Book Byte #285 "The Art of Reading Minds" by Henrik Fexeus

Understand Others to Get What You Want

📣 Curious Quotes from the Author

“I'm not the first one to point out that George Lucas used plastic helmets to cover the faces of the storm troopers in Star Wars, in order to make them more inhuman, as their eyes and faces were not visible. In our times, we are getting a more modern version of Lucas's Stormtroopers, thanks to the popular nerve toxin Botox. This is something more and more people who are past their middle age are happily injecting into themselves - more specifically, into their faces. Botox causes local paralysis (it is a nerve toxin, after all), which smoothes out wrinkles. Unfortunately, it also means you can no longer use some of your facial muscles, as you are paralyzed. This means you're not only getting the skin of a Barbie doll, you're getting its range of facial expressions too.”

“Whenever you do something, if you notice that it doesn’t work, stop whatever it is that you are doing and do something else.—MILTON H. ERICKSON If you think about different situations in your life in which you made no progress, you will probably realize that the reason you got stuck in the first place was that you were stubbornly attempting the same failed solution over and over again. The simplest solutions are often the hardest to find.”

“All kinds of people, from professional golfers to successful entrepreneurs, can tell you that if you concentrate on avoiding obstacles instead of concentrating on your goals, then you’ll run straight into the obstacles.”

“Even if you think the other person has completely misunderstood the issue being discussed or is simply out of his mind, you can still always agree that if you were in his position (that is, if you had misunderstood everything, too, but of course you never say this) you would feel the same as he does.”

“To get the person you’re talking to into the emotional state you’re asking for, you have to exemplify it and show what you mean.”

“First Agree, Then Lead”

“Strong emotions can distort your perceptions of the world. Negative emotions block off potentially positive experiences, and promote forgotten, negative thoughts. Don’t do anything you might regret later on if you’re stuck in a strong emotion. Try to wait until the emotion has passed before you act, even if it’s difficult to do so.”\

“Sadness also has a social function, because a person who displays signs of being sad will often receive help, comfort, and reassurance from others.”

“Try to avoid using the word “not” for a whole day—and see how often you use it for convenience. It’s a lot easier to tell somebody what you don’t want than to explain what you do want. But if you make yourself do it, you’ll find you will become a lot more expressive and positive every time you do not use “not.”

📚 Cognition of the Book’s Big Idea

Nonverbal clues and signals can be used as instruments to promote comprehension, establish rapport, and accomplish win-win situations. The art of mentalism can provide deep understanding of the human mind and help people form lasting connections when it is practiced with honesty and compassion.

▶ Collaborative Video of the Day

Until Tomorrow,
Jason (Founder Club255)