Rating: 
Summary: A Real Book on Body Language: the Facts
Review: This book is exactly what I was looking for in a book on nonverbal communication; more importantly, its exactly what it says it is, a self-stufy book on body language. It gives a lot of information, in a clear concise way. The author avoids the common mistake of deciding (a priori) that the reader knows the material but is anxious and needs encouragement -- instead, he sticks to the topic at hand and discusses nonverbal communication (aka, "body language"). It doesn't waste paper and time with filler and drivel either. Instead, it tells about currect views on body language -- sticking to the point, what a concept! I appreciate this "just the facts" way of getting at the subject very much, and was very happy to finally find a book on body language that really IS on body language. This book is scientific, but not overly technical, and is honest about the complexities, uncertainties, and so forth, of the subject. Its also a great buy for the price. I would recomend it to anyone who is sick of pep-talks mislabled as info, and wants a book that really is about body language.
Rating: 
Summary: BODY LANGUAGE-EFFECTIVE TOOL IN COMMUNICATING
Review: Body Language (Teach Yourself) is a very helpful and informative tool that can be used to interpret the unspoken language. Wainwright clearly defines the nature of body language and gives examples of how it can be used and improved. He draws attention to the nonverbal aspects of communication giving the reader exercises to demonstrate and suggestions to further explore after each chapter. To the reader it is almost like learning a different language. Body language is used everyday, yet Wainwright projects his ideas in a way that the reader is implored to use eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and body movement to his or her advantage only to see what results they receive. These issues are addressed in the first 5 chapters. Advice is given to the reader to observe other people in an attempt to better interact with them. Wainwright approaches the importance of good posture and stance in Chapter 6. He writes that posture can be a clue to personality and to character and that erect posture displays a different temperament from one who slouches about with rounded shoulders. (53). Proximity and orientation, which breaks down to using space more effectively, will allow the reader to move forward in the developing mastery of body language.Wainwright's philosophy with regards to body language cannot only be used with every day encounters but on the job as demonstrated in chapter 13. He approaches the use of body language and how it can be effectively used in the workplace paying particular attention to those occupations in which there is face-to-face communication with members of the public. Throughout each example there are pointers given to allow the reader to know how to use the different forms of body language as discussed in earlier chapters to his/hers advantage. From attitudes to workmates and motivating others to industrial relations and team building, Wainwright equips you with the right essentials to aid in the communication process. The book is very interesting and would be an excellent guide for anyone who would want to familiarize themselves with the art and mastery of body language. It is very surprising how thru the effective use of body movements while speaking or listening, a person can be perceived in a totally different light. In each of the 15 chapters there are wonderful tips that will enable the reader to improve and broaden their interpersonal skills in an effort to help them communicate with others.
Rating:
Summary: Body language matters
Review: Body language definitely matters, & this book is dead on. Unfortunately, I was looking for something more related to dating & thus was more satisfired w/ the traditional How to Succeed w/ Women & Make Every Girl Want You: How to Have Sex with Hot Girls without even dating them.
Rating: 
Summary: very basic, but maybe not the best place to start
Review: Go to the mall, the zoo or any other place which has large congregations of people from diverse backgrounds and you will discover differences in body language. These differences in body language may lead one to guess a person's income, educational level, occupation, etc. This book is a very general overview of body language and discusses things to look out for when studying body language. Eye grammar (dialation, eyeball movement, breaking contact), gestures, posture and other basics are covered. At the end of each chapter, there are exercises and experiments to help the reader understand how certain body language is used. Not all of the experiments are explained as well as they could have been and it's not always clear what the results of the experiments/exercises mean. The personal attraction assessment scale (chapter 14 page 157) is a good example of inadequate information being given. The personal attraction assessment scale is a chart with physical characteristics where you are to judge (from 1 to 10) others on various physical features such as hair, face, waist, etc. What exactly does it accomplish to know that some men/women prefer a pretty face to nice hair or vice versa? What is the point in finding out that some men are leg men or that some women favor body build? It doesn't take a survey to find out that different people consciously look for different things when searching for a mate. A discussion on squints, smirks and facial side dominance is curiously missing from this book. Smirks and squints are very basic to body language. What does it mean when a smirk is on the left side of the face as opposed to the right? What about the left side of the face being higher than the right or vice versa? Everyone knows that a smile means that you're happy about something, but which side of the face dominates tells a lot more. When people get older, they tend to wrinkle in patterns. Which side of the face is more prominently wrinkled also tells about a person's personality. All of this good information which is basic to body language was left out. The greatest value of this book is to know what to be mindful of when making observations in studying body language and to also improve your image to others.
