Two Legged Snakes by Dr. Ed Slack & Is He Lying To You by Dan Crum

Dr Slack has put together a book about manipulative people, how to identify then and how to handle them or protect yourself from their deceitful ways. We have all encountered the two legged snake at some point in our lives and for some you may be dealing with them right now. Many are easy to spot, but others trick us into false security and trust. Slack has combined simple descriptions of types and traits with humorous pictures. He also provides checklist to help you become a snake watcher and to teach you how to take control back from the users of the world. An interesting, fun and informative read. Four out of five stars.

Maybe I watch one too many crime shows (Criminal Minds, Lie To Me, etc.) but the concepts of profiling and figuring out people's "tells" is fascinating to me.  Dan Crum has put together a book that says it's to help women, but really the information and wisdom he imparts is knows no gender. He covers the subject matter clearly and concisely. The book's subtitle also implies it's just for dating. Again, the information Crum provides can help in all your interpersonal interactions. For those new to the dating scene it can be invaluable and for those who have been burned in the past  or who are less intuitive, it can give you some skills to spot deception. I found the book fascinating and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't have a "jaded" feel, that many similar books express. Crum does say that everyone is misleading at some point or the other in life, but by explaining which deceptions are meant to cause harm he gives you the tools to trust your own judgement. Even if you don't need this in your personal life, it's a fascinating book or decoding behaviors. Five out of five stars.