Conversation: How to Be Instantly Likeable in Any Interaction

by Vanessa Van Edwards

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

Break the ice without being awkwardStop overthinking what to say next and tune in to your conversation partnerPose the 9 power questions that will level up any relationshipChange the subject or end a conversation without damaging the relationshipDecode people’s personality patterns so you’re never guessing how to respondBe 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.

Audible Audio

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral researcher, bestselling author, and Harvard University instructor who has spent two decades sharing evidence-based people skills with the world.

As founder of Science of People, a behavior research lab, she has turned the hidden dynamics of human interaction into practical, learnable frameworks. Her bestselling books Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication have been translated into 18 languages, and her research has reached over 300 million people worldwide last year.

Vanessa works with the world's most ambitious organizations to sharpen the skill that drives everything else — communication. Her clients include Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Comcast, and she has spoken at MIT, Stanford, and SXSW. Her work has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, USA Today, and The Today Show.

Her recent MasterClass, People Intelligence, became one of the top ten most watched classes of the year. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken her courses, and thousands have graduated from her advanced program, People School.

In a world that's automating everything, Vanessa teaches the one skill that can't be replaced — how to connect as humans.