

Who should read If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? ?

  • Anyone whose job involves communicating complex ideas to various and varied audiences
  • Leaders who want to improve their interpersonal skills and learn about empathy
  • Non-actors who want to learn how the craft really works

24
Don't Take Yes for an Answer

Don't Take Yes for an Answer

Steve Herz
Using Authority, Warmth, and Energy to Get Exceptional Results
4.5 (85 ratings)

What's Don't Take Yes for an Answer about?

Don’t Take Yes for an Answer (2020) identifies why some people consistently achieve career breakthroughs, while others struggle to reach their potential. By adopting an attitude of continual self-improvement and learning three crucial communication skills, you can achieve exceptional results, regardless of your field.

Who should read Don't Take Yes for an Answer?

  • Ambitious employees who are trying to land promotions
  • Underdogs seeking a breakthrough
  • Aspiring advocates who want to inspire others

25
Read the Face

Read the Face

Eric Standop with Elisa Petrini
Face Reading for Success in Your Career, Relationships, and Health
3.4 (181 ratings)

What's Read the Face about?

Read the Face (2021) is a beginner’s guide to the millennia-old art and science of physiognomy, or face reading. It provides a brief history of the practice, outlines techniques and methods, and includes insightful case studies.

Who should read Read the Face?

  • Anyone curious about physiognomy
  • People eager to understand themselves and others better
  • Couples interested in finding out about love compatibility

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