The Truth Detector: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide for Getting People to Reveal the Truth

by Jack Schafer

This paradigm shifting how-to guide effortlessly teaches you how to outwit liars and get them to reveal the truth—from former FBI agent and author of the “practical and insightful” (William Ury, coauthor of Getting to Yes ) bestseller The Like Switch .

Unlike many other books on lie detection and behavioral analysis, this revolutionary guide reveals the FBI-developed practice of elicitation , the field-tested technique for encouraging people to provide information they would otherwise keep secret. Now you can learn this astonishing method directly from the expert who created this technique and pioneered it for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Program.

Filled with easy-to-follow, accessible lessons reinforced by fascinating stories of how to put these skills into action using natural human behaviors, The Truth Detector shows you all of the tips and techniques you need to gain someone’s trust and get liars to reveal the truth.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Social, Personal Development, Communication

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2020

About the author

John R. “Jack” Schafer, PhD, is a psychologist, professor, intelligence consultant, and former FBI Special Agent. Dr. Schafer spent fifteen years conducting counter-intelligence and counterterrorism investigations, and seven years as a behavioral analyst for the FBI’s National Security Division’s Behavioral Analysis Program. He developed spy recruitment techniques, interviewed terrorists, and trained agents in the art of interrogation and persuasion. Dr. Schafer contributes online pieces for Psychology Today Magazine, has authored/coauthored six books, and has published numerous articles in professional and popular journals. He is a professor with the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at Western Illinois University.

Reviews

[Omar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how to rate this book.

I'm sure his methods work... but I'm not sure it's ethical.?
I mean, the whole point is to teach you how to manipulate normal-sounding conversation to extract information out of people that they normally wouldn't have given you.

I definitely think the book is worth a listen to make you aware of when other people are using the techniques on you. I just don't know how comfortable I am with the ethics of using the techniques on others.

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Like Switch by Jack Shafer and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I saw he had come out with another book, I eagerly got myself a copy. I’m glad I did! The Truth Detector:An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide for Getting People to Reveal the Truth details methods from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Program to elicit information from individuals that otherwise may not be forthcoming. It’s fun and it’s informative. I don’t know what other topics Jack Shafer may write about it, but if he comes out with yet another book, you can bet I’ll be buying it!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding read.

The best social engineering book I've read so far.

An excellent companion read to Human Hacking: Win Friends, Influence People, and Leave Them Better Off for Having Met You.

I found it really interesting how certain countries have strategies to steal information from presenters. Schafer actually trained all scientists going to those countries to teach them the tactics used, to protect national security!

Highly recommended for those interested in social engineering.

4.8/5

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an excellent book about social engineering. It's informative yet scary to know how easily someone can obtain bits of personal information collected slowly over time and use it.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent text on methods to get information from people, and techniques to help you determine if they are being truthful. Written by a former FBI agent, it's loaded with very easily readable information and real life examples
The author's main technique is known as "elicitation", a method to get people to reveal information to you. I, for one, can attest to the effectiveness of the technique. In my three plus decade law enforcement career, I used it extensively. I didn't know it was called elicitation at the time. I thought it was just effective interviewing and listening. I learned it from my father, who was a very effective detective himself. He taught me to treat people with empathy and respect, to gently lead conversations in a productive manner, and to listen at least twice as much as you talk.
I was pleasantly surprised to read that "our secret" was well known by others. And the author is obviously a master at it! He explains so much, and with such great examples, it (almost) makes me want to "un-retire" and get back in the arena. Almost, haha. I will settle now for using the practices for examining salespeople and other folks that I have doubts about. AND definitely will use these lessons on my fellow fly fishing club members to get their secrets and fishing locations! Bwa-ha-ha!
If you're at all interested in getting truthful information from people who you interact with, this book will be of great benefit to you!

[Sergiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure most of us intuitively use many of the elicitation techniques described in the book. Anyway, it includes some helpful and actionable advices.
It could have been an article, but the author decided to add some fluff and make it a book. You can easily skip paragraphs or even pages because it is a bit repetitive.

[Sam D - The Body Language Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book! The Truth Detector opens up a whole new world of communication techniques that enable people to feel comfortable enough to reveal truthful information they may otherwise have kept to themselves.

This pioneering book is full of practical, easy to follow FBI developed elicitation techniques to seek out the truth before any lies or deceptive behaviour could even start.

