Customer Reviews

How to Talk with Practically Anybody About Practically Anything

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In 1970 I was trying to survive as a 12 year old who had recently moved, and was having trouble making friends in a new school and completely different culture. This book was on my mother's shelves. I grabbed it, devoured it all...and applied Barbara Walter's insights and knowledge THE REST OF MY LIFE--EVERYDAY. There's a story where she must interview a significant world leader...does her homework...finds out what he is REALLY interested in...which happens to be growing tomatoes in his garden. She spends her time talking to him about HIS interests, then goes for the typical interview. The lessons apply for making friends, working in any situation, communicating effectively. Ironically 35 years later I was applying this same strategy while interviewing a celebrity myself. Instead of talking about the NFL, we talked about the birth of his child. The piece was wonderful...and yes, it did cycle around to his Super Bowl experiences. But it was Barbara's training that showed me how to tap into people and dig out the nuggests of pure gold. It's classic!

For a journalist, it's how you start a conversation that's most crucial. Her insights on how to start a pleasant conversation will certainly teach journalists as well as others on how to start a chat. This book is for eager learners.

I read this book almost forty years ago, when I was an extremely introverted pre-teenager, subject even to self-judging suicidal thoughts. I had just moved halfway across the country, a move I actually welcomed because I was willing to get a fresh start with a new school and new friends, if that might be possible. Nevertheless in my new environment, I was still the same shy, nerdy person I had always been - always more eager to avoid people than engage with them. At the heart of my dilemma were the twin worrisome questions: "What should I SAY?" and "Why did I say THAT?"

I took the lessons of the book to heart, adopting the attitude that a good conversationalist doesn't have to say anything, but rather can ask almost anything. It helped me survive my teen years, moved me away from low self-esteem towards self-confidence, prepared me for a college degree in mass communications and is responsible in large part for making me someone that others enjoy being with.

Whenever I observe Barbara Walters on television she has shown calm and composure consistently. Reading the hardback first edition of "How to Talk with Practically Anybody about Practically Anything" I was amazed and totally taken in on all her purposeful little details of kindness woven through her plans of action. In her chapters she has great timing with laugh out loud humor woven throughout. Initially I had planed to brief this book, pick out chapters, not go through the whole thing word for word, but her writing pulled me in with gentle attraction, what a darling woman. Reading this book gives me fresh picture of authenticity in the human being, Barbara Walters. What a lovely lady.

I really liked this book! Ms. Walters reminds readers of some simple yet helpful things. For instance, she urges us not to be afraid to talk to a celebrity if we see one ("he or she has to talk to someone while waiting for their coffee to cool, and it might as well be you"), but she also includes useful cautionary notes ("never tell someone they look better in person than they do on television" or vice versa; don't mention a person's work unless you're *positive* it's theirs). She also talks about how to get along in lots of other situations. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their conversational skills.

This is the best resource I know to learn or teach interviewing skills for therapists, journalists, and anyone else who interviews for a living. I checked this out years ago from the library and it was already out of print. I been a social worker, teacher and therapist for over 30 years and recommend this book to my graduate students in field placement. They have to hunt to find it but they all agree it is well worth it to find this fun and easy to read guide to overcoming your self consciousness, preconceived notions, biases and fears and genuinely get into the moment and situation of the interview.

The information in this book is good for work, home and social aspects of anyones life. Barbara shares some good information and it's easy to read and understand.

Offers sound advice on how to talk with Celebrities, Royalty, Clergymen and Politicians, Bosses, Dates and other Impressionable , The Young and the Old Bores, Drunks and Difficult People.

An excellent book for those of us stumped by what to say next

I bought this book back in 1970 according to the publication date. I was working my way out of shyness and bashfulness. At the time I bought this I was 20 and in college. It was a wonderful book to help you know what to say to people especially at gatherings where you know no one or a few people. It gave me more confidence that still helps today. I think Barbara should write a updated version.