Sizing People Up cover art

Sizing People Up

A Veteran FBI Agent's User Manual for Behavior Prediction

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Sizing People Up

By: Robin Dreeke, Cameron Stauth
Narrated by: Robin Dreeke
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About this listen

After two decades as a behavior analyst in the FBI, Robin Dreeke knows a thing or two about sizing people up. He's navigated complex situations that range from handling Russian spies to navigating the internal politics at the Bureau. Through that experience, he was forced to develop a knack for reading people - their intentions, their capabilities, their desires and their fears.

Dreeke's first book, It's Not All About "Me", has become a cult favorite with listeners seeking to build quick rapport with others. His last book, The Code of Trust, was about how to inspire trust in others as a leader. In Sizing People Up, Dreeke shares his simple, six-step system that helps you predict anyone's future behaviour based on their words, goals and patterns of action and the situation at hand.

Predicting the behaviour of others is an urgent need for anyone whose work involves relationships with others, whether it's leading an organisation, collaborating with a teammate, or closing a sale. But predictability is not as simple as good and evil or truth and fiction. Allies might make a promise with every intention of keeping it, not realising that they will be unable to do so due to some personal shortcoming. And those seeking to thwart your endeavor may not realise how reliable their malevolent tells have become.

Dreeke's system is simple but powerful. For instance, a colleague might have a strong moral code, but do they believe your relationship will be long-term? Even the most upstanding person can betray your trust if they don't see themselves tied to you or your desired result in the long term. How can you determine whether someone has both the skill and will to do what they've said they're going to do? Behaviours as subtle as how they take notes will reveal their reliability.

Using this book as their manual, listeners will be able to quickly and easily determine whom they can trust and whom they can't; who is likely to deliver on promises and who will disappoint; and when a person is vested in your success versus when they are actively plotting your demise. With this knowledge they can confidently embark on anything from a business venture to a romantic relationship to a covert operation without the stress of the unknown.

©2020 Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth (P)2020 Penguin Random House Audio
Career Success Developmental Psychology Education Employment Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Career Espionage Russia

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All stars
Most relevant
all based on personal experiences which is good. but i seem to be missing more structured approach

not bad..

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I had high expectations about this book but gave up about 30% in. The overall narration seems good, was pleasant to listen to, and easy to follow. Extra bonus points for when the author is also the narrator.

The story seems misguided, I expected to learn about how to learn to predict behavior but instead it was a book on how to build a (working) relationship with people. Furthermore, the book also contained a lot of 'tips' on how to succeed in a job or with a boss, these felt awkward and out of place with the overall goal and storyline of the book.

Not great, overall storyline / purpose are unclear

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