Art of Social Interaction and Body Language

Any good books?

[zulufox]

I'm looking for books to help me with Negociations, Body Language, Interviews, making sales, physchology of convincing someone and other professional social settings.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[digitalv]

Anyone have any suggestions?

Just one ... don't burp, fart, or bite your nails at an interview. Heh. Sorry I don't know of any books on the subject though, I've always been a firm believer in "be yourself" over studying to be someone else.

[Leosghost]

There has only really been one definitive series of books "The naked ape" etc by Dr Desmond Morris ...there were some others but mostly derivative or enlarging on his ideas ...There were some also from various advisors to the US govt in the seventies relating to negotiation postures etc ( topical at the time of the cold war ) ..can't remember the titles for now ..anyone?

you might also want to look at some of the stuff written by various illusionists ...it is relevant to the field of misdirection of an audience during the performance of card tricks and illusions generally..even clothing ..

Some military and sports work done on the subject too from whence came "power shoulders" ..on joan collins...!

[Hawkgirl]

There's a book I've seen called "How to Say It at Work: Putting Yourself Across with Power Words, Phrases, Convincing Body Language, and Communication Secrets" - I think the author is Griffin. It has some pretty interesting (and simple) analysis of body language in the business place.

[iamlost]

I concur with all of the above - must be sick.

If you haven't read "The Naked Ape", "The Human Zoo", and "Bodytalk: The Meaning of Human Gestures" by Desmond Morris do so. As said, the starting point for everyone else.

The best "resource" I've found is Harvard Business School Working Knowledge [hbswk.hbs.edu] website. Free education from Harvard!

[vkaryl]

My brother's a defense-contracts negotiator. His company has a whole SCHOOL (yup, literally) devoted to this sort of thing. I think the instructors produce their own material, but I can ask him if they use texts, and if so which ones.

Otherwise, I have to echo the others here advise Morris's works.

[Hawkgirl, I hadn't run across that one before, have to hunt it up (*sigh* Another trip to Amazon.... which wouldn't be a problem AT ALL were I only independantly wealthy!)]

[onlineleben]

Regarding body language: Samy Molcho and Desmond Morris are the main capacities.
For sales/negotiating etc, have a look at the "One-Minute Manager" series of books. Although some of the titles date back into the late 80s, they are a good read and offer a different approach than the big textbooks.