Be Exceptional: Master the Five Traits That Set Extraordinary People Apart

by Joe Navarro, Toni Sciarra Poynter

Joe Navarro spent a quarter century with the FBI, pursuing spies and other dangerous criminals across the globe. In his line of work, successful leadership was quite literally a matter of life or death. Now he brings his hard-earned lessons to you. Be Exceptional distills a lifetime of experience into five principles that outstanding individuals live

To lead others, you must first demonstrate that you can lead yourself.

Apply the same techniques used by the FBI to quickly and accurately assess any situation.

Harness the power of verbal and nonverbal interaction to persuade, motivate, and inspire.

Build shared purpose and lead by example.

Psychological Discover the secret ingredient of exceptional individuals.

Be Exceptional is the culmination of Joe Navarro’s decades spent analyzing human behavior, conducting more than 10,000 interviews in the field, and making high-stakes behavioral assessments. Drawing upon case studies from history, compelling firsthand accounts from Navarro’s FBI career, and cutting-edge science on nonverbal communication and persuasion, this is a new type of leadership book, one that will have the power to transform for years to come.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Business, Personal Development, Leadership, Audiobook

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2021

About the author

Joe Navarro is an author, public speaker and ex-FBI agent. Navarro specializes in the area of nonverbal communication or body language and has authored numerous books.

Reviews

[Nazlee Hasan · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, thank you Goodreads for the giveaway.

I give two stars because Navarro offers insight to the field he used to work in and his thoughts aren't necessarily bad ideas. They just should've been fleshed out more efficiently.

It feels like he just grabs notable people from the Top 200 famous people to keep it relevant and makes their stories align with the point he is trying to make. Nothing wrong with staying relevant, but there are too many people here; "relevance" was abused to death. I kept saying "okay, we get it" numerous times to myself. He should've stuck to his personal stories paired with ONE celebrity anecdote.

There are grammar and punctuation errors out the wazoo. I initially didn't want to take his phrasing issues personally, but this is not his first book. Also, writing is literally his job description... as Navarro mentions incessantly in this book. Thirdly, HE HAS AN EDITOR!!! An editor's literal job description is fixing these problems, which occured so often it made me angrier and angrier as I read.... and then eventually skimmed.

The content itself isn't particularly profound in context. There are some cute sentences here and there, but it doesn't justify writing a book, maybe an essay at best. And isn't often enough to make up for the grammar issues, either. He elaborates too much, repeating himself ad nauseum. It feels like Navarro is trying to hit a word-count every chapter. He doesn't have a unique writing style either, that justifies the long chapters, that really may not be that long, but feel INCREDIBLY long. His writing style reads like a teen or college student who is attempting to appeal to adults at a writing level he/she is nowhere near, with ideas that couldn't have possibly been thought of before.

(Why did he internally cite his own book?)

This was riddled with print issues, random moments, spacing, and sentences printed on other sentences. Perhaps not Navarro's fault, but WHERE THE FUCK IS THE EDITOR or a poor intern who can just briefly flip through the pages to make sure everything literally looks okay!? There is literally a missing page and entire sections are missing, like the index and the "About the Author" page. There's a title, but nothing under it. Is this intentional?

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Fire the editor and do some major cutting and clean-up. Fix one particular paragraph's placement and you've got a remarkably average book you'll feel guilty you rated 3 stars considering all the work Navarro did working for the FBI and writing this book, neither a walk in the park. The book would be decent enough to end up as one of those leadership books, schools assign for summer reading. Also, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SOMEONE HAND THIS MAN A THESAURUS. You could create a drinking game out of the words he repeats ad infinitum. Given a basic outline, I could've written a much better book for Navarro.

Intriguing premise, but failed miserably. I'm beyond irritated.

[Raquel Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah blah blah, good point, blah blah blah blah. This could have been a 10 minute Ted talk instead of a watered down motivation book that I skimmed to get to the main points.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I disagree with the people that did not like this book. My whole life my parents taught me to be kind, care about others, be a great employee and friend to people, and strive to be the very best you can be in life. So I agree with this author that being exceptional is how we live our lives and how we treat others. Also exceptional people persevere and will on going even in adversity. Some of this book is a little to technical for me. I think everyone can have the ability to be exceptional in life but I do not see many people who are willing to try for this. I am very lucky my parents taught all the things that this book talks about.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. It’s a very heavy-handed and obvious book. There are good tidbits but it is somewhat painful to read. (Painful in that he hammers the point excessively and everything is very apparent. Maybe I’m exceptionally well rounded? Or this is not well edited.)

In the first section, there were often sections that the font increased in size. I guess that’s one way to make sure you get the point.

I’m guessing the entire book is full of nuggets of wisdom, but it’s a little too cute and heavy handed for my taste.

I love winning books, but I will donate this to another place.

[Enakshi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The market is flooded with self-help books that promise to guide the readers in the right direction. Most of the books also claim that their content is so strong that it has impacted many. However, the truth behind the facade of selling copies is way different. Hardly a few books have the calibre to come in handy in the practical situations of life. Like how Covey’s 7 Habits proved out to be extremely rational and pragmatic in implementing a routine in life, Be Exceptional by Jow Navarro is another book that delves deeper into the concept of self-improvement under the guidance of legitimate coaches.

Read the full review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...

[Daryll XD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before We Begin

The Five Domains of the Exceptional Self-Mastery: The Heart of the Exceptional By crafting our own apprenticeships, understanding ourselves through honest reflection, and cultivating key habits that lead to personal achievement, we lay the foundation for an exceptional life. Observation: Seeing What Matters By increasing our ability to observe the needs, preferences, intentions, and desires of others, as well as their fears and concerns, we are better prepared to be able to decode people and situations with speed and accuracy, gaining the clarity to do what is best, what is right, and what is effective. Communication: From Informative to Transformative By embracing both verbal and nonverbal skills, we can express ideas more efficiently and intentionally, appealing to the heart and mind and establishing bonds that build trust, loyalty, and social harmony. Action: Make It Timely, Ethical, and Prosocial By knowing and applying the ethical and social framework for appropriate action, we can learn, as exceptional people do, to “do the right thing at the right time.” Psychological Comfort: The Most Powerful Strength Humans Possess By grasping the foundational truth that what humans ultimately seek is psychological comfort, we can discover what exceptional people know: that whoever provides psychological comfort through caring wins.

Chapter 1: Self-Mastery: The Heart of the Exceptional

Somehow, through sheer persistence and out of necessity, I became fully fluent in English in about a year. There is nothing like immersive socializing for learning a language. I had been put back a grade so I could catch up academically, and in time I made up two years in one. But that was only the beginning. There was the issue of my accent. I had to work hard to get rid of it because one thing I learned was that if you speak with an accent in America, you stand out, and I so wanted to fit in. Eventually I was able to overcome my accent, but there was always the reality that there was so much to learn that my classmates knew that I didn’t know: all the things we learn from toddlerhood on, on the playground, while watching TV, by attending the same schools, and through years of culture and socialization.

Some people find it easier to value and take care of others than themselves. But just as we support others in bettering themselves, so too we have that same responsibility to ourselves. Once you accept that the best way to value yourself is through your own commitment to become a better version of yourself, you’re on your way to becoming an exceptional individual. Every time I read about someone in their eighties who graduates from high school or like Giuseppe Paternò who at the age of ninety-six finally graduated from college, I’m reminded that here is a person whose plans may have been derailed by work, responsibilities, or misfortune but who remained committed to investing in their education; even late in life, because they valued themselves. And what a beautiful example they set for all of us.

On graduation day, I celebrated by, of all things, getting a library card at the city library. Away from the university, now there was time to read whatever I wanted, not just what was required. I created my own apprenticeship in nonverbals, learning about the body language of Trobriand Islanders in the Pacific one day and about greeting gestures among the first people of Alaska the next. The nonverbals the conquistadores observed when they arrived in the New World were just as fascinating to me as the mandated color of clothing King Henry VIII allowed his nobles to wear. The body language Sir Richard Burton observed in Africa while seeking to find the origins of the Nile was every bit as interesting as the customs and mannerisms the medieval explorer Ibn Battuta found over a thirty-year period and seventy-five thousand miles traveling across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia. What no class could teach me, I sought to teach myself. I apprenticed myself to study everything I could about body language and nonverbal communication from psychologists, zoologists, ethologists, anthropologists, clinicians, ethnographers, artists, photographers, primatologists, sculptors, and anatomists. This self-apprenticeship went further afield than I ever could have anticipated—and changed my life in the process.