The ability to assess learning through the tests is particularly useful, as is the exploration of personality types when considering effective elicitation.

With a focus on rapport and trust, this book applies to everyday life situations from business and parenting to teaching and law enforcement and so caters for a wide ranging audience.

Highly recommend this super book.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

In the beginning the author makes an important distinction about the purpose of the book: "There are dozens of books about detecting deception. This isn't one of them." More specifically, the book gives techniques on how to draw out sensitive information that people would ordinarily not divulge. It can be the truth, their social security number, date of birth, etc. In that way, this is more along the spirit of Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," rather than how to tell if your spouse or teen is lying to you.

Most of the techniques require a foundation of innocuousness: be naturally friendly and harmless and casually converse with individuals. Through that you open a window that allows you to use the techniques in the book to elicit the information you want from a person. Various methods include presumptive statements, empathetic statements, acting naive, and using a person's own curiosity against them. Each of the techniques include real world examples to demonstrate how to use the them. E .g., the author sending his students into a store to see if they can get cashiers to give up sensitive info such as e.g., wedding dates (often used as passwords) or social security numbers.

The end of the book has additional techniques that can also add to your elicitation toolbox to more successfully get people to divulge things they shouldn't/are hiding.

It can be a hard read because it is a reminder of how easy it is for people to be preyed upon by strangers. And while you may be doing some of these techniques unknowingly, I began to feel uncomfortable about it.

In all, this will help you manipulate people without them realizing for you own gain. Whether, as in the book's examples, you are buying a house and want more info than the realtor wants to give, trying to sell updated textbooks to a school, considering buying a diamond ring for your wife and wanting to know the markup so you can demand a discount, trying to get your teen to admit to partying while you were away, convincing a spy to become a double agent for your government, getting a contractor to admit he was taking bribes on the side, or trying to get a senator to admit he was soliciting sexual favors in a bathroom in Minneapolis. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[David]

This is a good book. There is a lot of good information and good techniques , I think the author spends too much time focusing on trying to get specific information from people. For a reason It seems like. He kind of teaches this in a way that you're going to be. Using these techniques only on specific people at specific times to get only Specific information.. Having read never split the difference by Chris Voss. I would recommend reading that book as well. You're probably going to think I am picking on this author. But actually, there are a lot of techniques in this book that are covered in never split the difference. It seems like there is an advantage, too. Reading never split the difference. Only because there are fewer techniques. So, less to remember and practice. Those techniques work in all situations. Never split the difference.Encourages you to use the techniques in the book every day in every conversation with family friends Co-workers. The truth detecor , I feel, is more targeted towards individual conversations where never split the difference. Let's you know, to practice the techniques on everyone. And change the way you. Start and have conversations and negotiations with everyone.It is kind of a lifestyle change. Having said all that. You should read both books. Form your own opinion. There is definitely more detail. I think in this book. Then there is in never split the difference. Because the techniques are basically the same in both books. Find out which Author you relate to

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's the big idea and/or unique approach of this book?
The good cop/bad cop method we learned from TV isn’t followed by actual law enforcement and hasn’t for a many decades. Instead, they use a technique called elicitation. (They elicit good feelings and therefore honest information.)

So this book walks through specific words, body language and patterns that elicit others to relax and open up to you.

How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
First, I can use this with clients who have hired me to upgrade their companies. It’s ironic that sometimes they hire our team to make improvements (because they aren’t reaching their potential) and then feel the need to tell us everything is perfect already (to impress us). And if used wisely, this can help us all make each other feel safer to share, which is really valuable. Also, he points out that knowing this allows you to catch others trying to do this to you.

Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
It was very well written and had great stories—so, yes.

Would I recommend it to others?
Yes. Everyone has relationships where this could upgrade things.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Like Switch, so I was eager to get my hands on an ARC of this book. Schafer gives a nice overview of that book here as well - all the techniques here are based on those techniques, focusing on building rapport with others and putting them first. In this book, Schafer discusses the specific concept of elicitation, which gets people to tell the truth about what they are really thinking. Scammers and spies can also use this concept to elicit personal information such as birthdays and PINs, which can lead to identity theft. Readers of this book will be able to not only use elicitation to get their friends and family to open up, they'll be able to thwart people with malicious intent who might be trying to get at their own personal information.

