You're Invited

The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging

By: Jon Levy

Narrated by: Jon Levy

** A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Seller **

Regardless of what you want to accomplish, from growing your business, creating a great company culture, championing a social cause, or affecting your habits, you can’t do it alone. The people around you define your success (whatever that means for you) and they have the potential to change the course of your life.

That’s what You’re Invited is about: The most universal strategy for success is creating meaningful connections with those who can impact you, your life, and the things you care about. But how do you make those connections and build trust quickly? What do you do if you’re introverted or hate networking?

Behavioral scientist Jon Levy had no money, reputation or status, but was able to convince groups of Nobel Laureates, Olympians, celebrities, Fortune 500 executives, and even an occasional princess to not only give him advice, but cook him dinner, wash his dishes, sweep his floors, and then thank him for the experience. The goal of his gatherings, much like this book, was not networking, but to build meaningful and lasting relationships.

This private community based around the dinner experience became known as “The Influencers”, named for the member’s success and industry influence. Since its inception more than a decade ago, The Influencers has grown into the largest private group of its kind worldwide, with a thriving community both in person and through digital experiences.

In You’re Invited, Levy guides listeners through the art and science of creating deep and meaningful connections with anyone, regardless of their stature or celebrity, and demonstrates how we develop influence, gain trust, and build community so that we can impact our communities and achieve what’s important to us.

©2021 Jon Levy (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Pretty good

Had to filter thru all the A list names dropped. Good stuff aside from the needless bragging

Worth reading…

Especially if you are looking to build connection and community with other people around anything!

great insight

Similar style to Malcolm gladwell. if you like his books you'd find this interesting. But this book has really good insight in to why we trust someone.

Good book for people want to build a community

It talks about why community is core of happiness and a great guide about how to build one. I am not 100% interested in building a community but agree on the power of it.

Heart First, Success Later

An insightful book about the importance of networking and creating human connections. The author says what others either don’t or wont say “you gotta do this for the right reasons snd to help other people… then you get rewarded. And you might have to help others FIRST for a LONG time before you get paid back for your generosity.”

This book is basically my style so it’s fairly intuitive. However if wish I’d come up with some of these ideas in my 20s as I would be further ahead today. Anyone of any age would benefit from reading this, 20s and 30 somethings who have more time to play the long game should adopt these strategies to meet and serve others.

Since I listened to the audio book I really wish the author had not read it. He is winsome but he’s not a good reader so even though it’s his material it’s often awkward or at least he is awkward in his delivery. There are also some repetitive statements that better editing may have eliminated. Additionally, the author is creative. And he implored readers not to copy him but to “think of something unique and powerful/impactful.” Mic advice. Yes I’ll just come up with something creative when I reading your book and likely not creative at all. Too bad he couldn’t share some brainstorming exercises to help people get stated.

Personally, I liked the stories he share for successes and failures. Some people just have money and no brains. And it does pay to think whether you have a budget or not. I also liked that he encouraged people to start small. Try something. Don’t spend a ton of money. Make some mistakes and don’t be afraid to fail a few times before things get going on your project.

It also felt like he was trying too hard to be inclusive and was obligated to name drop severally of our newest cultural minorities. I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or out of fear for people “cancelling” his book. Distracting but not enough to detract from the overall book. However these references will date this book fairly quickly.

I’d listen to it read again to refresh my memory but largely I agree with his premise of doing good first and foremost and then seeing what happens from there.

Inviting more into your life

I work in experience and events and think everyone needs to read this book for their own personal bennifit - but those creating experiences it is a MUST! John uses so many different and varied examples to drive his points home!

Love it! Hugely insightful and informative

Great book. Really well written and lovely narration. Now in my top 5 favourites.

Feel Better

You’re Invited is an easy listen to simple concepts and actions that could be life changing for many. Community and connection are so important to health and mind, and Jon Levy’s road map is a useful tool to start the journey to feeling better. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

editing is a little bit choppy. have patience.

wonderful book with a huge amount of usable information for everybody. everybody! probably the book should have been half as long and some of the information towards the end of the book should have been towards the beginning. but it's worth it.

Informative and inspiring!

I loved this book. It's an easy read, but that doesn't mean it's without substance. Quite the contrary - this book is medicine for the loneliness epidemic and it's more urgently needed now than ever. Many of us have lost close ties with supportive communities and we're far away from our friends. "You're Invited" helps you *do* something about it. It's about learning to grow your influence so you can build communities and friendships.

I'm a professional behavioral scientist, so I kept an eye out for how the research references are handled and I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised. Of course, if you're here for a densely academic book, this one is not for you, since there is plenty of anecdotal storytelling.

This book is an easy and informative read for the non-scientist but it doesn't cause any science eye-rolls. (A tough balance to strike.) The author does a good job balancing engaging stories, applied advice, highlighted core concepts, and supporting research. It hits all the right notes. But that's not the best part.

The best part is that it really motivates the reader to make a positive change. Before I read the book, I was wallowing in a pandemic social-life slump. After the book, I was inspired to go out and build new friendships. And I took the book's advice, which I can thank for a whole bouquet of fun new friends (digital and in-person). As a scientist in this field, I already was aware of much of the science described in the book, but that wasn't enough. I wasn't motivated. That's the magical difference here.

The author talks about the importance of using behavioral science for good and lives up to it since the tips in the book create friendships and communities. Get the book. Do what it says. Be happier and more connected to the people around you. You'll be glad you did.

Highly recommended!