I just learned that, earlier this month, this week’s guest became a bestselling author. We sure know how to pick ’em.  I’m talking of course about Vanessa Van Edwards who finds herself at #4 on the WSJ list, ahead of folks like Sheryl Sandberg and Tony Robbins.  Like I said. We know how to pick ’em. Seriously though, one of the best things about Vanessa’s book is how she manages to take what might otherwise come across as dull research, and explain it in such a way that is truly, um, captivating. The book is in fact, Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. From bosses, to first dates, networking partners, and colleagues, we all need to know how people work. Dive into the book – and today’s episode – and you’ll learn how a self-proclaimed awkward person managed to become an expert in human behavior. You don’t have to be born with charisma or be naturally outgoing, Vanessa says, to be memorable to the people around you. To dig in, just click the “play” button below. Join in on our chat below Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | RSS In today’s episode, Vanessa and I discuss: * How to create Conversation Sparks and leverage  them to strengthen your relationships * How to spot micro-expressions and understand the true meaning behind the words of others * Personality hacks for getting the best from people * …and much more! This Episode is Sponsored By Cloud Accounting Software FreshBooks FreshBooks is currently offering a month of unrestricted use to to all RtLP listeners – totally free right now. And, you don’t need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month, click here and be sure and enter ReadToLead in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section. If your business uses Freshbooks, and you’d like to share your experience with the Read to Lead audience, click the contact tab at the top of this page and let us know. Be sure and include “FreshBooks” in the subject line. Vanessa in Action Books Vanessa Recommends Smart Cuts: The Breakthrough Power of Lateral Thinking by Shane Snow (Shane was an RTLP guest in Episode #081) Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach Check Out Vanessa’s Resources The best place to find out more about Vanessa is at her website.