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How to Analyze People: Dark Psychology - Dark Secrets to Analyze and Influence Anyone Using Body Language, Human Psychology, Subliminal Persuasion and NLP

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If you’re tired of being manipulated, then there are ways that you can stop the control others have over you. Whether you’re being tricked into doing things you don’t want, or others are taking advantage of you, there are ways to stop manipulation and persuasion in its tracks. This is the second book in the Dark Psychology series . The first one gave a groundwork for what different types of persuasion and manipulation might be. This book will take you through the process of using these tactics to their advantage. The first half of the book will discuss what makes up an individual. The way you use your body, the words that you choose to speak, and the way that they were raised all play important roles in what makes an individual. You will also have to look at your own self and pick out all of these unique things that make them different from everyone else as well. There are psychological studies that back up the idea of certain methods of persuasion, such as NLP tactics, that prove that anyone has the power to persuade others. In How to Analyze People, you will
And much, much more! Even if you feel like you already know how to use manipulation tactics to your advantage, there is still important information in this book that will allow you to better persuade other people around you. Although there are many differences among people, there are also many things that make us the same. In order to better analyze and understand those around you, it’s crucial to find those things that we do connect on, and the things that bring us together rather than the things that tear us apart. It’s important when reading this book, versus the first one, to remember that not all manipulation is bad. In the first book, it was emphasized that those who might be manipulating you might also be taking advantage of you. When reading this book, you should remember that manipulation is a tool, much like a hammer. You can either use that hammer to destroy everything around you, or you could alternatively use that hammer to create something organic, something new. This book will take you first through the discovery and analyzation of those around you, and then it will provide different ways that you can persuade them. The only thing you need before starting this book is the willingness to change. You might have to confront some of your darkest issues, and you might have to put yourself through future scenarios that elicit a feeling of discomfort. In the end, however, you’ll find yourself to be much more self-aware and independent. Grab this book and start the journey to better understanding human psychology today!

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2018

144 people are currently reading
1706 people want to read

About the author

James W. Williams

57 books73 followers

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5 stars
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84 (13%)
3 stars
182 (30%)
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180 (29%)
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90 (14%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Jamad .
1,074 reviews18 followers
November 4, 2019
“There is little known about the human brain, and what is known has been discovered by the brain itself”...that quote pretty much sums up this book.
Profile Image for Ha Nguyet Linh.
97 reviews181 followers
February 12, 2020
Well... If you even write a book, tell something new.
Otherwise keep these “Dark secrets of psychology” for yourself in order not to let readers down. Haizz
Profile Image for Siham Khanji.
114 reviews8 followers
May 5, 2022
Dark Psychology? Dark secrets? Analyze and Influence Anyone?

No way!! I would not even say it is a simple book! It is very general without any new specific ideas! Yes, it is short, but it only states obvious things. It is kind of a waste of time.

Profile Image for Cee.
23 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2021
Dark Psychology? Seriously?😂
Nothing is dark about this bruh!
i only liked this one:

“Isn’t it strange to think that everything we know about the brain was taught to us by our own brains?”

Dont read it, it will not help, its so basic and everyone knows these things.
Profile Image for Vojtěch.
51 reviews15 followers
September 6, 2021
I've read it only to know if I'm right about the fact that it is cringe and useless.
Profile Image for April ♡.
28 reviews
May 7, 2020
I was planning on giving this book a star, or maybe a star and a half because it was so not informative! I saw the reviews before reading it and I had an idea that it wasn’t the best book on “analyzing people”, but I chose to read it because my best friend and I are reading it together.
But, then when I reached the conclusion the author literally wrote “ this book should have provided you with a basic understanding of how to analyze and persuade those around you”, so I really respected that the author did just that! He wrote basic information that will help people who might not be very good at dealing with people.
I kept thinking while reading this book that it’d be a very good way to have children understand the human behavior, well to be honest I thought of children and Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. 😂
Profile Image for Bazingo Bro.
33 reviews
May 23, 2022
This book has been staring me in the face everytime I visit z-library. I was very turned off by the title initially, as it sounds like something an incel would read. My curiosity finally made me cave in and by now, I've read it.

The title is very "clickbaity" to say the least of it. There's nothing "dark" in this book; It's about a lot of basic concepts most people have heard about, like posture, mannerisms, etc. NLP is briefly mentioned but not expanded upon, which is quite a shame as it is a psychological theory which should be more prevalent in my opinion.

