"Confessions of a Lie Detector" draws upon thirty years of working with people accused of crimes. Gordon Barland, retired Chief of the Research Division, Department of Defense Polygraph Institute, called this book a "must read." Barland said of the author, "He offers insights into why people lie, later confess, and yet sometimes recant." He characterized Wygant's writing as reflecting, "...the heart of a poet and soul of a philosopher." What happens to us when accused, rightly or wrongly? How do we defend ourselves? Here is the human side of the news, the deeper story that the media never reaches.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Mike N
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've realised that a lot of free kindle books are simply awful: either the plot is terrible, the characterisation is bad, or (possibly worse) the proofreading/editing and formatting are terrible and/or non-existent.
Not the case with this one, I'm pleased to report. It appears to have been well proofread, it's well written, and I didn't notice any formatting problems that so often crop up. I think there were a couple of minor mistakes, but nothing that stood out.
As to the content, for the most part it was informative and interesting. I certainly learned a lot about lie detectors, how they work, who they work on. The author has some bias that he brings to the book (of course!), but it's clear and he makes no effort to disguise it. There is a little proselytising, but he appears to feel strongly about the subject.
There are a couple of occasions when I think he gets carried away describing specific cases - something that is not his strong point. The Francke murder is a good example here, with a whole chapter devoted to the case without mention of a lie detector, yet with a number of personal opinions thrown into the mix. I'd suggest that chapter was the weak point of the book, and although he does the same thing in a couple of other places, the other instances are briefer.
All in all, a fascinating read though. I would give it 3.5/5, but since it was free I'll round it up to 4!
Not the case with this one, I'm pleased to report. It appears to have been well proofread, it's well written, and I didn't notice any formatting problems that so often crop up. I think there were a couple of minor mistakes, but nothing that stood out.
As to the content, for the most part it was informative and interesting. I certainly learned a lot about lie detectors, how they work, who they work on. The author has some bias that he brings to the book (of course!), but it's clear and he makes no effort to disguise it. There is a little proselytising, but he appears to feel strongly about the subject.
There are a couple of occasions when I think he gets carried away describing specific cases - something that is not his strong point. The Francke murder is a good example here, with a whole chapter devoted to the case without mention of a lie detector, yet with a number of personal opinions thrown into the mix. I'd suggest that chapter was the weak point of the book, and although he does the same thing in a couple of other places, the other instances are briefer.
All in all, a fascinating read though. I would give it 3.5/5, but since it was free I'll round it up to 4!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Viewpoint of another polygraph examiner
12 Jan 2012
By Dr. Vergil Williams
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a polygraph examiner and book lover I appreciate Wygant's non-fiction work on this topic. Examiners do like to swap experiences when they get together but seldom are able to share them freely with the public because we have an obligation to maintain confidentiality in most instances. Many people are interested in the mechanics of polygraph examinations and Wygant does a good job of explaining the process for their gratification. Other examiners will enjoy sharing some of Wygant's experiences. Of special interest to younger examiners are his tales of his polygraph business prior to 1988 when we were able to do polygraph tests for businesses to root out employee theft (an expense even greater than that caused by shoplifters) and other illegal behaviors. He is well respected in the profession and well qualified to opine on the topic of lying
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read Jim!
11 Mar 2012
By Clifford Morgan
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this book by Dr. James Wygant with great interest, as I know Jim from the polygraph profession. This is a first class read and offers a lot of insights into the profession of polygraphy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read for the True Crime Enthusiast
22 Dec 2011
By A. Arendt
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
(From my Wordpress blog, Word Vagabond: Supporting Independent and Small Press Authors.)
WARNING: This book contains descriptions of sexual assault and harm to children.
Confessions of a Lie Detector is a non-fiction book describing the experiences of the author, a polygraph examiner with over 30 years of experience. It's an interesting look at a little-known and misunderstood science. Wygant presents cases ranging from petty theft to murder and shows how under the right circumstances, almost anyone can be caught in a lie.
Some of the most interesting parts of the book are not the cases themselves, but Wygant's own speculation on the nature of lying and why we do it. He describes some of the different types of lies that people frequently tell, and what effect they can have on both the liar and the person being lied to. He shows a lot of compassion for the people who "fail" his tests, which I think allowed him to give a more balanced take of the consequences of lying. One of the first things he tells the reader is that often, when a polygraph test shows a client is probably not being truthful, they are relieved rather than angry. Keeping up with a lie can exact a tremendous toll on the person telling it. He also points out that we are sometimes pressured into lying by loved ones who don't really want to know the truth.
I did have some trouble with the graphic nature of some of the crimes described, but that's merely a warning, not a criticism. I do feel that the descriptions given were necessary parts of the book. However, people with sensitivity to certain subjects may find it hard to read. There was also a lengthy chapter describing in detail the investigation into a murder in which polygraph in general and the author in particular didn't seem to play a particularly important role. It did not fit the general flow of the book and ended up feeling like filler.
My verdict: proceed with caution. There is some interesting information and speculation in this book, but the reader must have a true interest in the subject to stick with it, and some content may be upsetting.
WARNING: This book contains descriptions of sexual assault and harm to children.
Confessions of a Lie Detector is a non-fiction book describing the experiences of the author, a polygraph examiner with over 30 years of experience. It's an interesting look at a little-known and misunderstood science. Wygant presents cases ranging from petty theft to murder and shows how under the right circumstances, almost anyone can be caught in a lie.
Some of the most interesting parts of the book are not the cases themselves, but Wygant's own speculation on the nature of lying and why we do it. He describes some of the different types of lies that people frequently tell, and what effect they can have on both the liar and the person being lied to. He shows a lot of compassion for the people who "fail" his tests, which I think allowed him to give a more balanced take of the consequences of lying. One of the first things he tells the reader is that often, when a polygraph test shows a client is probably not being truthful, they are relieved rather than angry. Keeping up with a lie can exact a tremendous toll on the person telling it. He also points out that we are sometimes pressured into lying by loved ones who don't really want to know the truth.
I did have some trouble with the graphic nature of some of the crimes described, but that's merely a warning, not a criticism. I do feel that the descriptions given were necessary parts of the book. However, people with sensitivity to certain subjects may find it hard to read. There was also a lengthy chapter describing in detail the investigation into a murder in which polygraph in general and the author in particular didn't seem to play a particularly important role. It did not fit the general flow of the book and ended up feeling like filler.
My verdict: proceed with caution. There is some interesting information and speculation in this book, but the reader must have a true interest in the subject to stick with it, and some content may be upsetting.
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