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“Hi, My Name Is Michael Ellsberg, And I’m Here To Lead An Eye Contact Revolution.”

An eye contact revolution? What the heck is that?

Well, no one makes eye contact with each other anymore. I’m here to change that.

We all have our faces buried in our Twitter, our Facebook, our iPhones, our MacBooks.

Now, I love my Twitter just as much as anybody else. And my Facebook. And my iPhone. And my Macbook.

But, when a screen stares back at you, do you see the depths of another soul? Do you see pain, longing, desire, hope, decency, depth… humanity?

These things, my friends, we can only get from eye contact. Which is becoming a lost art. And a vanishing phenomenon

Five years ago, I started Eye Gazing Parties, a series of singles events based on eye contact. I thought it was as wacky as an idea as everyone else, but somehow, they struck a chord with people. I think people are feeling isolated, craving human connection. And somehow the chance to gaze deeply into others’ eyes and make a real, honest, open connection, even if only for a few minutes, seemed like an opportunity not to be missed.

The media caught on–and Eye Gazing Parties were featured in the New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, and in Tim Ferriss’s #1 New York Times bestseller The Four-Hour Workweek (pp. 60-61). Elle magazine called them “New York’s hottest dating trend.”

But more important than the press accolades, from hosting these events across the country, in NYC, SF, and at a rollicking workshop at Burning Man 2009 with over 100 people in attendance, I’ve seen the power of eye contact to transform.

It can transform our everyday interactions into near-magical moments of beauty.

It can transform a simple hello into an adventure into another person’s world.

It can transform a rushed interaction into a moment where time stands still. Just for a moment.

Now, I’ve gathered all the wisdom about eye contact and human connection I could find, and put it into one place, my new book The Power of Eye Contact, published by HarperCollins April 2010.

In the book, I interview some of the coolest people on the planet about why eye contact is so important to our lives as humans, and how we can use it to enrich our social, spiritual, and professional lives.

Here’s what others are saying about the book:

“Something magical happens when two people connect eye-to-eye. Michael Ellsberg’s wonderful book helps you create that magic every day.”
—Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason

 

“Rumi often speaks of the soul mystery that gets exchanged through the eyes, in the glance. Michael Ellsberg provides a clear guide on how we can bring this practice, with all its beauty and power, into our own lives.”
—Coleman Barks, bestselling author of The Essential Rumi, The Soul of Rumi and Rumi: The Book of Love

 

“The Power of Eye Contact is a must-read book if you want a lasting relationship–or want to deepen the one you’re in. Few skills hold as much potential in the realm of the heart as offering your deep presence through your gaze. Michael Ellsberg shows you the way.” —Marie Forleo, author Make Every Man Want You

 

“After I swam the Amazon, demand for my public speaking skyrocketed. No one has taught me more about connecting with audiences on a visceral level than Michael Ellsberg.”
—Martin Strel, holder of 4 Guinness World Records in marathon swimming, co-author of The Man Who Swam the Amazon, professional public speaker

 

“Effective business networking depends on effective eye contact. If you want to improve your networking skills, this book will be an important read.”
—Dr. Ivan Misner, author of the New York Times bestselling Masters of Networking and Truth or Delusion? Busting Networking’s Biggest Myths

 

“Ellsberg takes us on a captivating journey through the world of eye contact. Both mysterious and rewarding, the text reveals the powerful secrets of using the eyes to connect with others.”
—Rom Brafman, co-author of the New York Times bestseller Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior

 

“Michael Ellsberg incisively surveys the many centuries of literature on the qualities of eye contact, skillfully interviews contemporaries who shed light on its complex dynamics, and with a clear eye and open heart offers profoundly practical guidance to those who hunger to see deeper—into others and themselves.”
—Thomas Farber, author of The Beholder


 
Buy the book now on Amazon for less than $10