[Ryan George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Schafer’s latest book isn’t meant to help you discern between lies and the truth. Instead, it’s a guide for getting people to reveal information you want—even information they don’t want to tell you. His real-world examples from retail, corporate, parenting, law enforcement, and counterintelligence encounters left my jaw on the floor. Schafer also spends multiple pages teaching readers (particularly extroverts like me) how to resist these tactics in the real world. I don’t know if my mind works fast enough to implement all of Schafer’s elicitation gambit, but I don’t doubt that it works. The psychology underpinning Schafer’s techniques aligns with what I’ve read in pop psychology books, experienced in professional counseling, and found to be true in my daily life.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the quotes at the beginning of the chapters.
As I read the techniques, I wondered if the author would take into consideration whether the targeted person was an extrovert or an introvert because it takes different srokes for different folks. I was glad that he later included the Myers-Briggs personality types and traits of each type.
The techniques listed in the book can be useful, and I have no doubt that the author was very good at his job with the FBI. The author explained how a doctor was able to help a patient using one of the techniques. However, unless you are working in a job that requires you to pull the truth out of people, it seems to me that using the techniques would be dishonest.

[Ali Hettinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooooof I don’t know how to rate a book that I both understand the why and how it all works and also have a hard time ethically connecting with. I do get how for his specific role this skill set is invaluable! I just wonder for the general population, is this something that allows us to be more or less disconnected? Seems to me, less. It does instill within me the also deeply embedded belief that presence in the day to day is the best way to keep ourselves both connected to others and ‘safe’ from manipulation

[Alicia Robben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a fun and useful read! I've never though about how often we give out so much information. I always realized all of our information is out there, but it was kind of scary to realize how easy it is to elicit personal information. I found this book very interesting and helpful for some life skills. I enjoyed reading about previous FBI experience and how we can use it to have truthful discussions.

Thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truth Detector is an excellent guide for anyone who is interested in communicating with others and getting others to be more truthful. Applies to every day life interactions and relationships from parenting to business to law enforcement. The psychological aspects and real life class and case examples were extremely interesting to read. The author also includes some helpful assessments to test your knowledge.

[Otis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all. Schafer knows his stuff and the tips he provides are pretty practical.

However some of the 'examples' are a bit lame and forced, and there is a TON of repetition from his last book. This book could have probably been about 40 pages, and would have been if it did not contain about 60% of the same content from 'The Like Switch'.

Pretty good on its own, but don't bother if you have read the 'The Like Switch'.

[Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the basis of the book's topics is counterintelligence and law enforcement, it is written for regular people to use in everyday life. Ultimately, it's a book about how to be a better conversationalist, which I think we all could befit from. Full of practical advice and real-world stories. Quick and entertaining read.

[IvoS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe in some special cases this works, but I don't think those anecdots in book show the reality. I tried some of the techniques in front of some people and was EMBARRASSED, they made fun of me, but maybe I wasn't doing something right I don't know, but definetely not worth for me

[Melinda Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard this guy on a podcast a while ago and was really interested but I feel like the book was a whole lot of words with not a lot to say. The main points were really interesting but I got bored after a while.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information, clarifying examples, and formal definitions for an array of elicitation behaviors. Overall, a helpful intro guide and explainer that could be put to use in a variety of settings.

Listened to the book via Chirp.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. I really enjoyed this book! It was a very good read and easy to understand. I really enjoyed learning the techniques.

[Anke Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I will want to listen to over again as it was highly educational and due to it being in audible form for me I could not take as many notes as liked or needed to.

[Bill Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book.

[Christine Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly approachable overview of simple, subtle interrogation techniques. A quick read, entertaining and informative.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with some handy ideas.

[The Suburban Eclectic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneficial and practical tips to raise your awareness and mindfulness. The narration has a nice ebb and flow without getting bogged down.

[Harry Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across this book through a podcast. Interesting scenarios on how to get information through an indirect approach. Could be useful for parents! Refresher on negotiation skills as well.

[Anderson PEREIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro que surpreende a todos com sua didática em táticas para obter informações de forma discreta sem deixar que a outra pessoa desconfie de nossas intenções.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of read this book on accident bc I was trying to get a different book that he wrote. I think the tactics are helpful and, if nothing else, his convo with the car salesman definitely was.