Patrick King is a social skills coach and author based in San Francisco; he first built his consulting career working with up-and-coming businesses before shifting focus to dating and interpersonal skills broadly (Corson-Knowles, Tom. “How Online Dating Can Teach You to Be a Better Communicator with Patrick King.” TCK Publishing). King’s numerous books focus on helping people establish strong social skills, build emotional awareness, and become more boundaried, assertive, and charismatic. His works include Make Friends Easily: How to Charm and Connect in Record Time, Fearless Social Confidence, and Body Talk. A self-published author, King has become notably successful among self-help writers; his work has been featured in numerous publications, including GQ Magazine, Men’s Fitness, and Business Insider (“Hey, I’m Patrick and I’ve Sold Millions of Books.” Patrick King Consulting).

King has some legal training, but no formal expertise in counselling or psychology. In Read People Like a Book, he does draw on scholarly sources, adding weight to his arguments, but his focus on practical application means that he sometimes simplifies the complexities of human psychology and behavior. In addition, King’s background (in corporate consulting, dating advice, etc.) informs his approach to people-reading; while he cautions against outright manipulation, his arguments presume readers’ interest in influencing others or otherwise ensuring their social interactions work to their advantage. This individualistic approach may not be appropriate in all cultures or contexts.