BY ALISON WOOD BROOKS

TALK: The science of conversation and the art of being ourselves

TALK examines the relentless challenges and opportunities presented by conversation. Who do we talk to? What are we trying to do? How can we coordinate from one moment to the next? And how can we bring our best selves to every conversation?

Understanding the science of conversation helps us master the art of being ourselves.

What People Are Saying

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The TALK Workbook

Add your name and email to join the TALK community. You’ll get access to the TALK workbook, a free companion to the TALK book, with hundreds of topics and exercises to reflect about conversation on your own, and to practice conversation with friends and colleagues.

By signing up for the TALK email list, you’ll receive updates from Alison about conversation – only sporadically, when it’s really really worth it.

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Where Are We TALKing?

Upcoming podcast episodes, tv appearances, in-person events, etc.

Practicing Call-Backs

When you’re listening during a conversation, smiling, nodding, and leaning toward your convo partner are all helpful, but did you know that the best listening is actually spoken? One of the best ways to speak your listening is by calling back to something that’s been said before—calling back to a catchphrase or idea from earlier in the conversation (or earlier in your relationship).

I’ve worked together with Mindless, Inc. to create a digital game to practice call-backs. In this game, you can interact with our chatbot as much as you want. The goal is to call back to the catchphrase highlighted with stars later in the conversation. If you call back successfully, you win the round. But the real win is practicing call-backs here so you can start using them more in real life. Woot!

Developed by MindlessPlay logo. Play more games like this at mindlessplay.com.

Developed by MindlessPlay logo. Play more games like this at mindlessplay.com.