Spy the Lie

Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Detect Deception

By: Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, Susan Carnicero, Don Tennant

Narrated by: Fred Berman

Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Business and Educational, 2013

Three former CIA officers - among the world’s foremost authorities on recognizing deceptive behavior - share their proven techniques for uncovering a lie.

Imagine how different your life would be if you could tell whether someone was lying or telling you the truth. Be it hiring a new employee, investing in a financial interest, speaking with your child about drugs, confronting your significant other about suspected infidelity, or even dating someone new, having the ability to unmask a lie can have far-reaching and even life-altering consequences.

As former CIA officers, Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero are among the world’s best at recognizing deceptive behavior. Spy the Lie chronicles the captivating story of how they used a methodology Houston developed to detect deception in the counterterrorism and criminal investigation realms, and shows how these techniques can be applied in our daily lives.

Through fascinating anecdotes from their intelligence careers, the authors teach listeners how to recognize deceptive behaviors, both verbal and nonverbal, that we all tend to display when we respond to questions untruthfully. For the first time, they share with the general public their methodology and their secrets to the art of asking questions that elicit the truth.

Spy the Lie is a game-changer. You may never experience another book that has a more dramatic impact on your career, your relationships, or your future.

©2012 Philip Houston, Susan Carnicero, Don Tennant, Michael Floyd (P)2012 Macmillan

WOW. I want to memorize this book!

This method names and quantifies the importance of MANY of the deceptive behaviors that most of us recognize and have called our “gut” for years. This will validate your gut instincts and give you a way of calculating the likelihood of a lie....or in the very least, point you in the direction of your questioning someone. I like the manner in which they set judgement aside, make the subject feel relaxed and calmly open the door for them to hang themselves with their own words and body language. I can NOT wait to use this on my teenage children, in dating...and pretty much *every* situation in Life. I plan on listening to this book at least 3 times and practicing a LOT. Thank you to the authors! I want more, please!!

good info, but...

not long ago I read Malcolm Gladwells "Talking To Strangers" and now I'm reading this one.

this one sheds light on why I've always had trouble convincing people, or being persuasive, because I exhibit many of the these "deceptive behaviors" when I AM telling the truth. so now I understand MG's book that much more.

if police, fbi, and the general public are taught that these behaviors are indicators of dishonesty, that explains many of my troubles in life. they're just not always true, but most people wouldn't even believe that.

I think MG said about 20% of the time these tactics in this book don't work. that's a big percentage. yeah, 80% of the time it does work, but sucks for the other 1 in 5 who aren't believed. sometimes we exhibit a deceptive behavior when we're scared, or when the accusations are half-true or the question is a trick question (like a wrongly presumptive question)

so, there's useful info here, but I'm frustrated that it didn't give a better balance of reality except the occasional disclaimer "this method won't make you a human lie detector".

sure, if these tactics get a confession, then good. but if they don't, then you still don't know the truth.

Good book, with basic principles...

The content was engaging and the narrator was good as well. My complaints are as follows: The information is much more basic than expected, although I guess the basic necessities of the technique is also the foundation of the trade craft. The stories and concepts are covered so quickly that it is hard to remember all of the content h the audio version without going back and re listening. And, I would have liked to hear more data and statistics on how often people use the deceptive techniques mentioned. Obviously their concepts only work when the person feels guilt or remorse and isnt actually good at lying. My question to the writers is, what then?

Interesting book and ideas, however lacks depth

I wish the authors could show us how you can differentiate between innocent and culpable statements in more depth and examples.

Seriously, Phenomenal book.

This book is amazing and it is so well written. I am only just now getting into these kinds of books and it uses so many examples that drive the point home and you understand what is being taught, sometimes without realizing it. I unknowingly used it and wow, LITERALLY a ”Spy the Lie” moment. Fantastic book. I couldn't stop listening to it.

short and to the point

this book can help you in everyday interactions from buying a car to what to expect at work

Very informative!!!

Very informative. Nice to have professionals backup your suspicions that you must do more research.
I recommend!

Easy Listen

I enjoyed the book, the tips and advice provided are good and can work well when utilized correctly.

On my second listen

If you could sum up Spy the Lie in three words, what would they be?

How to ask the right questions.

What other book might you compare Spy the Lie to and why?

I'm not sure that I can compare this book to others in this genre, but I can say that having read What Every Body is Saying that it is an excellent, and natural further study on the subject of detecting deception.

Any additional comments?

I definately need another listen or two, but I will have far more confidence in asking direct questions after reading this book. Usually I'm the one who feels uncomfortable when I feel someone is being dishonest - hopefully now I can handle a situation with more confidence and ask the right questions, in the right way and watch and listen for the reactions. All in all a good listen.

This is great new information, liars beware!

This book is full of new information and quite different from others I've read. It deals with a more scientific basis for entrapping liars, like how just how the brain/speech/body language work together when telling a lie and it teaches you what you need to know to spot when lies are being told. You have to utilize their technique for it to work for you.
Every parent, especially of a teenagers, significant others of a cheating partner, employers, teachers, probation and parole officers, well heck, everyone needs to listen to this informative and well written book with good narration if they want to be one up on those who lie.