Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People

This has been a truly fascinating read!! Learning to read body language and facial cues is definitely a huge passion for me, I feel like there is always more to learn and grow in. This book is filled with tons of expert knowledge and practical application techniques.

Wonderful read with a lot of practical skills and skill building techniques. Definitely a must read for anyone that wants to level up their everyday human interactions. Than you so much Venessa and team!

In my official review (see the "Editorial Reviews" section above...) I mentioned that everything Vanessa does is captivating, but this book is her masterpiece. I’m honestly not sure how she does it all—her people skills lab, her highly-rated “Science of People” website, a dozen courses that have been taken by hundreds of thousands of students—but somehow she does, and she does it well.

But here’s the other thing, which is directly related to this book. (Short version: if you’re on the fence, buy it.) In the social sciences world, there are essentially two approaches, one academic and one popular. Aside from the pages of the Atlantic and the occasional TED talk, these schools rarely intersect. The academics have research on their side, and the popular crowd has, well, an actual audience.

Vanessa is the extremely rare exception to this polarization: she has research on her side, and she knows how to present it! You can read this book like you would read People magazine… except when you finish, you’ll be smarter, not dumber. I’m buying a dozen copies for my friends, and 100+ copies for the event I produce in Oregon every summer.

By the way, I know Vanessa personally but I purchased my copies at regular price, from the store and my local bookstore Powell’s, and I also didn’t ask her if I could write this. I’m not sure if she’d approve of my reference to People magazine (sorry! I mean well). Either way, YOU should take a chance on this book. It just might change your life.

In high school science class we always had a textbook and a lab workbook. Whereas all the other books about personality, connection and emotional intelligence can serve as textbooks, "Captivate" is the true lab workbook for the science of people. Literally, the book suggests experiments that you can try and has spaces for you to track your results! I'm a fan of "Captivate" because she references real science behind her ideas. Granted, this is not necessarily Nobel-prize winning stuff, but it's seriously grounded in evidence, which is more than most books in this genre. And the book is written in easy-to-understand, accessible language - she is no stuffy fuddy-duddy when it comes to explaining her ideas and encouraging you to try it out. I highly recommend "Captivate" because it has a unique perspective on the topic and it's just plain fun to read.

Well written practical and science based advice that can be used immediately. A must for any introverted or ambiverted entrepreneur or sales person. Wish I had this when i graduated thirty years ago.

Excellent book. Vanessa is very knowledgeable about body language, gestures and how we might say things. Through her experience, research and studies she gives us helpful strategies that we can use in our everyday life and business.

This was a decent read with some interesting tips, but I expected a much more evidence-based book from the description and reviews. While they make reference to some peer reviewed research and studies in each section, the research they reference which they actually do themselves seemed very informal (twitter polls, asking people to try out a technique and send in feedback, etc. rather than empirical studies). I don't necessarily mind a more anecdotal approach, but I felt like the description and reviews represented the book as more science-based than it actually was. I bought it because of that impression and was a bit disappointed.

Amazing. Each page is actually filled with very useful content. Even better, Vanessa breaks it down to the point that regardless of who you are, if you take this information seriously, you will see improvements in your social life. I can definitely see the "Hacks" working. If you want to become a better communicator, this is the book for you.

Inside, she gives you "homework" and action items that I would recommend completing before moving onto the next "Hack". Definitely have a pencil and paper nearby as you read as you will want to take notes.

Pick up two copies! You'll definitely want to give this book away to help someone else, but also keep a copy for yourself as this is a book I can see coming in handy through the various changes and situations in your life. Maybe for relationship the first time, then a business gathering the next. An A++ book

This was a decent read with some interesting tips, but I expected a much more evidence-based book from the description and reviews. While they make reference to some peer reviewed research and studies in each section, the research they reference which they actually do themselves seemed very informal (twitter polls, asking people to try out a technique and send in feedback, etc. rather than empirical studies). I don't necessarily mind a more anecdotal approach, but I felt like the description and reviews represented the book as more science-based than it actually was. I bought it because of that impression and was a bit disappointed.

Amazing. Each page is actually filled with very useful content. Even better, Vanessa breaks it down to the point that regardless of who you are, if you take this information seriously, you will see improvements in your social life. I can definitely see the "Hacks" working. If you want to become a better communicator, this is the book for you.

Inside, she gives you "homework" and action items that I would recommend completing before moving onto the next "Hack". Definitely have a pencil and paper nearby as you read as you will want to take notes.

Pick up two copies! You'll definitely want to give this book away to help someone else, but also keep a copy for yourself as this is a book I can see coming in handy through the various changes and situations in your life. Maybe for relationship the first time, then a business gathering the next. An A++ book

I am a college student, and I found that Captivate really helped me figure out how to better interact with my fellow students and my professors. I especially liked the research and suggestions about building rapport and communicating with my friends and teachers in a way that allowed them to better understand me and facilitate stronger relationships. I think the information about how to use body language and micro-expressions to interview for jobs is going to be invaluable, especially when it comes to negotiating for raises and promotions. Thank you, Vanessa, for all of the really great suggestions and resources in the book!

When I first picked up Captivate, I thought “this book is going to try to teach me to become an extrovert, isn’t it? I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There’s a lot of information out in the world that claims to be scientifically-proven or a proven-model, but it tends to fall flat or go out of style or only work for a select group of people.

