The Body Language of Sex, Power & Aggression: How to Recognize It and How to Use It

by Julius Fast

The author of Body Language answers specific questions about non-verbal communication as it affects material success and personal happiness

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Julius Fast was an American author of both fiction and nonfiction. In 1946 he was the first recipient of the Edgar Award given by the Mystery Writers of America for the best first novel of 1945.

Reviews

[Semiophrenic · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book the popular body language author simply answers questions he has received from his readers. He answers the questions by explicating flimsy hypotheses, interpreting early social psychology experiments and making everyday observations which are specific to his cultural environment. It is definitely interesting and insightful, but not worth much.

[Robert Hult · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel approach to non-verbal communication.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is written in form of questions asked by people and those questions are followed by author's answers. Most of the questions and answers are repetitive and not very insightful, but regardless, I found some gems within the answers.

Fun fact 1:
Certainly, by four or five years of age children are using body language associated with their gender.

Fun fact 2:
During the World War II in England, there was a misunderstanding between English girls and American soldiers. The girls as well as the soldiers considered one another too fast. The impasse originated in the perception of the first kiss. In England, the first kiss was given after a long while, so it was customary to go to bed with a man shortly after the first kiss. Meanwhile, American soldiers were used to exchange kisses between friends, and they expected a long period of time before they would go to bed with a girl after kissing her.

Fun fact 3:
Human kiss could be derived from sharing food. Similar behaviour is common in the apes.

Fun fact 4:
The origin of a handshake can be found in the time when men carried weapons. Offering a stretched hand and grasping it guaranteed that neither of men had a concealed weapon in that hand. Handshake was thus a sign of peace.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series of Q & A answers for questions about body language, it's very 80s, using words like 'power-move' etc. While interesting, it is not as up-to-date as it could be.

[Chels S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but scarily indifferent to morality as well as over reliant on nonsense theories.