What every BODY is saying
by Joe Navarro, Marvin Karlins · first published 2008
80% recommend20% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Accessible, example-filled guide to reading body language, with photos that train quick recognition. A good starting framework for beginners and anyone who works with people, with a sober view of nonverbal cues.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
He says that's his best offer. Is it? She says she agrees. Does she? The interview went great—or did it? He said he'd never do it again. But he did. Read this book and send your nonverbal intelligence soaring. Joe Navarro, a former FBI counterintelligence officer and a recognized expert on nonverbal behavior, explains how to "speed-read" people: decode sentiments and behaviors, avoid hidden pitfalls, and look for deceptive behaviors. You'll also learn how your body language can influence what your boss, family, friends, and strangers think of you. You will discover: - The ancient surviva
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2019–2021Messages
Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, Patrick Fanning
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 43 recommend · 4 mention3 recommend · 43 recommend
2008–2019The pirate's dilemma
Matt Mason
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 77 recommend · 7 mention7 recommend · 77 recommend
2012–2025The Speed of Dark
Elizabeth Moon
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 72 recommend · 7 mention2 recommend · 72 recommend
2019–2025The Making of a Manager
Julie Zhuo
Recommended by 14 · mentioned by 1514 recommend · 15 mention14 recommend · 1514 recommend
2015–2023Team of Teams
Stanley A. McChrystal, Tantum Collins, David Silverman, Chris Fussell
Recommended by 17 · mentioned by 1817 recommend · 18 mention17 recommend · 1817 recommend
2008–2025Tribes
Seth Godin
Recommended by 14 · mentioned by 2414 recommend · 24 mention14 recommend · 2414 recommend
2010–2026You Just Don't Understand
Deborah Tannen
Recommended by 10 · mentioned by 1210 recommend · 12 mention10 recommend · 1210 recommend
I really enjoyed and got value from books about companies/people I admire; Hatching twitter, In the Plex, Elon Musk, etc. More specific topics, however: * "what every body is saying" - how to read/understand body language * "an astronauts guide to life on earth" - by Chris Hadfield, lots of good general advice * "speed reading" - for digesting information quickly (albeit, I find…
on “Ask HN: Non-tech books that have helped you grow professionally?” ↗…psychology underlying every human interaction. - How to Win Friends and Influence People (a classic by Dale Carnegie) - Meta-Talk (Gerard I. Nierenberg, Henry H. Calero) - Games People Play (Eric Berne) - What Every Body is Saying (Joe Nevarro, Marvin Karlins) - Conversationally Speaking (Alan Garner) These books provide a great foundation for anyone who needs to deal with people on a daily basis (ie. everyone), and are especially…
on “Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion” ↗…peoples intentions before they give off overt intent. If you want to understand more about decoding & understanding behaviour, talk to http://twitter.com/navarrotells or get a copy "Louder than words" or "What Every Body is Saying" ~ http://jnforensics.com/Books_%26_Videos.html
on “On Geeks and Gays ” ↗Whether you get along with that person or not depends on what's important to you. There is a great book about body language called What Every Body is Saying by an ex-FBI agent. Excellent read and be forewarned that you'll start seeing other people in a very different light. Heck, it will make you think twice about what and how you say things. On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/What-Every-BODY-Saying-Speed-Reading/d...…
on “Ask HN: What question would tell you where someone's heart is?” ↗…article, "Definitive Book of Body Language" is an excellent resource. However, it is more of an encyclopedia - comprehensive, but lacking in context. I began this journey some years ago and found Navarro's "What Every Body is Saying" a more helpful starting place. Gives a framework to help understand body language, something that may prove helpful if you are starting from square zero.
on “How Studying Body Language Changed the Way I Socialize” ↗One that I would recommend is What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People http://www.amazon.com/What-Every-BODY-Saying-Speed-Reading/d...
on “What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?” ↗…our subconscious. This article has a lot of really interesting applications in psychotherapy of the body influencing the mind! This article reminds me of a book I read a few years ago, Joe Navarro's "What Every Body Is Saying" [1]. If you're in the business of working with people more than programs, this book might be useful, but even if not, a lot of it was a good intellectual curiosity. There were plenty of things that…
on “Brain to Brain: The Therapist as Neurobiological Regulator (2010) [pdf]” ↗…do no better than chance. (A good book on the subject, which gives a very sober assessment of what body language can actually reliably tell us vs. where you need to thread carefully is Joe Navarro's "What Every Body is Saying" - Navarro is a former FBI agent and trainer)
on “How an ex-FBI profiler helped put an innocent man behind bars” ↗What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People [1] This book has allowed me to understand what the people around me are saying, without even saying a word! "Read this book and send your nonverbal…
on “Ask HN: Best book / resources on leadership, especially for tech teams?” ↗…Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life Kahneman, Daniel (2011) Thinking, Fast and Slow Mitnick, Kevin and William Simon (2002) Art of Deception Navarro and Karlins (2008) What Every Body is Saying: Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People Nietzsche, Friedrich (1887) On the Genealogy of Morals Rhodes, Richard (1986) Making of the Atomic Bomb Sun Tzu (c. 400 BCE) Art of War Taleb, Nassim…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗…lot of social interaction and be very aware and attentive to people as you do so. [1] There are some books and blogs that are useful: - How to Win Friends and Influence People (general; a classic) - What Every Body is Saying (Body language) - Dr. Nerdlove (dating) - Cpt. Awkward (dating & other relationships) - Getting to Yes (negotiation) - Difficult Conversations (understanding emotional impact of words)
on “Why Nerds are Unpopular (2003)” ↗"What Every BODY Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People", written by a former FBI counterintelligence officer, is pretty interesting, though not scientific: https://amzn.com/0061438294
on “An Experimental Autism Treatment Cost Me My Marriage” ↗…as I did. I'm going to buy the Social Stories book (mentioned in your link) off Amazon. I'd love to hear any other helpful ideas. I also read several body language books over the years. The best is What Every Body is Saying, in case that's helpful for anyone. Unfortunately, reading a book is not as good as practicing.
on “What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation” ↗…largely considered the best books on the topic. I'm very interested in body language which is very related. If you force yourself to stand confidently, you'll feel it as well the others around you. I found "What Every BODY is Saying" a lot of fun although it's not quite as full of information.
on “Ask HN: Books on how to "influence" people?” ↗…found that I like to mix a little psychology books into my business readings, here are a couple that I personally liked: Influence - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BD2UUC/ref=kinw_myk_ro_... and What every BODY is saying - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010SKSTO/ref=docs-os-doi_...
on “A Startup Reading List” ↗