When I got that library card and started my self-apprenticeship on nonverbal communication, I never dreamed I would meet the giants in the field: Paul Ekman, Bella DePaulo, Judee Burgoon, Mark Frank, David Givens, Joe Kulis, Amy Cuddy, and many others. I couldn’t imagine that I’d be recruited by the FBI and use my knowledge to catch spies, terrorists, and kidnappers. I never foresaw that I would write more than a dozen books on human behavior, give yearly lectures at the Harvard Business School, do educational videos that would receive over thirty-five million views, and consult for organizations and governments all over the world. I had no idea that in apprenticing myself, following my own bliss, doors would in time open to me, as Joseph Campbell had forecast, where I didn’t even “know they were going to be.” It was hard work. I had to make a total commitment to learn about nonverbal communication—something I still pursue every day. But hard work is the price of this gift we give ourselves of choosing to follow our bliss.

You don’t have to be aiming to improve or save the world or its creatures to mentor yourself to a better state of being and living. I think of the young man in the lane next to mine at the local pool who has practiced to perfection the low-silhouette “combat swim”—on one’s side, arms kept below the waterline to eliminate splash, gliding between strokes, only the mouth pops up out of the water for a breath—based on a video he downloaded from the internet, because he aspires to be a US Navy SEAL. Or of William, a man in his early forties, who recognizes that when he’s excited about something, he talks too fast. He knows it, his wife certainly knows it, but so do his senior managers, who want him to “take it down a notch.”

Self-apprenticeships take time, but not necessarily money. For years, the local library was my greatest resource in my self-mentoring in nonverbal communication. The internet brings a universe of information within easy reach—from easy-to-follow video tutorials to authoritative articles to engaging podcasts. You can also get leads on resources simply by telling people on social media what you’re pursuing.

Emotions must be kept in balance at all times. Either you control emotions or emotions will rule over you. Although Special Agent Moody was my junior in the FBI by a decade, she was my senior by decades when it came to dealing with the demands and stresses of the office. Those everyday events in a high-pressure environment that keep our emotions ever-ready so we can act can also cause us to be irritated, testy, or inconsiderate.

If she sensed I was getting more upset, she would give me a muchneeded maternal look and say, “Joe, go for a run. I’m not going to talk to you until you come back.” And I would. I would come back much tamer. Even during lunch, she would sense my urgency to get back to work and insist I slow down: “Your mouth is for eating. It’s not a woodchipper.”

When we are young, if not checked, emotionally boorish behaviors can shape us, and not in a good way. We have all known a spoiled brat or an inconsiderate person with little emotional control. Temper tantrums, grudges, petty jealousies, impulsive behaviors, intentional meltdowns to garner attention, and other toxic acts that impose on others can become routine. Over time they can become even more noxious, leading to harassment, bullying, even to acting out violently. I’m sure you or someone you know has remarked that someone at work is acting like a child. They are not. They are acting like adults who have not learned to self-regulate their emotions. The pettiness, lashing out, bullying, or impulsive behaviors we are seeing in adulthood are simply because they lack self-regulation.

Take impulsiveness, for instance. Essentially, it’s the inability to regulate our desires and step in with logic to say “That is a bad idea” when our impulsive act may in fact hurt us as well as others. Just look at what happened to the stock market price of SpaceX when its founder, Elon Musk, decided to smoke marijuana during a podcast. Overnight, investors lost confidence as they wondered if he was capable of regulating himself. After all, if you invest tens of millions in one individual’s vision, you want the person to at least know better than to go on a public forum and take a toke.

The first key to emotional regulation is to acknowledge that emotions can and will affect us and learn to recognize when we feel our emotions surging up. Start with some simple questions about your emotional habits: What emotions do I find most challenging to manage (worry/fear, sadness, anger)? What tends to “set me off” (too many tight deadlines, not enough sleep, when x person does or says y, when a certain combination of things happens)? When I’m emotionally hijacked, how do I behave (yelling, saying mean things, sulking, banging things around, withdrawing, unhealthy eating/drinking/drugs)?

Once you have a sense of what sets you off emotionally and how you tend to react, raise your threshold against emotional hijacking by looking for strategies you can implement to deal with stress. This could be an excellent self-apprenticeship, as there’s a great deal of scientific study and literature on stress reduction. Or start closer to home: Think about those people you know who handle things well—they don’t lose their cool; they stay focused and decisive under pressure; they deal respectfully with others even when their patience is tested. What do they do in these situations? Really observe and be specific here. How might you adapt their strategies to the situations that challenge you emotionally? Look for blog posts, books, and videos that deal with emotional regulation or anger management.

