Telling Lies
Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage
📘 About This Book
From breaking the law to breaking a promise, how do people lie and how can they be caught? In this revised edition, Paul Ekman, a renowned expert in emotions research and nonverbal communication, adds a new chapter to present his latest research on his groundbreaking inquiry into lying and the methods for uncovering lies. Ekman has figured out the most important behavioral clues to deceit; he has developed a one-hour self-instructional program that trains people to observe and understand "micro expressions"; and he has done research that identifies the facial expressions that show whether someone is likely to become violent—a self-instructional program to train recognition of these dangerous signals has also been developed. Telling Lies describes how lies vary in form and how they can differ from other types of misinformation that can reveal untruths. It discusses how a person’s body language, voice, and facial expressions can give away a lie but still fool professional lie hunters?even judges, police officers, drug enforcement agents, and Secret Service agents.
📖 Summary
Paul Ekman's Telling Lies is a comprehensive exploration of the psychology of deceit, examining how and why people lie, ranging from breaking major laws to breaking simple promises. As a renowned expert in emotions research and nonverbal communication, Ekman provides readers with a deep dive into the behavioral clues that betray a deceiver. The book serves as an investigative manual into human interaction, dissecting the ways lies vary in form and how they can be systematically uncovered through careful observation. Throughout the text, Ekman discusses the underlying mechanisms of emotional expression, detailing how our internal states leak out through physical actions even when we consciously try to conceal them. Central to his findings are micro expressions, which are extremely brief, involuntary facial movements that reveal true emotions hidden behind a false facade. The revised edition enhances these foundational concepts by integrating Ekman's latest research and adding a new chapter that further refines his groundbreaking inquiries. In addition to facial expressions, the book covers a broader range of nonverbal communication cues, including body language, voice pitch, and speech patterns, offering a holistic view of how deception manifests physically. Ekman also addresses the stakes involved in lying, noting how the severity of the lie and the potential consequences influence the liar's behavior and the difficulty of maintaining the deception. Beyond everyday lying and criminal contexts, the book ventures into the critical realm of violence prediction, identifying specific facial expressions that signal whether an individual is likely to become dangerous. To help readers apply these theoretical concepts in real life, Ekman highlights practical training methods, including a one-hour self-instructional program he developed to help people observe and understand micro expressions, as well as a similar program designed to train the recognition of dangerous signals. By combining rigorous scientific research with actionable insights, Telling Lies equips readers with the analytical tools needed to navigate human interactions with heightened awareness and discernment, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in psychology, human behavior, and the detection of deceit.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Written by a leading authority in emotions research and nonverbal communication.
Provides practical self-instructional programs for recognizing micro expressions.
Combines fascinating psychological theory with actionable real-world applications.
Includes updated research and insights in the revised edition.
⚠️ Cons
Detecting lies accurately requires significant practice and keen observation skills.
Can make interpersonal interactions feel overly analytical or clinical at times.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Telling Lies? +
The book was written by Paul Ekman, a renowned expert in emotions research and nonverbal communication.
What is the main focus of the book? +
It focuses on how people lie, how lies vary in form, and the methods used to catch liars.
What are micro expressions? +
They are extremely brief facial expressions that show true emotions which someone is trying to hide.
Does the book include practical training methods? +
Yes, it discusses self-instructional programs developed to train people in recognizing micro expressions and dangerous signals.
What is new in the revised edition? +
The revised edition adds a new chapter presenting the author's latest research on uncovering lies.
