- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (May 18 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345425871
- ISBN-13: 978-0345425874
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 14 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 295 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #203,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
It's true that politicians blink much more frequently when they're lying, but what other behavior clues do people inadvertently give off? If you want to know if you're being boondoggled, how to tell if your date is interested in a serious relationship, or if you should take that new job, Jo-Ellan Demitrius will help you figure it all out. She gives away the tricks of her trade--jury consulting--in this eye-opening handbook for predicting the behavior and revealing the thoughts of others. She's consulted for more than 600 jury trials, including the O.J. Simpson, Rodney King, and John DuPont cases, as well as for Fortune 100 companies. If her name rings a bell, it may be because she's been on Oprah, Larry King Live, and 60 Minutes, among other television shows.
Much more than a collection of tips on reading body language, her book is supremely organized, detailed, and thorough, with lists of physical characteristics, vocal patterns, office props, and conversational behaviors that reveal much more than you'd think. She instructs on how to analyze hundreds of details of everyday living, from the style of the picture frame on your boss's desk to the odd way that an acquaintance swears up a storm, in order to uncover personality traits and predict future behavior.
Demitrius isn't a hocus-pocus intuition hawker; she's more of a scientist. "...over the past fifteen years," she writes, "I have tested this method on more than ten thousand 'research subjects.' After predicting the behavior of thousands of jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and judges, I have been able to see whether my predictions came true....I did not always peg them correctly, especially in the earlier years. But by testing my perceptions over and over, I have verified which clues are generally reliable and which are not." Her advice will prove valuable not just to lawyers but to businesspeople, parents, and anyone curious about their relationships. While the book is mostly aimed at deconstructing the behavior and characteristics of others, it's also useful for job candidates and anyone concerned with projecting the appropriate image. -- Erica Jorgensen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Now famous for her role in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Dimitrius shares the people-reading techniques she developed over 15 years as a jury consultant. In so doing, she provides a wealth of tips and strategies for ferreting out people's real viewpoints, motives and character traits. Claiming that "reading people is neither a science nor an innate gift," Dimitrius advocates sharpening and fine-tuning powers of observation and deduction. Gathering enough information to establish an overall pattern is the key to her method. Differentiating between "elective and nonelective" traits; setting aside assumptions, prejudices and stereotypes; recognizing body language; and identifying meanings behind personal choices of dress and behaviorAall converge to reveal personality, attitude and life experience. Dimitrius rates people on scales of "hardness" or compassion, socioeconomic background and "satisfaction with life"Athe three most "consistently reliable" predictors of behavior, according to her. Whether interviewing a baby-sitter, meeting a new date or selecting a jury, this thorough, detailed guide of what to look for could probably improve anyone's ability at seeing and being seen. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
tell me something I don't know,
By David Group (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior- -Anytime, Anyplace (Paperback)
Of the four books I read recently about reading people, this one was probably the least valuable. Most of the information given was pretty obvious, and her advice basically boils down to 1) Be aware of the other person's behavior and 2) trust your instincts. Most of the book contains such "in-depth" insights as "Honest people are generally relaxed and open. Dishonest people aren't." DUH! Her list of behavioral indicators for various traits is rather long, and she makes the basic mistake of pigeonholing certain characteristics as indicators of specific traits. She also doesn't deal with such topics as neurological problems or cultural differences. Some of her advice is a bit iffy, too; for instance, she says early on, "Learn to reveal something of yourself. To get others to open up, you must first open up to them." Not good advice if you're dealing with a conman or sociopath. If you really must, read the key points at the end of each chapter.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reading People by Dimitrius,
By Dr. Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca ... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior - Anytime, Anyplace (Hardcover)
The book is excellent for the money. It will help glean the dynamics of behavioral patterns in people. The author describes modes of behavior in face-to-face, telephone and written memoranda. There are patterns to be discovered. These patterns are striking traits, extremes, deviations from the norm, predictive traits and a whole host of behaviors too numerous to list here. Do you deal extensively with people? If the answer is yes, this book will help you. The author even classifies people by hair style:Men with short hair tend to be sports oriented, highly structured while trendy and sometimes conservative. Women tend to be artistic and some want attention. Honest people tend to be relaxed. Dishonest people talk fast with changing voice patterns and sometimes they lean forward. Attentive people have good eye contact. They stand still. Frustrated people utter repetitively. Good listeners do not interrupt. This work is a classic if you are willing to review the contents carefully and apply the techniques dispassionately.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing,
By A Customer
This review is from: Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior- -Anytime, Anyplace (Paperback)
To quote the author, you can't judge a book by its cover.In the airport bookstore, this book looked very promising. The author's specialty is picking jurors, often in high profile criminal cases. The cover promises the book will tell us "how to understand people and predict their behavior." It seems plausible that such an author would have some useful information to impart to those of us who would like to do a better job of understanding the people around us. The book, however, has a couple of shortcomings: First, most of the "people-reading" tips are pretty obvious. For example, the author tells us that if a person prominently displays alcohol in their house, there is a good chance they like to drink. Or that people who brag a lot are probably insecure and self-centered. For this I paid $15! Second, the book lacks focus. Part of the book tells how people's dress, mannerisms, actions and so forth give clues to their character -- and in fairness, some of the author's thoughts in this regard are interesting. But then the book wanders off into the self-help genre, telling us how to use our new-found people reading skills to improve relationships. I suppose this sort of material sells, but it has little to do with the central premise of the book. In short, my advice is to save yourself some money and pass on this one.
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