“Very strong work ethic across the team”—and to this, which caught my eye: “We’re a very no drama team. We get to work and do what we need to do. I think that is what has made us so strong.” It’s not that the players don’t have emotions. They do—they are überpassionate. It’s that their emotions are channeled into something productive.

You can be an extraordinary artist, businessperson, or scientist, but that doesn’t make you an exceptional person. Exceptional individuals aren’t just masterful at what they do or for what they know. They are exceptional because of how they live their lives and how they treat others. They are influential in the ways that matter most: by how they make us feel, how they behave toward others, how they care and make sacrifices for the benefit of others. Self-mastery is about who we are as people, apart from what we do. Much of that boils down to what we call conscientiousness.

Conscientious people have the ability to toggle between empirical and emotional realities. They can blend their knowledge, technical skills, and the facts of the situation with understanding of the added dynamics of their own and others’ feelings. This ability makes them exquisitely insightful and enormously effective, able to harness their own full potential and encourage it in others. One way to understand conscientiousness is to look at how conscientious people behave: They accomplish tasks while being mindful of their responsibilities toward others, the community, and the environment. They’re aware of the consequences of their actions. They can delay gratification when other things take precedence. They have the humility to know they’re not always right. They are dependable, disciplined, persistent, and well-intentioned.

I had always been curious to know why so many great marathon runners are from Ethiopia and Kenya, so I decided to ask him. I expected many answers—genetics, healthy diet, physiology, altitude, instilled discipline— but not the one he gave. “We did not have radios or television or even newspapers when I was growing up,” he replied. That was a curious answer and one I hadn’t heard before, so I asked what he meant by that. “When I was growing up,” he said, “we just ran everywhere, always, and as fast as possible, because we had responsibilities.” I still didn’t get it. He laughed with good patience and a beautiful contrasting smile before he elaborated: “No one ever told us what the world speed records were. We had no limits imposed on us as children and we did not impose them on ourselves. We just ran everywhere as fast as we could.

Take some time to answer these questions honestly: What expectations do others have of me? Do I find these expectations burdensome or motivating? Which ones are in alignment with my own goals and interests? What expectations do I have of myself? Are there ways that I might be limiting my own potential? What training, information, knowledge, or skills would I need to reach my goals and pursue my interests? What, if anything, is holding me back? What could I do to move forward?

According to researchers, these sea marauders, as they are known, spend up to 60 percent of their day in the water, diving for fish, sea urchins, sea slugs, octopus, and bivalves, without SCUBA tanks. Over the generations, they have so adapted to the necessity to dive deep and for longer periods of time that their spleens have grown 50 percent larger than their nondiving neighbors’ in Malaysia (or, for that matter, anyone reading these words), to carry more oxygen-rich red blood cells. This allows them to dive to depths of more than two hundred feet and stay under for thirteen minutes at a time. By contrast, most people can barely hold their breath for forty-five seconds, and even a whale calf has to surface for air at least every three to five minutes. Scientists theorize that as the Bajau adapted over the centuries to their aquatic needs, what resulted were changes not only in their attitudes in relation to the ocean, but also in their actual physiology.

Exceptional individuals are constructively self-critical. They care about being and doing better. This self-analysis, which I call demonology, allows them to set a better course for themselves. Perhaps this explains why you’re reading this book. No matter what your age and life experience, there’s a better world of your own making waiting for you if you’re willing to do the following: Look at yourself realistically. Ponder how you can change. Examine how you view yourself and relate to the world around you. Constructively take steps to constantly rectify or improve your behaviors.
Highlight (pink) - Page 44
When I meet people who say that they seem to get in trouble all the time, don’t last at a job for very long, always date the “wrong kind” of person, and so on, immediately I think: Here is someone who has had many learning experiences but has never self-corrected. While certain events can be frustrating, even painful, exceptional individuals don’t just learn but selfcorrect. Over and over. They will self-correct for a lifetime. Why wait for the next calamity? Head it off: begin that self-awareness now.

Michael stopped what he was doing. I’m not sure what emotions he was feeling, but for a moment he looked like he was about to cry. Then he went right back to work. I asked him to think about what I said because he was starting his career and now was the time to address the question. As I walked away, he said something I will never forget. He said, “No one ever told us in training to think about how we want to be known.” “They never told me that in the FBI, either,” I replied. Fact is, no organization does. That is the kind of question only the exceptional ask. How do you want to be known? Few, if any, will ever ask you this question. But it’s the only question that matters. Because that is the only thing in life that you can shape. How do you want to be known? There are many adjectives you might choose: efficient, precise, resourceful, capable, smart, clever, industrious, creative, kind, joyful—to name some. I’m sure you aren’t choosing words like indifferent, sarcastic, petty, snotty, caustic, complaining, or lazy.

