Author Name: John Niffenegger

The subject of this book is extremely fascinating to us, and we hope you feel the same. We draw on our long experience with our clients and a rapidly growing body of social research. It seems like every day brings a new study with fresh insights that enhance our thinking. As we write this on Guy Fawkes Day in 2012, we realize that what we have presented is by no means the final word on the subject. With that in mind, this book aims to work in conjunction with compellingpeople.com, where we exchange perspectives on current events and relevant issues, discuss the latest research and its future directions, and provide useful tools for bringing some of these concepts to life.

We've designed this book in a way that we hope will be engaging and enjoyable to read. After exploring the main idea in the first section, we examine the implications and impact of this when we evaluate someone—and, more importantly, when you are being evaluated—then explore how the main idea develops through application to a variety of real-life situations. Written in a straightforward, straightforward style, everything in this book is designed to help you better understand the people around you and the situations you encounter. You can also use this book as a reference, navigating through the sections most relevant to your goals. If you browse through the book, know that the "Practical Steps" section and the conclusion provide useful tools and perspectives to help you operationalize the ideas covered throughout. If you're not in a hurry, take a look at the endnotes, where you'll find research citations, resources, ideas, and stories.