Several years ago, I wrote an article about my three favorite body language books for the average reader. I expected a handful of people to enjoy it. Instead, it became one of the most successful articles I’ve ever published and now accounts for nearly half of the traffic to this website.
Apparently there are a lot of body language geeks out there.
I understand the fascination. One of the things that first drew me into the study of nonverbal communication was the realization that conversations have two levels. There’s what people say, and then there’s everything they communicate without realizing it. Learning to recognize those signals doesn’t turn you into a mind reader, but it does help you become a better observer, a better communicator, and often a more empathetic listener.
That first article was written for people who wanted an accessible introduction to the subject. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d recommend starting there before tackling the books below.
This article is for a different audience.
It’s for the people who finished the introductory books and immediately wanted more.
It’s for the people who don’t mind reading textbooks.
It’s for the people who enjoy following the research as much as the conclusions.
In other words, this article is for the ultra-nerds.
The books below aren’t written for casual readers. Two are university textbooks, and one is a classic work of social psychology. They’re denser, more detailed, and occasionally slower than popular books, but they’ll reward anyone who wants a much deeper understanding of why people behave the way they do.
I’m presenting them in no particular order.
#1: The APA Handbook of Nonverbal Communication
Best for: Graduate students, researchers, and professionals who want the most comprehensive reference available.
This book is a monster.
It’s probably the single most comprehensive source on nonverbal communication ever assembled. It covers everything from the history of the field to today’s cutting edge research on facial expressions, eye movement, gesture, voice, interpersonal distance, deception research, and modern methods for studying human behavior.
One of my favorite sections discusses the research methods themselves. Understanding how scientists study nonverbal behavior helps you distinguish genuine findings from myths that continue circulating online and in older books.
This volume is intended primarily for graduate students and researchers. So why would a layperson want to own it?
Because it has already done the difficult work of separating established science from outdated ideas.
Its editors, David Matsumoto, Hyi Sung C. Hwang, and Mark G. Frank, assembled contributions from many of the leading researchers in the field. The result is an encyclopedia of modern nonverbal communication research.
Many books written during the 1970s and 1980s contain ideas that were exciting at the time but haven’t survived careful scientific testing. That’s how science is supposed to work. As better evidence becomes available, older ideas are replaced.
If you want to know what the research actually says today, this is where I’d begin.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (Google Books preview)
#2: Nonverbal Communication
Judy K. Burgoon, Laura K. Guerrero, and Valerie Manusov
Best for: Readers who want a structured, university-level understanding of the entire field.
If the APA Handbook is an encyclopedia, this book is the course that teaches you how to use it.
This outstanding undergraduate textbook takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, communication studies, linguistics, sociology, and biology into one coherent framework. Rather than simply cataloging behaviors, it explains why they exist and how they function across cultures and situations.
The early chapters provide an excellent foundation by explaining the biological and cultural origins of nonverbal behavior.
The later chapters are where the book really shines.
Instead of focusing only on what different gestures mean, the authors explain the functions that nonverbal communication serves. We use body language to communicate emotion, establish relationships, negotiate status, build trust, project identity, and influence other people.
To me, that’s the key insight.
Most beginners want to know what crossed arms or eye contact “mean.”
Professionals eventually realize the better question is, “What purpose is this behavior serving?”
That shift in thinking completely changes how you interpret human behavior.
Publisher: Routledge
#3: Self-Presentation: Impression Management and Interpersonal Behavior
Mark R. Leary
Best for: Readers who want to understand the psychology behind body language rather than simply interpreting it.
At this point you may notice we’ve drifted beyond body language itself.
That’s intentional.
Eventually every serious student of nonverbal communication arrives at a more important question.
Why do people send these signals in the first place?
The answer lies in impression management.
Every day we make hundreds of decisions, many without conscious awareness, that influence how other people perceive us. We choose our clothing, posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, vocabulary, stories, timing, and even our silence based partly on the impressions we hope to create.
Mark Leary explores the psychology behind all of those decisions.
Rather than treating body language as a collection of isolated signals, he places it inside the much larger framework of self-presentation. He explains why people attempt to manage the impressions they create, what motivates those efforts, and how those motivations influence everyday social behavior.
One of the things I appreciate most about this book is that it isn’t written as a guide to manipulating other people. Instead, it’s an honest examination of how human beings navigate social life.
Reading this book changed the way I think about body language.
Instead of seeing gestures and facial expressions as disconnected clues, I began viewing them as tools people use to establish credibility, build relationships, negotiate status, express identity, and protect their self-image.
That’s a much richer way to understand communication.
It’s also why I think this book belongs alongside the other two on this list.
Publisher: Routledge
Where I Would Start
If you’re wondering which book to buy first, here’s my recommendation.
If you’re just beginning your journey into nonverbal communication, don’t start with any of these. Go read my original article on the best body language books for beginners first.
Once you’re ready for a deeper dive:
Start with Nonverbal Communication by Burgoon, Guerrero, and Manusov. It provides the strongest overall framework.
Next, read Self-Presentation by Mark Leary. It explains the psychological forces driving much of the behavior you’ve been studying.
Finally, tackle The APA Handbook of Nonverbal Communication. It’s less of a book to read cover to cover than a reference you’ll return to for years.
Continue Learning About Communication
If you found this article helpful, you’re exactly the kind of reader I enjoy writing for.
Communication is much more than words. Every day we send signals that build trust, establish credibility, strengthen relationships, and influence how others respond to us. The more we understand those signals, the more intentional and effective we become as leaders, professionals, and communicators.
If you’d like to continue exploring these topics, you might also enjoy my articles on body language, leadership communication, presentation skills, and building trust through nonverbal communication.
If you’re planning a conference, leadership retreat, or company meeting, these are the same research-backed principles I teach in my keynote presentations and workshops. My programs combine practical communication strategies with engaging demonstrations that help audiences immediately apply what they’ve learned.
Whether you’re here to become a better communicator, a more effective leader, or simply someone who understands people a little better, I invite you to explore the rest of the resources on this site.