Taking a good look at ourselves isn’t just important for the workplace. Our interpersonal relationships can use a checkup, also. Over time in relationships, it’s easy to develop bad habits or behaviors that need course correction. Unfortunately, many people erroneously feel that it’s up to others to tell them if they’re doing something wrong, and if no one complains, it must mean that everything they’re doing must be okay.

Exceptional individuals are realistic about their imperfections and tackle them head on. Seek out the resources that will help you, be it getting coaching, counseling, mentoring, or help through books and research to gain insight and coping strategies. Whether it’s choosing better friends, working on public speaking, getting less angry, or being more organized— whatever you feel weakest at, there are ways to effectively deal with it.

As it turns out, fulfilling the smallest of tasks diligently is one of the strongest and most reliable predictors of future success, and that is the essence of the research on conscientiousness. Why would these elite warriors need to make their beds as part of their basic training? Because when you do small tasks with care, you are valuing yourself and reinforcing a “sense of pride” in how you complete your duties in life. Habitually bringing dedication to the small things we do each and every day creates a positive trend. And a trend, nourished properly, can become destiny.

Talk to experts in any field, and they’ll tell you that “talent” is something you work at. These men and women may be blessed with talent for running. But perfected practice is how they unlock it. They are harnessing a capacity every one of us is born with. We are wir

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my daughter, who at 25 started her own business. Surprise, surprise--she doesn't have time to read it, so I took the book from her for a week to read it myself. I am 61, had a 31-year career with the federal government, and after retiring took a volunteer management job with a nonprofit. Even at my "advanced" age, I found some points from Mr. Navarro, which I could use, such as having more empathy and patience with other people. I think my daughter has the same shortcoming, which she can certainly improve on. The only criticism I have is that Mr. Navarro cited some people as admirable, but I beg to differ with his choice of James Mattis (brave in battle but a coward with Trump); Bill Gates (pal of Jeffrey Epstein and undergoing a rather pubic divorce); and Thomas Jefferson (slave owner).

[Bethany Woodcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this is a great book for helping someone change their mindset, and that you are the only one that can control your own actions. I really liked the last chapter on psychological comfort as it provided the best content in the book.

I found there to be quite a bit of waffle and ideas are repeated over and over in different ways throughout the chapters. There was very little help or advice, mostly anecdotes or stories that are digested and situations observed.

I like the idea of self-apprenticeships, however, the author encourages self-improvement in all spare time. The quote ‘while his friends are watching Formula One races on TV on their day off, he is improving himself’ can be a dangerous path - not having relaxing downtime can be extremely detrimental on a persons mental health. They even go on to say how taking care of yourself is a ‘self-imposed limit’ dictated by society and that there’s no need to stop and rest.

We shouldn’t be striving for absolute perfection in ourselves, we’re only human. Just be a little better.

[Darcy Gabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost me in the first few chapters when he excessively praised Ben Franklin as an “exceptional” person, without acknowledging the immense privilege Ben Franklin had as a wealthy slave owner. If you literally enslave and exploit human beings, it opens up a lot of free time to do cool shit. And sure- the stuff Ben did was cool, but let’s not label him an exceptional person.

I don’t need to read further to know this book isn’t for me.

[Alain Burrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book!

[Thomas Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hvorfor skal sådan nogle amerikanske bøger her have så frygtelige titler? Hvis jeg skulle bestemme, hvad den skulle hedde på dansk, skulle det være: "Sådan bliver du et bedre, og mere empatisk menneske - og en bedre chef, hvis det skulle være din ting" (jeg kan forstå at længere er bedre, her). Ikke at jeg har noget imod ordet Exceptionel, det lyder bare så .. corny.

