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Small Talk Rules: 65 Lessons I Learned From The Greatest Communicators
***JUST RELEASED - BRAND NEW***
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MASTER SMALL TALK. From the author of the best-selling book, You Can Be Funny and Make People Laugh (2019), comes the next social skills book guaranteed to change your life.
If you knew the secrets and techniques of the best conversationalists, what else could you achieve in life?
Based on the largest observational study of social interactions ever conducted, spanning 15 years and 22,000 conversations, this book contains more real-life examples and actionable techniques than any social skills book on the market. Its easy-to-read conversational style, storytelling, and whimsical illustrations offer a contemporary spin on a traditionally dry and challenging topic. Social confidence is a seemingly unattainable goal for millions of people suffering privately and quietly with shyness and social anxiety. Learning advanced social skills can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to be. This is one of those rare books that manages to teach social skills in a fun and engaging manner. After reading this book, you'll be equipped with the tools you need to
UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL TODAY.
Check out smalltalkscience.com for more helpful small talk resources.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MASTER SMALL TALK. From the author of the best-selling book, You Can Be Funny and Make People Laugh (2019), comes the next social skills book guaranteed to change your life.
If you knew the secrets and techniques of the best conversationalists, what else could you achieve in life?
Based on the largest observational study of social interactions ever conducted, spanning 15 years and 22,000 conversations, this book contains more real-life examples and actionable techniques than any social skills book on the market. Its easy-to-read conversational style, storytelling, and whimsical illustrations offer a contemporary spin on a traditionally dry and challenging topic. Social confidence is a seemingly unattainable goal for millions of people suffering privately and quietly with shyness and social anxiety. Learning advanced social skills can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to be. This is one of those rare books that manages to teach social skills in a fun and engaging manner. After reading this book, you'll be equipped with the tools you need to
UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL TODAY.
Check out smalltalkscience.com for more helpful small talk resources.
235 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2023
47 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Peart
13 books10 followersGregory Peart, M.Ed., is the founder of socialupgrader.com, the place for awesome social skills techniques, tips, and general life advice.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 26, 2023
I have never been a fan of small talk mostly because I've never been good at it! I usually add a couple of comments to the conversation and promptly follow that up with far more than my fair share of awkward silence. Yep. That's me! So when I had a chance to read an early release of Small Talk Rules by Gregory Peart, I thought, why not? It certainly can't hurt anything! And that's putting it mildly.
I love the way this book is set up. It's 65 short chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of small talk we can improve in, such as: be the one to start the conversation; avoid a monotone voice (I never even really thought about this one); don't start a conversation with a deep subject (guilty again!). And so much more.
I enjoyed the little examples thrown in with each chapter. I found the book so helpful I downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited to study and put as many of the suggestions as I dare into practice and see if I can get to the point where I can hold my own in small talk, if not come to actually enjoy it. That still feels a bit of a stretch for me! I'm also so impressed with this book that I'm giving it five stars. That's huge for me! I'm usually not so liberal with stars on self-help or business books. But I thought this one was a winner!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love the way this book is set up. It's 65 short chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of small talk we can improve in, such as: be the one to start the conversation; avoid a monotone voice (I never even really thought about this one); don't start a conversation with a deep subject (guilty again!). And so much more.
I enjoyed the little examples thrown in with each chapter. I found the book so helpful I downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited to study and put as many of the suggestions as I dare into practice and see if I can get to the point where I can hold my own in small talk, if not come to actually enjoy it. That still feels a bit of a stretch for me! I'm also so impressed with this book that I'm giving it five stars. That's huge for me! I'm usually not so liberal with stars on self-help or business books. But I thought this one was a winner!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2024
I find small talk tedious and often boring, which means when there's a way to opt out of small talk that's the route I tend to take. I'm an introvert and I'm cool with that, most of the time. However, the importance of small talk is not lost on me so I picked up this book hoping it would help.
And it did.
What I liked about this book: It's easy to read. The chapters are short, to the point, and filled with examples to bring context to each lesson. Gregory was once a not-so-great communicator and has learned how to improve his ways which shows that communication is a skill that others can learn too. Some of the lessons are easy to apply right away once we start thinking about them.
