Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone & Make Every Interaction Count by Van Edwards, Vanessa

The powerful proven blueprint for confident conversations and meaningful connection, from the bestselling author of Cues and Captivate

Does the thought of small talk with strangers make you want to hide under the couch?
Do you crave close friendships but find yourself overanalyzing every social interaction afterward?
Do you want to be seen as confident, capable, and genuinely likable -- without feeling fake or forced?
Are you tired of communication advice that makes you feel manipulative, rehearsed, or inauthentic?

If you feel like you were never taught the unspoken rules for how to interact with others, look no further. In Conversation, popular behavior researcher and bestselling people skills author Vanessa Van Edwards delivers a practical, science-backed playbook for transforming how you show up in any situation. Grounded in decades of research and written in clear, engaging language, Conversation gives you a powerful framework for mastering small talk, building instant rapport, and being the most memorable person in the room (in a good way!)

You'll discover how to:

• Break the ice without being awkward
• Stop overthinking what to say next and tune in to your conversation partner
• Pose the 9 power questions that will level up any relationship
• Change the subject or end a conversation without damaging the relationship
• Decode people's personality patterns so you're never guessing how to respond
• Be authentically assertive so you come across as both credible and likable without sacrificing what makes you, you

If you're ready to feel grounded instead of anxious, speak with authority without sounding rehearsed, and build relationships that elevate both your career and your personal life -- this book will show you how.

Author: Vanessa Van Edwards
Publisher: Portfolio
Published: 10/06/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 9.27h x 6.33w x 1.09d
ISBN: 9798217048298

About the Author
VANESSA VAN EDWARDS is a renowned behavioral researcher and internationally bestselling author. Her groundbreaking research at her company, Science of People, has been featured in Time, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, and USA Today, as well as many other media outlets, including CNN and CBS. Her book Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People has been translated into more than eighteen languages, and her second book, Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication, was an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller. For more than two decades she has been leading corporate trainings and workshops to audiences around the world, including at SXSW and MIT, and at companies including Google, Nike, and Microsoft. She's also an instructor in the Department of Professional & Executive Development for Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education.