With that said, the book contains only 50 pages so you'll get through it very fast and it does contain some interesting pointers on negotiation. For a quick read definitely not the worst book.
Profile Image for Elena.
72 reviews29 followers
August 2, 2020
Not as good as I thought it would be
Profile Image for Jitesh Ochani.
2 reviews
December 24, 2020
When you are reading this you know that the author has much understanding in the subject, it's a shame he doesn't let out much in this book.
Also, it rather seems like his personal bullet points rather than a book.
Profile Image for Denise.
74 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2021
1. The Book in 3 sentences:

This book talks about how one can study another person through their gestures, words, tone, and the like. It also talks about how to properly "persuade" someone with subtle hints of "how to get what you want". Similarly, it tackles how not to be fooled by other people through their words and confidence.

2. Impressions:

a. How I discovered it:
I saw it while I was browsing through books to download. It generally intrigued me because personally, I feel like I am generally aware of how people are in conversations.

b. Who should read it:
- People who have a hard time reading other people
- People who are not empaths.

3. How the book changed me:
I like the tips of the book on how to persuade and not be persuaded by someone. It makes you think that these situations really happen in real life and most of them actually worked, prior to reading this book. But it's just nice to actually read it from something that's actually written down.

4. Top quotes:

- So presenting yourself as too unattainable, too perfect, will only drive others away in the end
- When you get rid of your own thoughts and feelings and start to take on the opinions of others around you too much, there’s a chance you might have some codependent tendencies.
- There are so many things that might seem out of reach, but you’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish if you just visualize what you want.
Profile Image for Noura.
34 reviews10 followers
August 9, 2019
كتاب عنوانه يوهمك انه بيعطيك حل سحري للتأثير على الناس أو شيء جديد ويرفع سقف توقعاتك لكنه كتاب جيد فقط
Profile Image for Mohammed Ghaïth.
62 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2021
Isn't it strange to think that everything we know about the brain was taught to us by our own brains?

I don't know what to say!
Perhaps I have read many webpages on body language and the related matters mentioned by this book that I felt not getting any new exciting information reading it. Nothing was dark. Nothing felt like a secret. The title felt quite deceiving, for me. In a nutshell, the book was brief. But, to be fair, one thing I liked about it is the honesty and courage of actually stating that what it has to offer is not a magical spell and that nothing should be taken to be true 100% of the time. However, what I didn't like was the fact that I was supposed to read THE FIRST WORK to really have a complete understanding of what the whole study wants to convey.

If you have never heard of something such as 'Body Language', or never thought that your body had another language in addition to the one you speak; then I recommend that you read this. Otherwise, no.
Profile Image for MUHAMMED SUHAIL.
35 reviews
August 20, 2024
This book is a fascinating dive into the world of dark psychology and the art of analyzing and influencing others. The book is well-structured, providing a comprehensive overview of body language, human psychology, and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Williams does an excellent job of breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible sections, making it accessible for readers new to the subject.

One of the standout features of this book is its practical approach. The author includes numerous real-life examples and actionable tips that readers can apply in their daily interactions. This makes the book not just informative but also highly practical.

