Mind Reading

Mind Reading is the first book by Henrik Fexeus, a Swedish communication trainer known as a "psychology prodigy of the Nordic countries." The original edition was published in Sweden in 2007, has since been translated into several languages, and has been used as a textbook by some communication training organizations. The Chinese translation was done by Feng Yang and published by Shanxi People's Publishing House. The book's core argument is that body and mind are two sides of the same coin. When a person has a thought or emotion, the body responds almost simultaneously—pupils dilate, the eyes move in different directions, blinking lengthens, fleeting micro-expressions appear in the facial muscles, arms cross, feet shift direction, and so on. Ordinary people also "read" these signals unconsciously; they just do so less systematically. So-called mind-reading experts merely do this more cleverly and effectively. Based on this principle, the author organizes the content into a progressive path: first explaining why mind reading is possible and useful; then "turning yourself into the other person"—building trust by mirroring the other's behavior, matching their speaking pace, and attuning to their mental state; then "reading people through the eyes" and "reading faces," using eye movement and expressions to judge a person's thinking style and emotional state; and finally applying these observational techniques to specific situations such as detecting lies, getting closer to someone you are attracted to, winning others' approval, and influencing others' emotions, closing with several live demonstrations and words of caution. The book includes many images showing subtle expressions and postures, making it easy for beginners to compare and recognize them. It should be noted that "mind reading" in the title does not mean psychic power or the supernatural; the author himself repeatedly stresses that it is an observable and trainable communication skill. Readers would do well to treat it as an introductory book on nonverbal communication rather than a miraculous volume that lets one see through all of another person's secrets at a glance.