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Face to Face

The Art of Human Connection

About The Book

Featured on CBS This Morning, Squawk Box, MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, and more.

“Reading Face to Face is like being a fly on the wall, watching Brian Grazer work his magic. Utterly entertaining, this is how you become Hollywood’s best producer.” —Malcolm Gladwell, author of Talking to Strangers

Legendary Hollywood producer and author of the bestselling A Curious Mind, Brian Grazer is back with a captivating new book about the life-changing ways we can connect with one another.

Much of Brian Grazer’s success—as a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Academy Award–winning producer, father, and husband—comes from his ability to establish genuine connections with almost anyone. In Face to Face, he takes you around the world and behind the scenes of some of his most iconic movies and television shows, like A Beautiful Mind, Empire, Arrested Development, American Gangster, and 8 Mile, to show just how much in-person encounters have revolutionized his life—and how they have the power to change yours.

With his flair for intriguing stories, Grazer reveals what he’s learned through interactions with people like Bill Gates, Taraji P. Henson, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Eminem, Prince, Spike Lee, and the Afghani rapper activist Sonita: that the secret to a bigger life lies in personal connection. In a world where our attention is too often focused downward at our devices, Grazer argues that we are missing an essential piece of the human experience. Only when we are face to face, able to look one another in the eyes, can we form the kinds of connections that expand our world views, deepen our self-awareness, and ultimately lead to our greatest achievements and most meaningful moments.

When we lift our eyes to look at the person in front of us, we open the door to infinite possibility.

About The Author

Sage Grazer

Brian Grazer is an Oscar Award­–winning producer and New York Times bestselling author. His films and television shows have been nominated for forty-seven Academy Awards and 242 Emmy Awards. His credits include A Beautiful Mind, 24, Apollo 13, Splash, Arrested Development, Empire, 8 Mile, Friday Night Lights, American Gangster, and Genius, among others. He is the author of Face to Face and the #1 New York Times bestseller A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life, which won the 2016 Books for a Better Life Award. Grazer was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and is the cofounder of Imagine Entertainment along with his longtime business partner, Ron Howard.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (September 17, 2019)
  • Length: 208 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781501147746

Raves and Reviews

“Mr. Grazer—as you might imagine for someone who helped create A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster, and Friday Night Lights—is a skilled storyteller….In a world where people appear to carry out love affairs and pursue business relationships solely by text, making the effort to meet someone in person, undistracted, is a strategy worth considering.”
The Wall Street Journal

“Brian Grazer’s book reminds us of the fundamental ingredient to success: human connection. This is essential reading for the digital age.”
—Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

“I don’t know anyone as interesting—or interested—as Brian Grazer. Face to Face is a how-to guide to connecting to other people. Nobody else I know could have written it.”
—Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“I remember countless times when Brian made the impossible, possible, through a single face to face conversation. In his new book, he has done a deep dive into the subject of influential face-to-face communication and why it gets things done in business and in life.”
—Ron Howard, Academy Awardwinning director

“In this digital age, connecting is what humanity is all about. Brian Grazer’s captivating and very personal stories are a call to action for us all to see one another. Face to Face's message is essential for our time."
—Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of 23andMe

“In our increasingly digital world, Brian Grazer take us on his personal journey of human connection. He proves that the simple step of making eye contact transformed his life and can change yours too. This is a must read for our time.”
—Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker

“I’ve known Brian for almost thirty years and I’ve collaborated with him more than anyone. He’s easily one of the most creative minds I’ve encountered and he’s smarter then everybody. He’s a great communicator with an insatiable curiosity about people from all walks of life.”
—Eddie Murphy

“I loved this book. Grazer’s stories convey both the power of personal connection and the importance of meaningful, face-to-face interactions to create a sense of belonging.”
—Brian Chesky, co-founder, CEO, and head of community at Airbnb

“No matter where you are in life or career, Face to Face will help unlock your full potential. This is a compelling must-read for all!”
—Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and CEO of Bumble

“Being connected is not the same thing as connecting. Only when we meet people, face to face, can we form the kinds of meaningful connections that truly matter in our lives. And Brian Grazer is the master. Told through the stories of his own journey, Face to Face is a great reminder and a valuable guide for how we too can connect with people in deeper, more meaningful ways.”
—Simon Sinek, optimist and New York Times bestselling author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last

“Brian’s gift is being able to get to the essence of what, and more importantly, why a person feels the way they do. His stories and insights will open your heart and mind to the urgency of human connection.”
—Jimmy Lovine, entrepreneur

“At a time when human connection is increasingly interrupted by our growing addiction to screens, this captivating book reveals how we can all transform our lives by truly connecting with others. Using highly personal stories, Brian Grazer shows how the simple act of looking up can change your life.”
—Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global

“Brian Grazer is a world champion at knowing how to connect with people. Through tales of his relationships with the world’s most interesting people, he reveals his secrets on how to deal with people face to face.”
—Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci

“Brian’s gift is being able to get to the essence of what, and more importantly, why a person feels the way they do. His stories and insights will open your heart and mind to the urgency of human connection.”
—Jimmy Iovine, entrepreneur

“At a time when human connection is increasingly interrupted by our growing addiction to screens, this captivating book reveals how we can all transform our lives by truly connecting with others. Using highly personal stories, Brian Grazer shows how the simple act of looking up can change your life.”
—Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global

“Brian Grazer is a world champion at knowing how to connect with people. Through tales of his relationships with the world’s most interesting people, he reveals his secrets on how to deal with people face to face.”
—Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci

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