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The Art of Conversation

A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure

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The Art of Conversation

Written by: Catherine Blyth
Narrated by: Catherine Blyth
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About this listen

 A wide-ranging, exhortatory look at the pleasures of great conversation, including strategies for how to bring it about, from the witty pen of an Englishwoman wise in its ways

In The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth eloquently points out the sorry state of disrepair that conversation has fallen into - and then, taking examples from history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, and popular culture, she gives us the tools to rebuild. Her prose embodies the conversational values she promotes: It's smart, succinct, self-deprecating, and light on its feet.

The Art of Conversation isn't about etiquette, elocution, or knowing how to hold your teacup with your little finger crooked just so. It's about something simple and profound: connecting. In our distracted days, it's easy to forget that each of us possesses a communication technology that has been in research and development for thousands of years. Conversation costs nothing, but can bring you the world.

Blyth offers us a chance to revel in the possibilities of conversation. As Alexander Pope nearly wrote, "True ease in talking comes from art, not chance, as those move easiest who have learned to dance." Okay, Pope was actually talking about writing, but Catherine Blyth has that skill as well. When you have read The Art of Conversation, you'll not only know the steps, but hear the music like never before.

©2008 Catherine Blythe (P)2008 Penguin Communication & Social Skills Education & Learning Personal Success Witty
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What the critics say

"In this handy guide to civilized banter, Blyth reintroduces the craft of modern discourse." (Elle)

"The Art of Conversation will make your next foray into a bar or business reception much more entertaining [...] it will help both wallflowers and those lost in cyberspace achieve conversational connections." (Los Angeles Times)

"Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth's books is a delightful encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best communication technology." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Art of Conversation

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Profile Image for Arjun

To Victorian era in nature.

has very little to do with north American or other cultural practical guidlines to be of any use.

It did have some utillity however in giving a few suggestions on socially acceptable and tactical conversation tips that did have practicality. such as
that interrupting someone only briefly to convey surprise or excitement at their story can be beneficial to aligning oneself to the storyteller.

and when flirting that matching rythem and flow as well as word choice simillar to that of other person draws you subconsciously closer to them.


but as a whole the book was rather unimpressive or revealing of conversation or charisma development.


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Profile Image for vincent

chaotic ,not well structured

it is not a bad written experience but it feels more like a monologue than instructions on how to communicate better like the title suggests .she's all over the place and it is hard to follow .she bombards us with anecdotes and concepts without trying to reach for us with common situation or direct questions.her accent make it hard to connect with her to .it feel like she's superior to us with fency words that seems to be there only to show us her vocabulary .also there is no pauses and title call out in catégorie for us to structure the information better in our head .it's a 2 part none stop Speaking chaotic experience .

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