So I like to read. A lot. Yes, it is how I got to be so smart, in case you're wondering. Here are my 10 favorite books on the topics that this site covers. I haven't read every single word in all of them, but what I have read is good. (I often skip around out of boredom.)
Take note: I have not written these books, I am not in contact with the authors/illustrators/publishers, I am not selling them, I am not responsible for the content of these books. I also have not memorized all of the information in each one, and this site is not directly based on any of these books, so if something you read is incongruous with something I've said on this site, that doesn't really mean anything. Also, these aren't in order of importance, just the order that I think of them.
EDIT (3/23/26): I am now adding ratings based on the ones I came up with in List #14 that are also on the home screen, as these have a lot of different content!
1. The Deduction Guide by Louise Blackwood. This is one of the few books on the subject which actually talks about "deduction." It gives a lot of advice on specific deductions and memory techniques.
Rating: 1--There's nothing violent or inappropriate in this one.
2. Snoop by Sam Gosling, Ph.D. This is one of my favorites because it is a scientific book about deduction. It's all about deducing people's personalities through their stuff. There are graphs, charts, statistics, legitimate psychology...even a few case studies.
Rating: 2--I haven't read this in awhile, but I remember that it is at a high reading level and there may be some adult topics mentioned.
3. Split-Second Persuasion by Kevin Dutton, Ph.D. This book, although it talks about criminals, scams, and lies in the same way a normal book would talk about, say, gardening, is very readable. It talks about the science behind persuasion, as well as a bit of methodology.
Rating: 6--It's partially based on interviews with psychopaths, criminals, and con men. I believe that there are also at least several references to violent and sexual subjects.
4. Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World by Roger E. Astell. This is a guide to many different gestures that people make in different cultures, for you body language people. Good to know for when people make deliberate actions, rather than just scratching their neck absentmindedly.
Rating: 2--It's pretty much just a dictionary of normal gestures. Some gestures pictured may be offensive, derogatory, or sexual in nature.
5. Yes! 50 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion by Noah Goldstein This is a nearly 100% methodology book, plus some psychology to back it up. A ton of weird little persuasion tricks.
Rating: 1--A super easy, fun, lighthearted read.
6. Psychology for Kids by Jonni Kincher Actually a really good read, full of self-given psychological tests. Not really deductive in nature, but if you're into self-discovery, it's great.
Rating: 1--It's a kids' book.
7. Logically Fallacious by Bo Bennett. This book is about logical argument, sort of, which is linked to deduction and other logical stuff. It is HILARIOUS. This book shows just how many of the supposedly strong arguments we hear every day are just nonsensical garbage.
Rating: 5--Bennett's reasoning is very formal and upstanding, but his examples are not. They are amazing, funny examples, but often with controversial opinions, swearing, and sexual references throughout.
8. The Little Green Book of Getting What You Want by Jeffrey Gitomer. This book basically takes you through the process of making a sales presentation. While I'm not really in any position to be making any sales presentations at this time, it's a good skill to know. It talks a lot about storytelling in persuasion and sales, an essential concept.
Rating: 1--This one is pretty innocent.
9. I Spy by Walter Wick. A full course in observation. I will warn you, though, of the pain you will feel when you find everything in the picture...except that one letter of the alphabet mentioned in the middle that turns out to be hidden in the tree you already checked five times.
Rating: 1--Another kids' book.
10. Covert Persuasion by Kevin Hogan. I'm only halfway through this book, but it is pretty good so far. At least half of the techniques remind me of this timeshare presentation I was given. As in, some of them were kind of see-through, but considering the large number of other people buying the product, there had to some sort of persuasive gold in there.
Rating: 2--This one was fairly innocent, but given its mind-control approach I think it's safe to make this one a 2.
If you have any recommendations, please let me know.
Signing off,
SM
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