Snoop

In what Sam Gosling calls his field guide to "snoopology," the psychologist offers a surefire way of seeing through the faades that people erect to hide their true selves. Gosling maintains that people's personalities are evident in their "stuff" and that by analyzing their "behavioral residue"--their bedrooms, their CD collections, even their garbage--it's possible to separate the inner person from his or her outward projection. Narrator David Drummond makes listening both informative and entertaining. His dry humor and lighthearted approach are in perfect sync with Gosling's well-supported academic research, here geared toward a general audience. Filled with practical insights (anxious people wear out their brakes more quickly) and generalized stereotypes (a firm handshake means a more extroverted person), the whole listening experience, as delivered by Drummond, is fun. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine