Interesting from start to finish. Whether this is read with any skepticism towards graphology or not, it will change the way you look at writing and the way you write yourself. Seeing handwriting as a subconscious extension of a person allows you to analyze parts of their physical, mental and emotional state. The author gives you frequent tests before discussing topics to prove that you actually know most of the general indications, and gives you further traits and details to build on that intuition. As skeptics might expect, every once and a while assumptions seem to be taken too far. Ex: “This man writes in sham garlands (a method of connecting his words), so we can say that he manipulates people with calculated kindness." But there’s so much in here that is clearly an extension of a person’s overall character that it’s all very interesting once you have different things to look for on every area of the page. The author provides many real life examples in every chapter to drive different characteristics home.

This is a large and hands on book that begins with you filling out a full blank page, complete with deliberate lies and a signature, to analyze once you’ve finished the book. The author notes that many readers undergo graphotherapy afterwards, purposefully changing traits that one doesn’t like about their writing, in turn changing the underlying traits within themselves.

Seeing many public figure’s signatures throughout history, and before and after important events, was great too. Liberace, Edgar Allen Poe, if Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln followed proper margins and signature placement, etc. Or seeing how someone’s signature changes after becoming sick or injured, like Reagan before and after he was shot. Or Nixon’s progressively vanishing signature before and after his resignation.

The book begins with an overview, the "science and reasoning” behind graphology, in depth handwriting traits, personality characteristics, and then many examples from a large variety of the author’s actual cases that you can practice on. A very worthwhile book despite focusing on a dying medium.