Jeg ved ikke helt, om dette er en selvhjælpsbog - den peger mere mod et mål, end den holder dig i hånden. Den gør ikke, at du "master" noget eller har tolv nemme regler for livet, når du er færdig, men du vil have styrket din lyst til at blive rollemodel, fordi du gør noget godt for dine omgivelser (og dermed også for dig selv). Måske vil du og din retning bliver lidt mere sikker. Jeg tror det er en inspirations-bog. (se billede 2)

Gode bøger af denne type - som fx den her - er en påmindelse om alle de ting, jeg prøver at huske at gøre og at være i mit liv. Grundlæggende er det en kombination af stoicisme, mindfulness og sådan-er-du-en-god-ven/leder. Ting som det er vigtigt, at blive mindet om igen og igen, fordi de kan være svære at holde fast i. De gode af denne genre bøger gør det ved at løfte os alle op og gøre os til lidt større mennesker. De hjælper os med at mødes, og de ønsker at gøre verden til et bedre sted. De dårlige af slagsen gør det ved at spille på frygt og ved at lære dig at hævde dig, så du kan føle sig større end andre. De rigtige dårlige af slagsen prøver at lære dig at vinde over andre. De gør verden mindre.

Jeg synes, dette er en overraskende interessant bog - den har en meget positiv og inkluderende vinkel på hvordan, vi kan være i livet, og det er svært ikke at blive i godt humør. Vinklen er på, hvordan vi kan være inspirerende, både for os selv og andre, ved at være mere tilstede, mere i live og kommunikere bedre. Ved at være - okay, okay, jeg siger det - Exceptionelle.

Jeg kommer til at vende tilbage til den her, kan jeg mærke.

Jeg har hørt lydbogen og bestilt papirudgaven til senere genlæsning.

[shadowbook.czyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

💪🏻BĄDŹ NIEZWYKŁY💪🏻

Zacznę może od tego, że nie wiem jak określić gatunek tej książki. Niby jest a niby nie, czymś w rodzaju książki typu #selfhelp ale jest bardziej nastawiona na osiąganie celu niż trzymaniu „za rękę”. Ta książka nie sprawi że cokolwiek „opanujemy” ani nie przedstawi prostych zasad na życie, ale wzmocni pragnienie bycia wzorem do naśladowania, robiąc coś dobrego dla swojego otoczenia (a w tym dla samego siebie) i wzmocni pewność siebie.

To książka, która przypomina o wszystkich rzeczach, o których staram się pamiętać i które robię w swoim życiu. Zasadniczo jest to połączenie stoicyzmu, uważności i tego, jak dobrym jesteś przyjacielem/partnerem/liderem.
Podnosi na duchu i pomaga patrzeć na siebie jak na „większego człowieka”. Wzmacnia chęć uczynienia tego świata lepszym. Uczy asertywności i radzenia sobie ze strachem.

Mimo wielu negatywnych opinii które czytałam, myśle że to naprawdę interesująca książka - przedstawia bardzo pozytywne spojrzenie na to jak utrzymywać się w dobrym nastroju mimo przeciwności. Jak możemy inspirować zarówno siebie, jak i innych, będąc bardziej obecnymi, bardziej żywymi i lepiej komunikującymi się jednostkami.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a truly great leader, Be Exceptional delivers the answer with the precision of a seasoned FBI agent (because, well, that’s exactly who wrote it).

Navarro's five principles are rooted in real-world examples, psychological insights, and lessons learned in life-or-death situations. Whether it's mastering yourself before leading others, learning to observe with laser-sharp focus, or understanding the subtle art of psychological comfort, this book offers tools that are as practical as they are transformative.

Every leader should aspire to be the kind of person Navarro describes—calm under pressure, deeply attuned to others, and relentlessly action-oriented. In fact, I’d argue this book should be required reading for anyone stepping into a leadership role (and, frankly, for anyone already in one). Imagine how much better our workplaces, communities, and world could be if everyone applied even a fraction of these principles.

[Sameera Nanayakkara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Navarro is without doubt one of the best in the field of non verbal communication. All his books including "Be Exceptional" are backed by thorough research, highly credible data and his own experience.

This book in particular for me, is a right in your face kind of narrative of facts one might at times feel that they already knew. But it was presented in a praise worthy lay out and elobaration with very relevant examples.

But one down side I felt was the fact that at times there was too much elaboration and repetition that I had to struggle to continue reading devoid of boredom.

Overall a worth while read.

[Michelle Fararoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychological Comfort is the key to being exceptional

Joe is one of my fave authors ever! This is the 4th book I read by him and I’m so glad I did. He goes into detail about what makes an individual exceptional. And even if there are many items her mentions, the main take-away for me was being kind, self-accountable and providing psychological comfort. He also touches on fear, which is a subject not many authors talk about when writing about how to be a better or a successful person. It gives you a better grasp of why fear can be useful in certain occasions, and when it’s your worst enemy. I highly recommend this book!

