University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Face to Face
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Face to Face

The Art of Human Connection

Brian Grazer
Simon & Schuster, 2019
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Concrete Examples
  • Engaging
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

In his bestseller, A Curious Mind, Hollywood hit-maker Brian Grazer asserted that curiosity is the secret ingredient that fuels success. He attributes his success to his ability to forge meaningful human connections by looking people in the eyes and practicing the art of face-to-face communication. He develops this theme with stories of his adventures and of working with famous, talented people. Grazer brings you into his “curiosity conversations” with leaders and people of great achievement, including Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates and George W. Bush. His engaging, autobiographical tale shows you how to connect for success.

Summary

Eye contact is often the deciding factor when applying for a job, making a sales pitch or asking someone on a date.

As a child in grade school, Brian Grazer dreaded having a teacher call on him. Although undiagnosed at the time, he suffered from dyslexia, a reading disability. He would avoid eye contact with his teachers in hopes of staying off their radar. But his grandmother Sonia had great confidence in him. “Brian,” she would exclaim, “never stop asking those questions of yours.”

By high school, Grazer had figured out how to use his conversational abilities to connect with his teachers and classmates. He was better able to absorb information and process material verbally. He sought face-to-face interactions at college, and sharpened his skills in reading body language and facial expressions.

Grazer is an extremely successful television and movie producer. His first book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life, delved into what he calls “curiosity conversations.” Grazer says these meaningful exchanges enable him to forge authentic connections. This ability, more than any other, he says, helped him...

About the Author

Brian Grazer is an award-winning film and television producer and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment. His credits include Splash, American Gangster and 8 Mile. He wrote the bestseller A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life.

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