Title: The Fine Art of Small Talk
Author: Debra Fine
Genre: Non-fiction, Self-help
Published: 1997
BookMarks
A book targeting the introverts, who find it difficult to make and continue conversations in informal settings. Some of the techniques suggested to be a good conversationalist are:
- Express empathy
- Greet people warmly, make eye contact and smile
- Be first to say hello
- Use the person's name and correctly
- Show an interest in others
- Dig deeper
- Be a good listener and an active one
- Stop being an adviser
- Find connections to continue the conversation
- Don't kill conversation
- Don't just question
And most importantly Practice, in effect Fake it till it becomes a second nature.
While the tips are there some of the content is repetitive. Some of the opening lines suggested can border on the rude. And the author makes the assumption that the other person is also mutually interested in a conversation!
Overall, an okayish read. The nook can be much shorter and feels more like a dragged out Ted Talk kind of presentation.
Previously on BookMarks: Train To Pakistan
