How to Read a Person Like a Book

by Gerard I. Nierenberg
How to Read a Person Like a Book cover
Good Books rating 3.17
Psychology and Human Behavior
Technical
  • ID: 3263
  • Added: 2025-10-17
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9780757053146
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2012-04-26
  • Reviews: 3

How to Read a Person Like a Book is a best-selling guide that teaches you how to interpret and respond to the nonverbal signals of those around you. Written by experts Gerard Nierenberg, Henry Calero, and Gabriel Grayson, this book reveals how simple gestures can communicate key information in various situations, from business meetings to personal interactions. The authors provide practical techniques to recognize and understand body language, helping you to tell if someone is being truthful, identify aggressive or submissive handshakes, and put people at ease by mirroring their gestures. Whether you're negotiating a deal, on a date, or spending time with family, mastering the art of reading body language can offer real and important benefits. This book is designed to help you hone that skill, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication and interpersonal skills.

Reviews
Instagram · 2025-10-17
insightful 4.00

The book is described as insightful and eye-opening, delving into the fascinating world of nonverbal communication. It is seen as a valuable resource for understanding people better.

This review praises the book for its insightful and eye-opening exploration of nonverbal communication. The reviewer finds it fascinating and believes it offers valuable lessons on how to read people more effectively. They appreciate the practical advice and the way the book helps readers become more observant of nonverbal cues. The book is seen as a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their interpersonal skills and understand the nuances of body language.

Quick quotes

    In this insightful and eye-opening book, Nierenberg and Calero delve into the fascinating world of nonverbal communication.

    Teaching us how to read people more effectively.

    It offers valuable lessons on how to read people more effectively.

Amazon · 2025-10-17
basic 2.00

The book is considered basic and the insights into body language are not groundbreaking. The reviewer finds the title somewhat misleading.

This reviewer finds the book's title to overstate its value, suggesting that the information on body language is limited and not particularly revolutionary. They mention that many of the insights are common knowledge and might be obvious to most readers. Despite this, the reviewer acknowledges that the book could still be useful for those new to the subject, but it may not offer much for those already familiar with basic body language principles.

Quick quotes

    The title of the book seems to overstate its value.

    The information on body language is limited and the insights are by no measure revolutionary.

    Many of them are basic body language that is common sense to a two year old.

Edge Induced Cohesion Blog · 2017-03-06
practical 3.50

The book is a practical guide to understanding nonverbal communication, emphasizing the importance of observing posture and gestures. It is seen as a useful tool for improving interpersonal skills.

This review highlights the book's focus on nonverbal communication, noting its practical approach and the emphasis on observing body language. The reviewer appreciates the book's simplicity and the way it breaks down complex concepts into understandable terms. They find it particularly useful for those looking to improve their ability to read people in various social and professional settings. The book is praised for its concise and straightforward style, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Quick quotes

    It is a book on nonverbal communication, and is an attempt to help make people more responsive and observant to the tells of people's posture and gestures.

    The book is simple, straightforward, and written in layman's terms.

    It does not go into all that academic talk which would bore you - and it is very concise.

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