Starred Review. British journalist Blyth was once described as the person you hope you'll find at the next cocktail party—or the person you'd like to be. The next best thing is a close encounter with Blyth on the printed page. Adopting a chatty, conversational manner to write about conversation, Blyth mixes personal anecdotes into a salmagundi of selected quotes from anthropology, history, literature, philosophy and pop culture to analyze and give advice on the dynamics of good conversation, not to mention the perfect riposte for every situation. She examines everything from small talk to pillow talk, from riotous raconteurs to crashing bores, from flattery to false smiles. The key is listening: Good conversation is a team sport; pace and energy keep it alive. Blyth probes layers of language, humor as social engineering, baiting, lies, flirting, evasions and failed shoptalk, such as how miscommunication lost Xerox the PC. Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth's book is a delightful encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best communication technology.
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"A wealth of rules, tips and strategies... Blyth proves her point in the 15 jam-packed chapters of "The Art of Conversation", which deconstruct its elements from small talk and pillow talk (Hint: It's not texting "ILY") to traversing the conversational terrain of the workplace or what best to say if you're caught in a verbal war (my favorite response to the arrogant, "Do you know who I am?" "I'd rather not").
Each chapter contains helpful rules -- the ones on using silence or navigating difficult conversations are particular revelations -- as well as anecdotes and quotes ranging from the orator who defended Helen of Troy to President George W. Bush speaking to freshman Sen. Barack Obama on the latter's first visit to the White House. There's also a clever compendium of 15 "bores, chores, and other conversational beasts" that will make your next foray into a bar or business reception much more entertaining." -- LA Times --LA Times, 11 January 2009
'British journalist Blyth was once described as "the person you hope you'll find at the next cocktail party--or the person you'd like to be." The next best thing is a close encounter with Blyth on the printed page. Adopting a chatty, conversational manner to write about conversation, Blyth mixes personal anecdotes into a salmagundi of selected quotes from anthropology, history, literature, philosophy and pop culture to analyze and give advice on the dynamics of good conversation, not to mention the perfect riposte for every situation. She examines everything from small talk to pillow talk, from riotous raconteurs to crashing bores, from flattery to false smiles. The key is listening: "Good conversation is a team sport; pace and energy keep it alive." Blyth probes layers of language, humor as social engineering, baiting, lies, flirting, evasions and failed shoptalk, such as how "miscommunication lost Xerox the PC." Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth's book is a delightful encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best communication technology.' --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
British journalist Blyth was once described as "the person you hope you'll find at the next cocktail party--or the person you'd like to be." The next best thing is a close encounter with Blyth on the printed page. Adopting a chatty, conversational manner to write about conversation, Blyth mixes personal anecdotes into a salmagundi of selected quotes from anthropology, history, literature, philosophy and pop culture to analyze and give advice on the dynamics of good conversation, not to mention the perfect riposte for every situation. She examines everything from small talk to pillow talk, from riotous raconteurs to crashing bores, from flattery to false smiles. The key is listening: "Good conversation is a team sport; pace and energy keep it alive." Blyth probes layers of language, humor as social engineering, baiting, lies, flirting, evasions and failed shoptalk, such as how "miscommunication lost Xerox the PC." Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth's book is a delightful encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best communication technology. --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
'The best ideas are the simplest, and there could hardly be a simpler or better one than this... This is a witty, charming and appropriately garrulous book, drawing on authorities as diverse as Aristotle, Cicero, Voltaire, Tommy Cooper and talk show host Tyra Banks... This smart little book should be placed in every house, like Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms, to turn us once again into a nation of good talkers.'
'The best ideas are the simplest, and there could hardly be a simpler or better one than this... This is a witty, charming and appropriately garrulous book, drawing on authorities as diverse as Aristotle, Cicero, Voltaire, Tommy Cooper and talk show host Tyra Banks... This smart little book should be placed in every house, like Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms, to turn us once again into a nation of good talkers.' -- Peter Bradshaw, Mail on Sunday
British journalist Blyth was once described as "the person you hope you'll find at the next cocktail party--or the person you'd like to be." The next best thing is a close encounter with Blyth on the printed page. Adopting a chatty, conversational manner to write about conversation, Blyth mixes personal anecdotes into a salmagundi of selected quotes from anthropology, history, literature, philosophy and pop culture to analyze and give advice on the dynamics of good conversation, not to mention the perfect riposte for every situation. She examines everything from small talk to pillow talk, from riotous raconteurs to crashing bores, from flattery to false smiles. The key is listening: "Good conversation is a team sport; pace and energy keep it alive." Blyth probes layers of language, humor as social engineering, baiting, lies, flirting, evasions and failed shoptalk, such as how "miscommunication lost Xerox the PC." Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth's book is a delightful encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best communication technology. -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