Rating:
Summary: very basic, but maybe not the best place to start
Review: Go to the mall, the zoo or any other place which has large congregations of people from diverse backgrounds and you will discover differences in body language. These differences in body language may lead one to guess a person's income, educational level, occupation, etc. This book is a very general overview of body language and discusses things to look out for when studying body language. Eye grammar (dialation, eyeball movement, breaking contact), gestures, posture and other basics are covered. At the end of each chapter, there are exercises and experiments to help the reader understand how certain body language is used. Not all of the experiments are explained as well as they could have been and it's not always clear what the results of the experiments/exercises mean. The personal attraction assessment scale (chapter 14 page 157) is a good example of inadequate information being given. The personal attraction assessment scale is a chart with physical characteristics where you are to judge (from 1 to 10) others on various physical features such as hair, face, waist, etc. What exactly does it accomplish to know that some men/women prefer a pretty face to nice hair or vice versa? What is the point in finding out that some men are leg men or that some women favor body build? It doesn't take a survey to find out that different people consciously look for different things when searching for a mate. A discussion on squints, smirks and facial side dominance is curiously missing from this book. Smirks and squints are very basic to body language. What does it mean when a smirk is on the left side of the face as opposed to the right? What about the left side of the face being higher than the right or vice versa? Everyone knows that a smile means that you're happy about something, but which side of the face dominates tells a lot more. When people get older, they tend to wrinkle in patterns. Which side of the face is more prominently wrinkled also tells about a person's personality. All of this good information which is basic to body language was left out. The greatest value of this book is to know what to be mindful of when making observations in studying body language and to also improve your image to others.
Rating:
Summary: A good place to start
Review: I found Wainwright clearly an authority. His book is quite well organized. He goes into quite some detail for a book well under two hundred pages. How refreshing after suffering through all the fluff other authors proffer. It is not an easy read, but as long as you don't attempt to consume it all in one sitting, I suspect you will find it well worth the price of the book. On the downside, Wainwright does not seem particularly comfortable with the Exercises he asks his readers to perform. I would not be surprised if this "exercise" requirement was foisted upon him as a editorial imperative of the "teach yourself" series (his publisher).
Rating:
Summary: A good book of basic information
Review: I used this book to help supplement a class I was teaching on interview techniques. This was a great supplement, and it was easy to use. I've made the book a "featured selection" for my class, and encourage anyone wanting to learn the basics of body langauge to check this one out.
Rating:
Summary: Super Book
Review: I was very pleased with this book. This was a thorough introduction to body language and the exercises that the author recommends really help put it all into perspective. I finished the book last week and now find myself studying people all of the time, and constantly using the techniques the book describes to find out more about people. The book is easy to read and focuses on the main areas of body language - eyes, face, gestures, posture, proximity, etc. The information is introductory in nature, but the author provides titles at the back that you can use to explore the subject further. A practical book that was well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Just got done reading it
Review: The book is well written and discusses the basics of body language. The beginning chapters are broken down into different areas: Head movement, eye contact, body positioning, tone of voice, ect....ect....ect.... You get the drift. It's slow at first, but worth reading. Its good to have a true basics under your belt before trying to uderstand the advanced psychology of people. The last 2-3 chapters put it all together. He even has tests you can perform to see for yourself why people do what they do. I would recommend this book as a good first read on the subject. It doesn't get too detailed that it looses you.
Rating:
Summary: Just got done reading it
Review: The book is well written and discusses the basics of body language. The beginning chapters are broken down into different areas: Head movement, eye contact, body positioning, tone of voice, ect....ect....ect.... You get the drift. It's slow at first, but worth reading. Its good to have a true basics under your belt before trying to uderstand the advanced psychology of people. The last 2-3 chapters put it all together. He even has tests you can perform to see for yourself why people do what they do. I would recommend this book as a good first read on the subject. It doesn't get too detailed that it looses you.
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