What I didn't like: Many of the examples given show the possibility of a meaningful interaction (where I would like a conversation to go, someplace with substance) but the advice given is to be sarcastic, exaggerate, make fun of, or in some other way keep the conversation surface level. While I understand some conversations are best left as chit chat (like at the checkout in a supermarket) many of the examples are between friends or spouses or at work and seemed out of place. I also think it would have been helpful for Gregory to talk about when the lessons he's teaching are best applied and when they are not. Overall it seemed the advice is to stop being shy or introverted and become a funny, witty, storyteller which isn't the most applicable advice.
But like I said - there was good advice and insights in this book that I found helpful.
And it did.
What I liked about this book: It's easy to read. The chapters are short, to the point, and filled with examples to bring context to each lesson. Gregory was once a not-so-great communicator and has learned how to improve his ways which shows that communication is a skill that others can learn too. Some of the lessons are easy to apply right away once we start thinking about them.
What I didn't like: Many of the examples given show the possibility of a meaningful interaction (where I would like a conversation to go, someplace with substance) but the advice given is to be sarcastic, exaggerate, make fun of, or in some other way keep the conversation surface level. While I understand some conversations are best left as chit chat (like at the checkout in a supermarket) many of the examples are between friends or spouses or at work and seemed out of place. I also think it would have been helpful for Gregory to talk about when the lessons he's teaching are best applied and when they are not. Overall it seemed the advice is to stop being shy or introverted and become a funny, witty, storyteller which isn't the most applicable advice.
But like I said - there was good advice and insights in this book that I found helpful.
December 2, 2024
So, I'm not shy. Not anymore anyway, not since I was a teenager. And I'm pretty friendly and chatty for an introvert, I don't mind small talk. Honestly, sometimes I actually like small talk - even with strangers! This book seems to be for anyone at all who wants to engage more meaningfully with people, not just introverts or shy people who hate small talk. And even though I found a lot of the lessons to be stuff that I think you naturally pick up on when speaking with people, there are a lot of very helpful strategies to fill in the gaps of skill.
I know that while I can approach people with genuine care and interest, I definitely lack storytelling ability and sometimes I can be too serious (did you know how often "gullible" is written on the ceiling? I've learned that it's a lot). However, being fun and lighthearted is the way I like to chitchat. This is a major theme in his lessons - to keep conversations open, playful and lighthearted - make jokes, be sarcastic, exaggerate, tease others, etc. Just understand that it's all situational - not everyone in your life will be receptive to chitchat and humor the same way. Self-awareness, situational awareness, and a good read on people are pretty damn key to being successful in conversations. For instance, many of the jokes give off "dorky dad" energy so if that doesn't fit your vibe, play into chitchat with your own sense of humor. However, the strategies provided and ways to "train your brain" to be more open are helpful in figuring out a conversation rhythm that works for you.
I know that while I can approach people with genuine care and interest, I definitely lack storytelling ability and sometimes I can be too serious (did you know how often "gullible" is written on the ceiling? I've learned that it's a lot). However, being fun and lighthearted is the way I like to chitchat. This is a major theme in his lessons - to keep conversations open, playful and lighthearted - make jokes, be sarcastic, exaggerate, tease others, etc. Just understand that it's all situational - not everyone in your life will be receptive to chitchat and humor the same way. Self-awareness, situational awareness, and a good read on people are pretty damn key to being successful in conversations. For instance, many of the jokes give off "dorky dad" energy so if that doesn't fit your vibe, play into chitchat with your own sense of humor. However, the strategies provided and ways to "train your brain" to be more open are helpful in figuring out a conversation rhythm that works for you.
Read
October 2, 2023Gregory Peart's Small Talk Rules: 65 Lessons I Learned from the Greatest Communicators, is a playful yet insightful look at the art of small talk. Combining wit with years of research, Peart guides us through how to have a conversation.
His bite-sized chapters are easy to consume and his hard won gift of gab keep us engaged. Peart covers everything from filling awkward silences to the upside of exaggeration, and he includes real--life examples of small talk to show us how it's done.
Funny and wise, this guide is perfect for fans of self-help, nonfiction or anyone who'd like to level up their conversational skills.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
His bite-sized chapters are easy to consume and his hard won gift of gab keep us engaged. Peart covers everything from filling awkward silences to the upside of exaggeration, and he includes real--life examples of small talk to show us how it's done.
Funny and wise, this guide is perfect for fans of self-help, nonfiction or anyone who'd like to level up their conversational skills.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews