Book info

• Title The Art of Conversation
• Author Judy Apps
• Year 2014
• Genre Non-fiction

Good conversation is at the heart of networking, meetings, interviews, negotiations and raising your profile. It can ease your way in work, enabling you to build alliances, create strong relationships with staff, bosses and clients, succeed at interviews, motivate and inspire. But conversation is something most of us were never taught! We learn to speak as babies, but how conversation actually works is something most of us pick up only haphazardly, and many have yet to learn. Why is it some of us are stuck for words, but others blabber or can’t stop? What is it that some people have naturally which enables them to converse comfortably and easily, to engage people and build better relationships?

Thoughts

A very quick and easy non-fiction read that guides you through the basic staple ideas of what makes a conversation function and how, no matter how good you think you are at making small talk, you can still adapt and do better. I liked the book for really being approachable and not judgemental, plus it was aimed at everyone - not discounting improvements for even great leaders or historical figures.

Lots of examples helped to illustrate the situations and the ideas, and I think it’s a useful thing to read if you’ve ever dried up in a conversation and thought: “I have no idea what to say next.” The book will help you out with some tips and tricks to keep conversation flowing, because, as the ending says, conversation can change the world!

Rating: 4 / 5