Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception

Lie SpottingThis Book, written by Pamela Meyer is a guide to lying, and how to detect lying. First, the author stated that lying was innate to the animal kingdom. She explained how animals use pheromones, colouring and other tools to lure victims into their traps. As well, she stated some of her personal experiences. I was very intrigued by reading how gullible she was and how everybody could be a victim of society's fraudulent nature. As well, I was kind of nervous and a bit paranoid about everybody lying to me. This was because the author presents the reader with a plethora of statistics about why, how, and when humans lie. This made me realize just how dodgy the business world is, and how vulnerable one is on a day to day basis to a world of complicated schemes and plots. After all, "lying is intrinsic to all human beigns and is the spine of modern interactions". However, the author provides a simple and easy to follow guide to navigate in the obfuscated world of today. The complete method involves learning how to read people's movements, and words, to know when someone is lying to you. The author repeatedly says that "behind every lie there is a bit of information, the objective is not only to point out the guile". Throughout the book you get slowly attuned with the process of interrogation. I was particullarly enamored by the unimpeachable clarity with which the process was explained, with examples and applications. I would say that the central theme of the book is that everybody lies, and you can't stop it, so the best is to have some type of guidelines to detect lying in order to have an edge in life, and business.In conclusion, it was an excellent, engaging book that will give you an edge in all of your social interactions . It is very hard to put down (at the end your hands will be a bit weary) and as soon as you do, you will be anxious to test all of the steps to becoming a successful liespotter! I would recommend this book to anyone who has good observation skills because the tip the author gives you are pretty useful, and quite fun to play with. As well if you are interested in knowing who, how, and why people lie. You wont be disillusioned. 5 STARS

Found this book super fun to read. It really opens your eyes to analyzing communication for lack of truth. This in turn can let you evaluate trustworthiness of someone.

This book should have been titled dealing with deception in the workplace because that's exactly what the book is about. The information provided mixes military, government and intelligence agencies' interrogation techniques, scientific and academic data mixed with body language and micro-facial recognition to create what Meyer calls the BASIC method, a guide to lie-proof conversations, negotiations, and interviews. She claims that the techniques provided in the book can improve detection ability by 25% to 50%. The BASIC system is a way to structuring a conversation to get to the truth; the acronym stands for:B = Baseline behaviour, examining and comparing an individual current behaviour to what a person normally does, says or behave to compare it with what he does, says or behaves while being interviewed, interrogated or simply questioned about an issue of concern.A = Ask for open-ended questions.S = Study the Clusters of behaviour.I = Intuit the gaps, or what is not being said.C = Confirm.The book is structured in two parts. The first contains the basic techniques to detect deception trough verbal and non-verbal clues. To me, as a non-business person, this is the most useful and entertaining part of the book, and truly packed with useful information that will make you aware of deceptive behaviours.The second part is about creating healthy behaviour environment in the workplace by implementing structures and polices that promote honesty and trustworthiness, and effortlessly weed out deception, liars and double-faced people who play everybody to get power or money. This is very much business related. If you are a the head of a department, business, or corporation, you will find the strategies, advice and polices recommended in the book fantastic, sane and sound, it that can be said. Specially good are the items of advice on business negotiation and job interviews, which are two of the main areas where deception occurs.Appendix I is a sort of cheat-sheet about the main points presented in the first part of the book. I truly love it because it is useful and straight to the point. This is the core of the book in a nutshell.Appendix II is a test to check if our lie spotting skills are tuned; the solution to the questions are in the author's book websiteThe book is very good, well written, and clear to understand. Meyer is a very articulate writer and does a great job at conveying her message in away that is entertaining, informative and seriously usable, with plenty of specific information about how to spot deception, and how to deal with it. Liespotting tips that are spread throughout the book as short reminders of important points to remember, therefore, very helpful. Besides, photos are included to exemplify facial authentic and fake expressions; nothing like a photo to explain this sort of information.There are many real-life examples described in the book, but I thought they were useful.Some of the questions posed and answered are: > Why do we have a deception epidemic in our culture? > Do we lie more nowadays than in the past? > Why videoconferencing isn't the solution to deciding on new business ventures? > Why old tools and devices do not work? > Why being punctual is important? > Which verbal and non verbal clues show deception? and how do you mentally process them?Ah? Eh? What?> Meyer says that pupil dilation can be an indication of deception and arousal, but an addict to sex would also have pupils dilated? A person occasionally using substances would have their pupils dilated, no? Does this automatically turn them into deceptive people at the workplace? Just asking!> Some of the verbal clues that Meyer mention as signalling deception are actually things that I would say and do, honestly and sincerely, to voice my innocence!Kindle editionThe kindle edition is well done, with notes hyper-linked back and forward. However, one of the links in the book does not work, the one directing to Artanatomy, however the site is still up just with another URL.

The first half was great and exactly what I was expecting. It talked about facial micro expressions and word choice of deceptive people, and some other things you'd expect out of a book of its title.Then the second half came. Now, it was very informative and probably useful for corporate moguls. But I felt like it belonged in a different book. There was a tedious chapter on choosing a brain trust, one on why you should hire a firm to do a 'deception audit' on your company, and then countless (fictional?) anecdotes about CEOs who either were saved in the nick of time by a deception detection firm, or ended up in horrible personal circumstances because they didn't use one. Seriously, the second half was a waste of time and money for me, and it kind of ruined the book.But if you're looking for a short section on reading body language and the like, and then tips about building your 'personal board of directors,' this very probably could be your book.

5/5

Very enjoyable.

me enseño mucho y lo estoy practicando con mi trabajo y amigos

It's easy to understand and very careful in listing details.C'est facile à comprendre et il prend garde aux détails.

1) Os seres humanos são naturalmente mentirosos e precisam das mentiras pare ter um convívio social. Quanto mais cognitivamente avançado é o animal, melhor será sua técnica para enganar o outro. Golfinhos e primatas são muito bons nisso.2) Um só consegue mentir quando o outro está disposto a ser enganado. Não é uma via de mão única.3) As motivações para alguém mentir são bem variadas e o livro cita as 9 principais. Argumenta também que homens e mulheres geralmente mentem por motivos diferentes. Homens tendem a mentir para se autopromoverem, enquanto as mulheres o fazem para proteger outra pessoa.4) Toda a linguagem deve ser observada: verbal e não-verbal (linguagem do corpo). E como essas duas linguagens se interagem é algo crucial. Exemplo: Gestos atrasados em relação ao discurso indica que a pessoa está contando uma história inventada.5) As lembranças não funcionam de forma cronológica. Um fato que realmente aconteceu será contado com ênfase nos acontecimentos-chaves, marcantes e dificilmente seguirá a ordem real.6) Bem mais difícil do que detectar a mentira é saber a causa desta - o Porquê da mentira.7) Todos mentem, mas existem mentiras que podem custar dezenas de milhares de dólares e até vidas. Por isso, é importante estar atento as pistas que indicam que algo não está sendo contado de maneira verdadeira - principalmente no ambiente corporativo.8) O livro dá vários exemplos de pessoas/empresas que foram ludibriadas e tiveram imenso prejuízo - a autora é uma dessas pessoas. Dá dicas de como montar um ambiente de trabalho que evite este tipo de problema sem criar um ambiente de paranoia.