An essential guide on “deception detection” for those seeking to defend themselves against criminals, con artists, scammers, predators, and more, written by a renowned trial consultant, behavioral analyst, and body language expert

As a trial consultant for some of the most high-profile cases of the last two decades—including Michael Jackson, Jeffrey Epstein, and Elizabeth Holmes—and the go-to courtroom body language expert for national media outlets covering cases like Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman, Susan Constantine has met her fair share of scammers, con artists, predators, and murderers. For all their differences, Susan has long noticed that they all share one thing in common: their sole intention is to take something from you to benefit themselves. Sure, they can be likable, approachable, charismatic, charming, and helpful. But they definitely don’t have the best interests of anyone else at heart—and if you want to protect yourself from getting deceived, it’s up to you to learn just how to do it.

Susan started teaching her methods about “how to spot a liar” over twenty years ago, realizing the need for attorneys to become more proficient in spotting lies in the courtroom, as well as vetting clients and witnesses. Over the years, she’s expanded her course offerings beyond the legal profession, and now teaches thousands and thousands of people how to defend themselves from those who seek to deceive them, including leading workshops for federal judges, supreme court justices, and the Department of Defense. What’s more, she’s become a celebrated media expert, analyzing suspects in high profile cases on networks like Court TV, CNN, Dateline, and others, and has also helped families of missing persons cases find their loved ones by profiling suspects through captured camera footage.

In How to Spot a Liar in 7 Seconds or Less, Susan shares lessons from her course to the general public for the first time, showing readers how to not just spot liars, but how to outsmart them as well. Using her proven techniques, which are all backed by science and have been vetted in the field, readers learn how to discern the incongruence between a person’s facial expressions, body language, spoken/written words, and demeanor, heightening their awareness to key signs of deception—and all within just seven seconds. Whether they encounter a colleague telling a little white lie in the office, a partner denying an affair, a family member hiding a debilitating addiction, or a manipulative stranger with dangerous intentions, this book empowers readers to take control over the social settings they find themselves in—and protect themselves and their loved ones from harm.

Eye-opening, enlightening, and utterly engaging, How to Spot a Liar in 7 Seconds or Less is an essential addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to learn what makes people tick, what motivates liars to bend the truth, and how to defend themselves against deceivers and others who want to take advantage of them.