However, the book does have its limitations. Some sections feel a bit repetitive, and the ethical implications of using these techniques are not thoroughly explored. Despite these minor drawbacks, “How to Analyze People” is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and influencing human behavior. It’s a must-read for those looking to gain an edge in social and professional settings.
Profile Image for Krishna.
21 reviews
April 16, 2022
It only has a few pages in my opinion that is readable within a day. It contained knowledge far already explained and summarized or is already known by many people. It did not give me additional information on those but rather just got the reason why such is used and how to use the body language, and awareness as well as persuasion without being manipulative in a negative way. There are points, however, that I enjoyed reading that really got me hooked with thinking, 'ok so what more?'. It gave a real-life context example to use persuasion from a major thing down to a small scale everyday life. I would recommend the author to provide more research/theories (although of course there are maybe one or two, really few mentioned studies) on each claim though, and detailed information on how such affects the other person (looking for a scientific explanation). Overall, this seems like a summarization of body language analysis, good for lazy readers with a thirst for some knowledge.
Profile Image for Marc ZEIMET.
201 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2022
A book with an appealing title which invites for a read. But at the end of the day with slightly deceiving content.
The reader might wonder who has written the text? A (qualified) practitioner, on the basis of professional experience, or a person who just undertakes a review on the mainstream literature and provides a summary of the findings? One could have more thoughts on this question.
There are no references to primary sources on which the text is based. In the edition of the booklet used for this review one could only find running text, no graphical elements, no footnotes, no bibliography. On a couple of subjects (one has been "Eye Contact") there were obvious omissions on current psychological understandings.
While there were, like in any book, interesting elements to be discovered, there remains however the feeling that this publication is to be categorised as "popular scientific", where one should not stress too much the term "scientific".
Profile Image for Michelle Real.
6 reviews
April 14, 2020
When analyzing another person, it starts with looking at their body language. Do they hold themselves high or do they hide behind their own body? How a person uses their eyes, face, and arms, are the most important parts of determining what they might really be like. You can realize that someone who seems confident might actually be debilitated by their anxiety if you start to notice the way they hold themselves. You could also discover that someone you thought you could trust is actually deceiving you.
It can be hard to pinpoint what it is about a person that separates them from others, and why they might act the way they do. You’ll never have a complete understanding of another person, but you will at least be able to start to realize why they might act the way they do.
Once you’ve been able to analyze someone, you can then start to persuade them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alfred Wolf.
Author 4 books3 followers
September 3, 2025
“How to Analyze People: Dark Psychology” promises to teach you how to read minds and manipulate others through NLP, subliminal persuasion, and “dark psychology.” In practice, it’s a collection of simplified ideas: body language cues, basic influence psychology, and a few recycled examples about “manipulators.” The author writes in an engaging and accessible way but creates the illusion of handing you secret keys to controlling people. The book’s strength is that it sparks curiosity in beginners and encourages attention to social signals. Its weakness is that there are no real “dark secrets” here, and for anyone with a background in psychology it will feel shallow and sensationalist. It’s more entertaining popular psychology than a serious manual on influence.
7 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2024
How to Analyze People: Dark Psychology by James Williams promises much but delivers little. With a title that suggests a deep dive into the mechanics of body language, psychology, and persuasion, the book instead offers only a superficial overview of these topics. Far from the comprehensive guide to analyzing and influencing others it claims to be, it is basic and uninformative. Readers looking for practical insights or actionable techniques will find the content disappointingly thin. Ultimately, the book's ambitious title is misleading, setting expectations it does not meet.
Profile Image for Jillian.
23 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2025
This book was alright. The title is a bit misleading but the material is still good. It gives tips on how to negotiate effectively and be more confident. I appreciated how it emphasized that the tips are used to help you speak more cohesively rather than to manipulate others. Manipulating others is put in a bad light and it’s often said to never use the tips to do so. I appreciate that moral implication. Easy, short read. While I already knew most of this, it gave me a couple tips that I’ll implement in the future.
Profile Image for Aisling.
46 reviews
April 20, 2020
Very short, very general. Not to say that the information given is bad, however anyone who spent some time introspecting, or understanding others, will already know a lot of what it is written in this book.
Writing style is also a bit too repetitive (a lot of "x is good, y is also good"). As said, very general information. Good for beginners, or for people who really have no clue how to approach others.
Profile Image for Hendra Gupta.
6 reviews
February 16, 2023
This book may be useful to readers who are interested in learning more about body language, human psychology, and NLP as a means of better understanding others. The techniques described may be helpful for those who work in fields where understanding and influencing human behavior is essential. This book will give you the insight of use of "dark psychology" or subliminal persuasion techniques to manipulate or influence others.
10 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2025
How to Analyze People with Dark Psychology promises deep insight into human behavior but feels overly simplified and repetitive. The content lacks scientific depth and relies more on broad generalizations than practical tools. It may work as a light introduction, but it’s not very reliable for serious readers.
Profile Image for Alexa.
17 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2020
It surely isn’t the best book you could read on this topic, but for a breef reading in-between doing other things, it’s ok. I acknowledged some tips & tricks regarding persuasion and a big plus is that it is easy to read.
Profile Image for Tevin Robinson.
3 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2020
Official rating: 2.3

If you’re familiar with a few tips/pointers on persuading people and want to refresh or glance at some pointers this is the book for you. The concepts covered in this book/guide are interesting, but broad and lack detail.
Profile Image for Mikasa.
102 reviews10 followers
December 10, 2020
I am not sure but i feel i didn't get any new informations from the book, it is all the same idea repeated in many ways that explains that gestures explains a lot but .. i don't know it seems there is nothing practical .. or didn't i read it fully.
I don't recommend it.
Profile Image for Cilicia Lenora.
14 reviews
September 16, 2021
Quite the read - but gave great and simple points for me to understand how to better analyse my colleagues, friends and family for the better.
The snips of practical advice to help improve my analytic capabilities was great and can’t wait to give them a try.
Due to quick nature of book would definitely give it a refresher read.
Profile Image for Muneeb 🇵🇸.
66 reviews17 followers
March 9, 2022
This book explains some of the basic concepts regarding human mind, confidence, body language, NLP etc. I'm looking forward to learn more about these concepts to communicate effectively with people around me ;)
Profile Image for tutu.
1 review
April 21, 2022
The title is very misleading. “Dark psychology” is not what this is. This is barely psychology. Much of the writing states obvious things. Waste of time. Would not recommend as there are many better psychology books out there.
Profile Image for Fatima Sheikh.
16 reviews
June 14, 2022
I will interpret this book as a simple and straight forward strategy to help you become more disciplined while in a social setting. It contains tips on how to exhibit social intelligence through observation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews

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