Talk

“In Talk, Alison Wood Brooks mines years of data from her studies at Harvard Business School, where she has dissected parole hearings, speed dates, sales calls and friendly chats to discern the keys to effective communication. . . . Brooks is a companionable writer, and she’s alive to the absurdity inherent in her project. Talk is messy, and good talk messier still.”—The New York Times

“Reading Talk is like having a conversation with the world’s best conversationalist. Alison Wood Brooks brings to life the science of conversation, in which she is a world expert, with the utmost warmth, empathy, and joy. . . . This book has raised my game as a conversationalist. I’m recommending it to everyone I know.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“Talk is that rarest of treats: smart, insightful, immediately useful, and way more fun to read than should be allowed. . . . This book gave us fresh ideas that we put into practice immediately on friends, family, clients, and colleagues. Talk has changed how we think about what it means for two people to really talk to each other.”—Sheila Heen and Doug Stone, bestselling co-authors of Difficult Conversations

“For many, one of the lost arts in modern life is conversation. Alison Wood Brooks’s wonderful new book, Talk, has the solution. Read this book, and your life will improve.”—Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A cogent, sparkling, and spectacularly useful guide to getting better at the most important skill you possess. Alison Wood Brooks delivers a treasure trove of insights, practical tools, and proven models that will help you become a better leader, spouse, parent, teammate, neighbor, and friend. A must-read.”—Daniel Coyle, bestselling author of The Talent Code and The Culture Code

“In Talk, Alison Wood Brooks, one of the superstars of behavioral science, teaches us how to have more productive, engaging, and humane conversations. Witty, science-driven and filled with compelling insights and stories, Talk is a modern classic.”—Ethan Kross, bestselling author of Chatter

“Chock full of research, anecdotes, examples, and advice . . . Brooks reveals the secrets to being heard, listening better, avoiding awkward small talk, and getting along. If you’ve ever opened your mouth to say something, this is the book for you.”—Bianca Bosker, bestselling author of Get the Picture

“A rigorously researched, evidence-based book by a leader in the field. On top of this, it’s a joy to read—a killer combination.”—Emily Oster, bestselling author of Expecting Better and Cribsheet

“Brooks’ accessible, humorous style will interest everyone from already-experts to those who didn’t know that conversation analysis was an area of study.”—Laurie Unger Skinner, Booklist

“Compiling valuable data from speed-dating sessions, sales calls, and parole hearings, the author builds a convincing case for practicing and better understanding the elements that shape good conversation. Lucid and pragmatic, Talk unlocks some of the mysteries of human communication.”—Publishers Weekly