12 Books about Body Language and other Nonverbal Cues

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Speaking is our most notable way of communicating, but we often forget that communication extends beyond verbal language. There’s always an undercurrent of nonverbal cues that play a crucial role in expressing emotion, intention, and thought.

Books about Body Language

While information is conveyed verbally, body language and facial expressions can impact how you perceive and understand messages. They add subtle nuances that make each conversation unique. 

Knowing how to interpret these nonverbal cues gives you better control and confidence in face-to-face situations. Here are a few books that discuss this at length.

1. The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease

There is a science to body language that many people aren’t unaware of. From handshakes to smiles, even the most common gestures can give away your true intentions. 

Drawing from decades of experience in the subject, the authors discuss this silent language from the lens of biology, psychology, and medicine. Presented in a “how-to” format, the book teaches you the fundamentals and helps you become more conscious of both your own and others’ body language.

2. What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro

As a former FBI counterintelligence officer, Joe Navarro has spent years observing and interpreting the signals that people put out. He discusses how to “speed-read” people, which involves quickly making decisions based on clear signals from the most tell-tale parts of the body.

3. You Say More Than You Think by Janine Driver and Mariska van Aalst

Your brain knows more than you think. Every time you meet or talk to someone, your unconscious mind collects information that makes you behave in certain ways.

Here, body language expert Janine Driver teaches you how to recognize your body language and adjust it when necessary. She also guides you through the skills of how to read others, convey your messages better, and turn any situation to your advantage. 

4. The Silent Language of Leaders by Carol Kinsey Goman 

Leaders are trained to excel at verbal communication. However, they often neglect a powerful tool in their kit—nonverbal communication.

Goman shows how gestures, posture, and facial expressions directly signal your credibility, authority, and confidence. Learning to control these cues helps you effectively manage, motivate, and communicate with others.

5. Understanding Body Language by Scott Rouse

Rouse, a behavior analyst, approaches body language from a relational perspective. He talks about its link to emotions and teaches you how to decipher people’s nonverbal cues. 

By following his tips, you can improve how you communicate and handle circumstances. The author presents this crucial information in brief, easy-to-understand sections and illustrates them with real-life examples you’ll probably come across.

6. Winning Body Language by Mark Bowden

This book isn’t just about general body language info. It’s all about showing you how to use body language for success. Whether you want to steer conversations or look more confident, it’s a simple, step-by-step guide for improving yourself in professional situations.

7. Spy the Lie by Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero

People lie all the time, whether consciously or unconsciously. So how can you know if someone is trying to deceive you?

Being former CIA officers, the authors are some of the best trained in detecting and understanding deception. In this book, they share the details of their methodology including techniques in identifying and dealing with dishonesty.

8. Reading Minds by Jo-Ellan Dimitrius and Mark Mazzarella

Dimitrius, a renowned jury consultant, applies her experiences in court to everyday life. She highlights the importance of nonverbal cues in relationships and how they affect communication. 

This book is like a practical toolbox, making it easy to understand and use nonverbal signals to improve our personal and professional connections. It includes real-life examples and advice based on facts and cases about body language.

9. Emotions Revealed by Paul Ekman

During a conversation, you tend to focus on somebody’s face a lot. Despite that, you often fail to realize what a person means and only go by what they say. In this book, Ekman uses exercises and pictures to help you recognize a person’s real emotions by studying the nuances of a person’s face.

10. The Dictionary of Body Language by Joe Navarro

Unlike  What Every BODY is Saying, this book is a more general take on body language. It provides you with clear, actionable information that can be used in everyday situations.

It functions like a dictionary, discussing over 400 behaviors and the possible meaning behind them. It’s not as detailed compared to the other books in this list but is handy as a quick reference while researching body language. 

11. The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman

Intended for the mainstream, Reiman’s book centers on understanding your body language and that of others. By sharing stories from her clients’ lives, she gives useful tips on enhancing how you interact with others, both in professional and everyday situations.

12. Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards 

Cues—vocal inflection, gestures, facial expression—can determine how your message is received. Understanding how to utilize them can make the difference between being ignored and being heard.

Van Edwards teaches you how to use these cues to convey trust, charisma, and power to those you interact with. You’ll learn the science-backed skill that allows others to be heard, get the promotion they want, and improve your relationships.

What other books about body language do you recommend? Share them in the comments below!

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