A groundbreaking book that reveals the hidden architecture of our conversations and how even small improvements can have a profound impact on our relationships in work and life—from a celebrated Harvard Business School professor and leading expert on the psychology of conversation.

“Alison Wood Brooks brings to life the science of conversation, in which she is a world expert, with the utmost warmth, empathy, and joy.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit

We’ve all struggled with difficult conversations. But sometimes we’re not even very good at the easy ones either. After all, conversation is one of the most complex, demanding, and delicate of all human tasks, rife with possibilities for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. But conversations are also a source of great joy, each one offering an opportunity to express who we are and to connect and learn through others.

In Talk, Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks shows us how conversing just a little more effectively can make a big difference in the quality of our personal relationships and professional success. Drawing on groundbreaking new research, she teaches us the keys we need to TALK:

Topics: Choose topics and manage them well
Asking: Ask more questions
Levity: Use humor to keep conversations fizzy
Kindness: Prioritize your partner’s conversational needs

From speed daters who ask too few questions to future business leaders stumbling their way through networking conversations, Talk is a thoughtful and eye-opening guide for anyone seeking to improve relationships in all aspects of life. Whether managing our emotions, sparking creativity, or navigating conflicts, Brooks shows us that leading a more purposeful life might be just one good conversation away.

Publication History:Crown HC 1/25
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Dr. Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She studies the behavioral science of conversation, teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called TALK, and chairs a program for executives called Communicating for Impact. She was named a Best 40 Under 40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants.