Customer Reviews

Salons: The Joy of Conversation (Utne Reader Books)

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Conversation seems to be a lost art in today's day and age. The salon was born in Europe as a place for writers, artists, politicians, scientists, and lay people to come togethter for discussion. In France, they were known as bureaux d'esprit (offices of wit). In Britain, they were called "penny universities". The salon was the springboard for the French revolution, the encyclopedia, and the Academie. Many famous people such as Oscar Wilde and Napoleon's brother have been members of salons. Salons have been held at old lady's bedsides, in people's homes, in cafes, and in coffee houses all over
Europe and the United States.

This book is a a great "how to" book for anyone interested in starting their own salon. It gives advice on what to do and not to do when starting a salon. It tells how to solicit membership, how to pick topics, and how to keep the ball rolling during conversation. This book is indespensible for anyone wanting to learn more about salons. Most other books just give dry biographical information on the leaders of the salons without giving any details of the actual conversation. This book, however, is well-written and very informative. Now, if only I could get up the nerve to start one!

Conversation is a dying art, if not lost. This book offers a chance to revive conversation from the gallows. Easy to read and full of helpful information available almost no where else. I wish more people would read it and start conversation salons. It helped me start mine.