Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception by Pamela Meyer

I have a fairly firm rule about reading the book before watching the movie.  Seriously, the book is usually SO much better I can't imagine wanting to start with the inferior product.  (Ask me some other time about the ex who told me I'd understand Sophie's Choice better if I watched the movie.  I suspect you know the ending of the story.)  And, in reading Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception by Pamela Meyer I didn't break the rule per se.  Because, well, no one's putting together "Liespotting: The Movie!" But . . . let's just say that Liespotting was ruined for me by this guy

Tim Roth was so much fun to watch in "Lie to Me".

and this guy.

Malcolm Gladwell covered microexpressions in Blink.

So in a way, I did see the movie first because I learned the material delivered in Liespotting in two very entertaining and accessible formats.

But let me back up.  Liespotting is a book about deceptive behavior and how to detect it.  It covers the basics of microexpressions--the little expressions we all make (and occasionally try to cover up) that depict our true, immediate responses to a situation.  It also covers the basics of other nonverbal behaviors that can be used to detect lies.  As an introduction to the detection of deceptive behavior it's very thorough, and on Amazon this is a really well reviewed book.  The topic of this book? The topic of this book I find fascinating.

I still didn't like it.  First, it's very basic.  As one of the Amazon reviews says if you've not ready anything on the topic before, this is a good place to start.  On the other hand, if you've read Blink or watched a handful of episodes of "Lie to Me".  (That part's my opinion, not the opinon of the reviewer.)  Second, lie detection is a very visual endeavor, and this book doesn't really do the visual aspect justice. So if you're interested in the topic, I suggest you get yourself a does of Tim Roth or Malcolm Gladwell and jump into the the entertaining and accessible versions of this information.