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cosmicpool's review against another edition
4.0
It is always a pleasure to hear Alan Alda speak, and I have been interested in learning more about his devotion to improving scientific communication since learning about the center he founded at Stony Brook several years ago.
7anooch's review against another edition
4.0
I see acting and science communication in a new light now.
mamalemma's review against another edition
4.0
Alan Alda, one of my favorite actors, is also a terrific writer. Not only has he written television, plays and movies, he's written two memoirs as well (both of which I have enjoyed thoroughly). You can imagine my delight when I saw he had a new book, this one about a topic near and dear to my heart: effective communication. It is not widely known, but Alda started the Alda Center for Communicating Science, which built on his on his realization that scientists are generally poor communicators with a lot of great information to share. He learned this during the 11 years of hosting PBS's Scientific American Frontiers. The book talks about research and studies that have been done to validate methods of teaching communication. Not surprisingly (to some of us, anyway), the key is empathy. To paraphrase an old joke, how do you get to empathy? Practice, practice, practice! One of the most promising techniques uses improvisation as its base. The book walks you through the research, the techniques, and tells terrific stories about its application. Alda, as a writer, is utterly charming (but I could be biased by the celebrity crush I've always had on him -- or okay, Hawkeye Pierce!) and it is a quick, satisfying and thoughtful read. Thoroughly enjoyable!
tabithar's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book that honestly could benefit anyone interested in communicating better with others.
I think it could be great for teachers, business people, doctors, scientists, veterinarians....we all are trying to communicate with others and this book ties in some unique approaches to improve our synchronization and communication. I wish he had a set of experiments included to use for a workshop on the topic. I suspect he speaks and does workshops.
This is the kind of book I read carefully and thought, wow, I want to put action with what I just read.
I think it could be great for teachers, business people, doctors, scientists, veterinarians....we all are trying to communicate with others and this book ties in some unique approaches to improve our synchronization and communication. I wish he had a set of experiments included to use for a workshop on the topic. I suspect he speaks and does workshops.
This is the kind of book I read carefully and thought, wow, I want to put action with what I just read.
jonwood's review
Read the book all the way through twice before. Choose to use this as the textbook for a 2 week class on science communication I was teaching, the class is now over, want to focus on reading new material.
justinlarose's review against another edition
5.0
It feels just like you're hanging out with Alan Alda and that's something everyone should do. Insightful, inquisitive, instructional and excellent. Bring your open mindedness and empathy, see you at the improv.