[Jeraldine Phneah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book resonated with me because it focuses less on surface-level charm and more on something far more enduring: character. Joe Navarro outlines five pillars—Self-Mastery, Observation, Communication, Action, and Psychological Comfort. These aren’t just lofty ideals; they are disciplines to be lived out. A framework for becoming the kind of leader others instinctively trust and follow.

What stayed with me most was his emphasis on psychological comfort—the ability to make others feel safe, seen, and valued. In an age of noise and surface-level engagement, this quiet strength is what sets exceptional people apart.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. Navarro gives interesting advice and some tales of his time as an FBI agent. However, he is somewhat repetitive. For example, the discussion of the director running with them in the mornings appears over and over in that chapter. We get it. Also, there’s a lot of self congratulatory language. Ultimately, though, the font and spacing in the text needs to be addressed in the final copy as there were random larger text and sometimes text overlay that made it difficult to read.

[Steve Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked books like this that offer ways to look at yourself and improve. The stories the author used to help readers understand how to be exceptional were very good with mostly personal tales mixed with a more famous tales and quotes.

I really liked the questions at the end of the first chapter and wish the author had continued that practice throughout the book.

Note: I won a copy of a proof of this book and agreed to write a review.

[Katie Cat Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction. Self help. Communication.

An ex FBI agent uses his experience and training to help others improve themselves and how they communicate.

Long chapters, citations, written during pandemic.

No about the author, just two sentences about his fbi career.

One of the better self help books I've read. Focuses a lot on bettering and educating oneself. Uses a lot of Asian and American historical figures as examples. Definitely one to read and read again.

[thiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another potentially life-changing book from the exceptional Joe!

It is the third book I read from mr Navarro, and once again he is spot on! Reading "Dangerous Personalities" helped me identify and leave a narcissistic and toxic boss. Now, after reading "Be Exceptional" I feel that once again his words will help me make some good decisions in my life. Thank you Joe!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspiring and full of sage advice !

I don’t write reviews very often but Be Exceptional is a phenomenal guide for those who want to create a legacy and create a positive change and influence in this world! I’ll be reading this again and again in my quest to improve myself and whose lives I touch!

[Nikolay Atanasov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much as I have read various book on the topic of self-improvement and human behaviour, this book summarizes the essential knowledge a person need. The author's ability to discuss every topic in such a captivating way kept me engaged until the end. Although I was kinda sceptical at first sight, I found myself pleasantly surprised as this book quickly became a personal favorite.

[Conor McNamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a book that feels far too long for the material it has: a lot of it is regurgitated or feels circular "This person makes this trait exceptional and this trait makes this person exceptional".

There are definitely good nuggets in there but it feels like something that could be simplified in a blog post and not a 200+ page book.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Exceptional is a great self-help/leadership book that many will find helpful in their day-to-day lives. The author provides many examples on "how to reach the five principles that outstanding individuals live by". It is an easy read, highly engaging book. Highly recommend!

[Joshua · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a 5 page pamphlet worth of information stretched out over 9 hours.
This book is decent for anyone who has never read a success or self-help book. Otherwise there is nothing unique here. Very few FBI stories.
Read Mr Navarro’s other books and skip this.

[pernille kvamsdal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bodylanguage aspect drew me to this book, but ultimatively it was a bit of a dissapointment and felt like a repetition of some of Dale Carnegies work.

Still searching for scientifically backed reads on body language.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic step-by-step guide to becoming a great person. This book does a fantastic job of presenting the information in a reliable way. It also give tips on things you can practice to strengthen areas that might not be as strong as we would like.

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Aileen C. Jong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, engaging insightful

Amazing book that is thoughtful and patient in presenting how to become exceptional. More than one could ask for in any how to personal development book. Easy narrative style. Enjoyed his FBI stories very much. Thank you Mr. Navarro!

[Divij Sood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed through the second half. The book started well but progressively got worse. By the end it was a collection of anecdotes with no clear takeaway. Hard to understand why it’s rated at an average of 4 here.

[Tanya Yaremkiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just yes to this whole book. One of my favorite behavioral psychologists' references this book and I'm so glad to have finally read it. I appreciate the author's approach and easy to understand principles that every person should have to be extraordinary.