The Art of Profiling - Reading People Right the First Time

by Dan Korem

Dan Korem, a critically acclaimed investigative journalist, developed the landmark Korem Profiling System for rapid-fire profiling of people on the spot after just a few minutes of interaction and in many cases, without asking any questions. In fact, you can profile people whom you have never met even if you can't speak their language. You learn to do this by answering four simple and direct questions in your mind about someone. Once answered, you can access a profile that includes: Strengths & Shortcomings

How to Sell/Present

How to Confront/Disagree

How to Lead/Motivate

Interaction Suggestions

Since the release of this classic text in 1997, people around the world have used the Korem Profiling System in their professional and personal lives to:

Recruit and hire

Lead teams

Negotiate, sell, and present

Recruit and coach athletes

Communicate cross-culturally

Teach

Consult clients

Reduce conflict

Detect deception

Build relationships

Nurture and discipline children

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Crime, Social, Business, Unfinished

335 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Karen Willoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for better understanding others - and yourself. Korem is a Christian and his faith comes through clearly in how he approaches and handles profiling people. KPS seems like a solid system that avoids stereotyping and acknowledges that all people can change, no matter how negative their profile may be. This book has assignments and lots of practical tips to help apply what is taught. Would definitely recommend.

[Ross Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a complaint that this isn't in-depth enough but the problem with that statement is that it isn't supposed to be. It's profiling for the layman, so that your average person can form reliable profiles in their work and personal life which it succeeds in doing, well.
It's also a great starting point to move on to where these concepts and techniques come from.

This is a really good book for the profiling uninitiated.

[Aiyana Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

But what about other people we know to whom someone has placed a label that we insensitivly read and react to? People whom we don't take the time to profile and treat them based upon who they really are.

- The Art of Profiling, p. 253

[Erica Char · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some parts that were ok. Found it repetitive and not as interesting as I expected.

[Pía López Copetti · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is reiterative, so it's quite easy to get bored and lose track

[GreyAtlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, essential reading.

[Parsons Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good to learn how to begin profiling and the author provides resources and knowledge so the reader could have the ability to further expand their abilities after the read is over. This is something good to get you to build a foundation to begin building your skills in profiling, but at the end of the day you will still have to get practice and reps in on your own to truly be able to apply it. Just as you can’t read a book on how to play piano and then play the 3rd movement of moonlight sonata right after, it takes practice. To attempt to understand or “profile” people is to improve your ability to connect with others.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

On the surface, this book sounds promising. Once you really open it up, it never maintains any reliable consistency in the "KPS". It serves a very basic summary of what a profile should be, but is in no way an in-depth look at profiling that I would expect from a professor. He can't even remember how many rules there are to remember! At first he listed four, then reviewed at the end of that chapter over the "three basic rules". I can't trust a system that is that sloppy.

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book. Loved the exercises in it. The author did manage to produce a manual for profiling for simple people like me. I really liked the graphics in the book, really helped me understand the consept of profiling even more. TO be honest I never finished all the exercises but this book is a treasure and I hope in the future when I have more time to re read it and also buy the updated second edition.
A book you will never get bored reading I promise you that.

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most books are rated related to their usefulness and contributions to my research.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very interesting but not exactly what I was looking for.

[Ben Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. Can be slow at times. However, found it intellectually engaging and packed with actionable strategies.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some different things to think about. Namely, being cautious in reading people, then thinking about how the situation and stress could be affecting them.