Academy Award winning producer Brian Grazer is one of Hollywood’s most successful story tellers. For decades Grazer has brought countless tales of seemingly ordinary people doing the extraordinary to the masses. His film and television credits include A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Arrested Development, Empire, 8 Mile, and The Da Vinci Code. His 2015 book A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life was an instant New York Times bestseller. In his spare time Grazer has become known for conducting “curiosity conversations” with individuals he is inspired by. Brian Grazer is exploring the very nature of what makes people tick by interacting with their humanity.
In his latest book FACE TO FACE: The Art of Human Connection (on sale September 17, 2019), Brian reveals his simple secret to creative engagement and successful relationship-building— eye contact. By looking someone directly in the eyes, we can choose to show honesty, vulnerability, and to affirm that we are creatively engaged and listening to them. Forging deeper connections with those around us can often expose new insights or lead to new opportunities.
FACE TO FACE transports us into some of the pivotal interactions in Brian’s career and personal life where eye contact proved to be the key to unlocking power, emotion, and insight. FACE TO FACE takes readers through moments like a high-powered CEO conference with Bill Gates; a surprise date with supermodel Kate Moss; a tough conversation with Eminem when creating the movie 8 Mile; a tête–à-tête with George W. Bush; a lesson learned during a family trip to Myanmar; and other encounters with personalities like Taraji Henson, Airbnb Founder Brian Chesky, and Chance the Rapper.
In a world where screens, coding and artificial intelligence dominate the culture, emotional intelligence is what’s missing from our day-to-day lives. It’s time to appreciate that our humanity is not a weakness, it’s our greatest asset. Our ability to connect with others—face to face—is our ultimate gift and a resource to be cultivated. People are hungry for connection but have lost the key to unlocking it. FACE TO FACE provides the tools to help us rekindle this connection.
Whether you’re looking to develop a relationship, build your confidence, or win a negotiation—human connection starts with eye contact.