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Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives
 
 
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Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives [Hardcover]

Theodore Zeldin (Author, Illustrator)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 2000
The book that will forever change the way we talk to each other at home, at work and in love

Do you want better conversations with your lover, your colleagues at work, your family, friends or strangers, or yourself? Conversation explains what kind of talk charmed and excited people in the past, and why we talk differently today. It explores the art and the history of conversation and how it can be the key to a happier, more interesting future. It shows how women have changed the ways lovers speak, how families avoid silence or boredom, how your work can damage or improve the way you converse, and what role there is for the tongue-tied and shy. This book will enable you to see more clearly what you want to talk about, and what conversation can do to your life.

Conversation began as a series of talks broadcast on the BBC. They proved to be so popular that they were recently published in book form to great success in Britain and throughout Europe.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the lamentations of intellectual gadflies who long for the salons of yore, the art of conversation isn't deadDit's merely inert, waiting for enthusiasm to nudge it from slumber, according to Zeldin (An Intimate History of Humanity), former dean of St. Antony's College, Oxford, and member of the BBC Brains Trust. Aiming to spark a true dialogue (to the extent it can be achieved in print), he delves briefly into a history of conversation, citing courtesans who used wit for wooing and Bible passages that encourage inviting strangers in for dinner. From there, Zeldin champions using conversation to boost personal enrichment, political momentum and general stimulation. His accompanying 36 b&w illustrationsDRorschach-like squiggles of paint meant to represent concepts like "first impressions" or "family tradition"Ddo little to evoke their designated subjects, but provide an aesthetically pleasing counterpoint to his witty, erudite and persuasive invitation to social intercourse. But even within the confines of so short a work, Zeldin's charms wear thin as he harps on the same lovely and well-tuned note. Less an exploration of how we can talk with one another and more a long discourse on why we should, this slim volume will find many admirers as the perfect bread-and-butter gift. Agent, Andrew Nurnberg (U.K.). (Oct.) Forecast: As the lead title on Hidden Spring's first list, this elegant hardcover will benefit from the new house's launch efforts, including a six-copy counter display, online promotion, a targeted mailing to Oxford University alumni in the U.S. and a direct-mail campaign to book buyers. With a 20,000 first printing and a $30,000 ad/promo budget, an author tour and a 20-city morning drive radio satellite tour, conversation about this book will be in the air.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Theodore Zeldin, a fellow and former dean of St Antony's College, Oxford, has been internationally hailed as "one of the forty world figures whose ideas are likely to have a lasting relevance to the new millennium (Independent on Sunday, U.K.) and "one of the hundred most important thinkers in the world" (Magazine littéraire, France). He is best known in the U.S. as the author of An Intimate History of Humanity (ISBN 0-06-092691-0), which offered a unique and provocative perspective on human history by focusing on the evolution of feelings and personal relationships. Time magazine called it "an intellectually dazzling view of our past and future." He is a member of the BBC Brains Trust, the British Academy and the European Academy.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 112 pages
  • Publisher: HiddenSpring; 1 edition (January 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1587680009
  • ISBN-13: 978-1587680007
  • Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
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4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed the book and the NPR radio show as well, November 15, 2000
This review is from: Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives (Hardcover)
Zeldin explains his intentions of writing this book to stimulate conversion. It certainly has done this in my life. I have discussed this book with people who have not read it. Passionate conversation has resulted.

I have learned quite a bit about myself from this book. For example, I learned I am an elocutionist. Zeldin points out in a historic account that elocutionists focus more on the form (proper grammar/style) rather than depth in conversation. I may now overcome some prejudices I have when people fall out of form.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating ideas he presents is that conversation with like minded people can become boring. Upon learning this I went straight to someone with conflicting views and had an argument with them. The emotions that came from that conversation were overwhelming and appreciated by both of us. I have the book to thank for this.

36 prints of artwork that are similar to what you see on the cover are contained within the pages. I also have enjoyed discussing this art with people.

The book fulfills its promise to stimulate conversation. I highly recommend this quick read to anyone interested in the dynamics of conversation, even if you are shy or quiet.

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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing lack of practical suggestions, May 21, 2001
By 
Ellen Etc. (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   
This review is from: Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives (Hardcover)
This is a beautifully produced small hardcover on glossy paper to include the author's provocative marbleized drawings. The author was described by the Independent on Sunday (London) as "one of the forty world figures whose iseas are likely to have a lasting relevance to the new millennium," and is a member of the BBC Brains Trust, the British Academy, and the European Academy. So what's the problem? Maybe I'm just not smart enough to get it, but this book seemed insubstantial to me. "We need a new conversation," Zeldin repeats, new ways of talking with each other within and about work, love, technology, family, but the proposals and examples never come. He's studied conversation, and had innumerable conversations with people all over the world, but how would one characterize these as "new" or "old"? Unfortunately, the book does not live up to the promise of its subtitle.

The final chapter, "How Conversation Encourages the Meeting of Minds," on providing hospitality to strangers to enrich the family dialogue, and the 36 conversational topics at the end, were the most practical of the book. But a book I had looked forward to giving as a gift fell short of my hopes for stimulating thought and community through conversation.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Our Potentiality!, March 31, 2001
This review is from: Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives (Hardcover)
With this book, Theodore Zeldin reminds us that the thoughts we translate from electrical charges spurting about our craniums into lines of airborne vibrations named WORDS are so powerful. Each composition of sentence can serve as a tool to 'change the world'. This potentiality gives 'gift' to our listener as it gives 'gift' to us. Such potentiality allow transcending the moment of NOW into the sphere of CHANGE. Zeldin's brief historical study of conversation reminds us of the opportunity to affect another person: at mind/soul level. Our thoughts truly are 'tools' to teach others. The randomness of prattle is urged to be replaced by the potent and influential weight of words that may register on the inner recording devices of another human. In that considered act (forming sentences of worth) one learns/relearns the value of Jesus implied when he said "whenever two or more of you are gathered together, there I am with you also." Do slip this book into your hands and those of your language intimates! It will yield the deepened relationships for which we ALL yearn (marriages included).
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
"It's good to talk," says British Telecom's advertisement. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
new conversation, family conversation
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Concordance | Text Stats
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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