Captivate is for everyone.

This book celebrates introverts, extroverts, and those in between. It em-powers anyone who has felt awkward in a social or professional setting. It champions entrepreneurs, mothers, executives, students--if you are a per-son, this book is for you.

Vanessa Van Edwards shares her teaching methods in such a fun, explor-ative way--encouraging the reader to be interactive with the lessons and to discover something more about themselves and the people around them.

I loved the chapter on the art of storytelling and how stories truly have the power to shape interactions, but who am I kidding? I loved every single part, and I can’t wait to go back and re-read certain sections when I have a situation for which I want to really hone my “people” skills using that chap-ter’s advice.

Captivate is a people manual. It’s not meant to be read once and then sit on a bookshelf collecting dust. It’s meant to be picked up over and over again when you have a first date or when you need some advice or when you have an interview and when you want to know how to work the room. It’s there as a resource when you’re becoming more committed to a partner and when you want to appreciate them based on their own love language.

This book is the textbook for people, but one that you actually want to read, again and again.

This masterpiece was incredible! I give Van Edwards Full marks on readability, engaging content, applicable skills, and overall. Her decade of research has culminated into this very easily read, yet extremely insightful book.

This book has helped me elevate some newer friendships, and has decreased my awkwardness/social anxiety. I encourage everyone to read this, because if everyone did, the world would be a much more relational place.

This book provides so many helpful, actionable tips to understanding and "getting on the same wavelength" as others. She is witty and makes me laugh throughout the book because you can see yourself in many of the uncomfortable situations she discusses. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand people better and improve their relationships. I am an extrovert, but this book has helped me so much. Introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts will benefit from this great read!

great quality, very swift delivery. She definitely knows a lot in the area of social psychology. However the book does not contain “new” information, so anyone with a fairly basic knowledge in social behavioral science will probably know 90% of the the books content.

This is a great resource for people looking for work, people looking for jobs or people just looking to change their social skills. "Captivate" should be on everyone's go-to bookshelf. I am going to buy several copies to give as gifts to family, friends and colleagues.

Well written, very informative, easy to follow. I found out about this author and her book from listening to her as a guest on The School of Greatness Podcast. I would recommend this book to any person who is ever interacts with another human.

Captivate is the book that I bet upon when changing jobs to a completely different one, where people skills are crucial.
After reading it, I'm so glad that I bet on the right book! I feel I just got started learning, but it's worth the time and effort.
I found it really original how Vanessa tied together concepts from so many sources of psychology to arrive to the advice that she gives; it's like a well-designed game plan that you cannot not succeed with, and it's what I'm hoping to prove in the coming months as I apply the ideas from the book.

Whether you are awkward or suave, male or female, introvert or extrovert, you need to read this book. And re-read it and do the exercises and hack human behavior for real, possibly for the first time in your life.

You will learn what makes people tick.

Vanessa seeks out the latest published results in the science of human behavior and then takes that fascinating material and turns it into experiments which she and her team use to show us how people work. Then they test the results and reset if necessary.

This book will help you fine tune your BS meter scientifically, show you why some people are successful on shark tank and how you can "add sparks to your conversation" to become unforgettable.

You will learn people skills that will change your life.

I have been studying this kind of information, back-checking from popular press articles to the scientific papers, since before I started speaking professionally in 1990 about networking, marketing and personal as well as product brand.
What is new here is the cogent development of a systematic way to gather information and use it to build a better you.

This is a systematic scientific approach researched in the real world. It works.

You've heard of IQ and EQ. This is about PQ.

PQ is a way of measuring your interpersonal intelligence. The stronger your PQ, the higher your probability of making more money, being a top performer, being happier and more fulfilled. Those outcomes are for real. They are based on the research.

A simple test shows you where you need work.

Yes, I'm studying you and perhaps listening a little more. It's because I took the PQ test and used the results to tell me where to really buckle down and study the simple but elegant ways to become more proficient. The microexpression flash cards really proved helpful to me. I could go on but you need to stop wasting your time on reviews.

Stop reading about the book and buy it now.

You won't regret it.

The author over-uses Millennial terms like "hacks" and "leveling up," and "super-charge" that interferes with otherwise useful information. As a result, clinically sound advice, much of which comes from the author's primary research, is largely reduced to pop cultural drivel. Some editing could solve (hack) this problem and improve (level up) readability to get the most out of (super-charge) the message.

Wow, no wonder Captivate was listed as the most anticipated book of the year by Apple — it is a very important, life-changing book!

I love people! I’ve never struggled with how to get along with anyone, and I even enjoy going to networking events. But Captivate is a necessary guide no matter what your current “people skills” level is.

Not only does Captivate hold 14 amazing hacks that I didn’t know I needed, it completely stepped up my game. Did you know there’s a formula for how to have the most successful networking experience? I didn’t either until now. Did you know that there are 7 universal micro-expressions that are automatic and uncontrollable and that you can learn to decode the faces of your family, friends, and colleagues? Now I do! The skills you learn in this book completely revolutionize every experience you’ll have from here on out.

I started seeing changes in my relationships the very next day after implementing some of Vanessa’s hacks. A small thing that I love about Captivate is that everything Vanessa Van Edwards teaches is science-based and backed by research — that’s when you know it works!

I wish this book had come out years ago. Thank you, thank you, Vanessa!