{"product_id":"talk-the-science-of-conversation-and-the-art-of-being-ourselves-alison-wood-brooks-paperback","title":"Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves -- Alison Wood Brooks, Paperback","description":"\u003cb\u003eA 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. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"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 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eGrit\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAll of us can struggle with difficult conversations, but we're often not very good at the easy ones either. Though we do it all the time, Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks argues that conversation is one of the most complex, demanding, and delicate of all human tasks, rife with possibilities for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. And yet conversations can also be a source of great joy, each one offering an opportunity to express who we are and learn who others are--to feel connected, loved, and alive. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eTalk\u003c\/i\u003e, Brooks shows why conversing a \u003ci\u003elittle \u003c\/i\u003emore effectively can make a \u003ci\u003ebig \u003c\/i\u003edifference in the quality of our close personal relationships as well as our professional success. Drawing on the new science of conversation, Brooks distills lessons that show how we can better understand, learn from, and delight each other. The key is her TALK Maxims: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eT\u003c\/b\u003eopics: Choose topics and manage them well\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA\u003c\/b\u003esking: Ask more questions\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eL\u003c\/b\u003eevity: Use humor to keep conversations fizzy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eK\u003c\/b\u003eindness: Prioritize their partners conversational needs \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough experiments ranging across the conversational spectrum--from speed daters who ask too few questions (or too many), to future business leaders averse to topic forethought, to traffic stops that reveal the essence of kind language--Brooks takes us inside the world of conversation, giving us the confidence and the advice to approach any interaction with more creativity and compassion. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAddressing our face-to-face conversations as well as those we have by phone, email, text, and social media, \u003ci\u003eTalk\u003c\/i\u003e is a thoughtful guide for anyone seeking to better establish and sustain their relationships. From managing our emotions and sparking creativity to navigating conflict and being more inclusive, the right conversation skills just might be the key to leading a more purposeful life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alison Wood Brooks\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Crown Publishing Group (NY)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/27\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.57lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.19w x 0.69d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780593443514\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. Alison Wood Brooks\u003c\/b\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003ePoets \u0026amp; Quants\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alison Wood Brooks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47515403714788,"sku":"9780593443514","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0611\/9587\/8628\/files\/9780593443514.jpg?v=1778115940","url":"https:\/\/bookandmortar.com\/products\/talk-the-science-of-conversation-and-the-art-of-being-ourselves-alison-wood-brooks-paperback","provider":"BookandMortar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}