Scan barcode
wombatwolf's review against another edition
1.0
Just read Dale Carnegie. Every book about having conversations with people is a worse version of Dale Carnegie. This is one of the lesser of those lesser books. That's unfortunate, but until someone actually comes up with a better base argument for their book than "Ask open ended questions" and "Listen", these books need to get one-starred reviews.
nimishg's review against another edition
2.0
This book feels very ironic. I understand the intent behind it was really good, but it meanders around the subject of conversation (while saying not to do that). Here are the main things I got from it:
- Set Expectations
- Try to be supportive and empathetic
This is communicated much better in other books about conversation.
I highly recommend "Crucial Conversations" by Patterson et al. as a more practical book about actually having important conversations.
- Set Expectations
- Try to be supportive and empathetic
This is communicated much better in other books about conversation.
I highly recommend "Crucial Conversations" by Patterson et al. as a more practical book about actually having important conversations.
andrew_petro's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyable, actionable, useful. Thoughtful. I love a book with citations supporting it.
How to have conversations that matter by listening better, participating more responsibly, being more present, and being more open to learning and growing.
How to have conversations that matter by listening better, participating more responsibly, being more present, and being more open to learning and growing.
laikiaroo's review against another edition
3.0
This was good - but probably a bit longer than it needed to be. The advice was solid and important, though.
avery_winters's review against another edition
5.0
Like many others, I found my way to this book through Headlee's phenomenal TED Talk. I absolutely love her TED Talk and have watched, and shared it, multiple times. The book was not a disappointment - there were a lot of interesting facts and anecdotes in it and the advice offered is meaningful.
maweets's review against another edition
3.0
I did generally like this book and I felt it had a TON of good advice on how to consciously change your conversation habits. I, personally, just found it to be a bit of a dry read. I did finish it though because I kept finding little interesting pieces of advice throughout. I think this would be a good read for someone trying to make some personal changes in their lives and to be more mindful with others.
ninjalawyer's review against another edition
2.0
A short book that I couldn’t stop putting down. I grabbed this after hearing an interview with the author on a podcast, and wish I hadn’t.
Despite its shortness, the author doesn’t really offer enough interesting points on having better conversations to fill it. Instead, the book is crammed with study after scientific study, which would be fine except:
1) the studies often add nothing and, at least in some cases, seem to be mentioned only to hit a word count.
2) I get the impression that the author’s just using the gloss of science to give what would otherwise be totally banal advice more gravitas.
3) I have no reason to trust that the author knows how to read and interpret scientific studies. Maybe she does, but the depth she goes into on any one study is basically at the level of catchy Buzzfeed headline.
There’s a few good bits, and when the author uses an anecdote rather than a study things improve, but the book is just too full of cruft to recommend to anyone.
Despite its shortness, the author doesn’t really offer enough interesting points on having better conversations to fill it. Instead, the book is crammed with study after scientific study, which would be fine except:
1) the studies often add nothing and, at least in some cases, seem to be mentioned only to hit a word count.
2) I get the impression that the author’s just using the gloss of science to give what would otherwise be totally banal advice more gravitas.
3) I have no reason to trust that the author knows how to read and interpret scientific studies. Maybe she does, but the depth she goes into on any one study is basically at the level of catchy Buzzfeed headline.
There’s a few good bits, and when the author uses an anecdote rather than a study things improve, but the book is just too full of cruft to recommend to anyone.
sunrise0923's review against another edition
4.0
***Audiobook review***
Great tidbits of knowledge and a reminder of how to be a considerate human. I enjoyed Celeste's personal stories to relate to the reader/listener
Great tidbits of knowledge and a reminder of how to be a considerate human. I enjoyed Celeste's personal stories to relate to the reader/listener