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The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact [Large Print 16 Pt Edition]
Ditch the negative mental habits that derail conversations and destroy projects, and discover a framework for forging authentic, enduring, and productive connections. We live in conversations like fish live in water-we're in them all the time, so we don't think about them much. As a result, we often find ourselves stuck in cyclical patterns of unproductive behaviors. We listen half-heartedly, react emotionally, and respond habitually, like we're on autopilot. This book is a practical guide for thoughtfully reflecting on conversations so we can avoid the common pitfalls that cause our relationships and work to go sideways. Chuck Wisner identifies four universal types of conversations and offers specific advice on maximizing the effectiveness of Storytelling-Investigate the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and others Collaborative-Explore the way our stories and other people's stories interact Creative-See new possibilities and discover unforeseen solutions Commitment-Make promises we know we can keep These conversations unfold our awareness of our and others' stories transforms our ability to listen and collaborate, which opens our thoughts to creative possibilities, guiding us toward mindful agreements. Our conversations-at home, at work, or in public-can be sources of pleasure and stepping-stones toward success, or they can cause pain and lead to failure. Wisner shows how we can form a connection from the very first conversation and keep our discourse positive and productive throughout any endeavor.
282 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
66 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 23, 2024
I was expecting insight into avoiding small talk and having more meaningful conversations in general, but this is really about improving interactions and expectations with colleagues in the workplace. 2.5 stars
February 19, 2024
I’m honestly not even sure when I began to read this book, but I sure enough struggled to get through half of it, and ended up having to move onto something else before finishing, which is rare for me. It may just be personal factors, such as finding the context obvious and therefore unhelpful. I suppose at times it was interesting to see my theories about certain things confirmed - such as how overridden emotions can have a great deal of power over our conversations in real time, but still nonetheless unhelpful. I didn’t like the metaphors the author presented to back up his points - they were all stupid, unrealistic and mockable.
November 24, 2025
So... ok... there are a few good points in this book and he certainly has some great quotes by some great people.
I feel, though, that his book was like a survey paper in which he read a whole bunch of other authors' works, then regurgitated them in this one book not fully understanding what he read, but calling his book a new piece of work.
The reason I say this is that his advice is often in contradiction with his examples, or the way he presents one concept doesn't match up with how he later delineates another. He is all over the place in his interpretations, sometimes seeming to have grasped the concept, and other times totally missing the point. I definitely experienced some whiplash here.
Let me just say as well: his example when he was a mediator/family counselor just shocked me. In his example, a kid is very close to being sent to juvenile detention, yet the "successful" focus of the conversation that he mediates between the mom and the son is which chores the son is going to do at home... NOT the fact that this young man is smoking pot (which is terrifically bad for his brain development, substantiated by numerous medical studies), that his practically at juvey-hall's door, that the son is rude to his mother, and the fact that the mother is at the end of her rope and doesn't know how to handle her son.
The true BIG, HUGE problem was the drug use and the mother's inability to reach her son, and this author considers it a success that he got the kid to agree to take out the trash and do his dishes so that he doesn't go into juvenile detention. You just can't be serious!
After reading that little anecdote it became hard for me to take the rest of his book seriously.
I muscled through a few more chapters but more reading confirmed that even tho he does have some good well-known communications nuggets he then totally misrepresents them later on, or contradicts his own advice later on.
This book was a bust.
I feel, though, that his book was like a survey paper in which he read a whole bunch of other authors' works, then regurgitated them in this one book not fully understanding what he read, but calling his book a new piece of work.
The reason I say this is that his advice is often in contradiction with his examples, or the way he presents one concept doesn't match up with how he later delineates another. He is all over the place in his interpretations, sometimes seeming to have grasped the concept, and other times totally missing the point. I definitely experienced some whiplash here.
Let me just say as well: his example when he was a mediator/family counselor just shocked me. In his example, a kid is very close to being sent to juvenile detention, yet the "successful" focus of the conversation that he mediates between the mom and the son is which chores the son is going to do at home... NOT the fact that this young man is smoking pot (which is terrifically bad for his brain development, substantiated by numerous medical studies), that his practically at juvey-hall's door, that the son is rude to his mother, and the fact that the mother is at the end of her rope and doesn't know how to handle her son.
The true BIG, HUGE problem was the drug use and the mother's inability to reach her son, and this author considers it a success that he got the kid to agree to take out the trash and do his dishes so that he doesn't go into juvenile detention. You just can't be serious!
After reading that little anecdote it became hard for me to take the rest of his book seriously.
I muscled through a few more chapters but more reading confirmed that even tho he does have some good well-known communications nuggets he then totally misrepresents them later on, or contradicts his own advice later on.
This book was a bust.
May 5, 2025
A transformative guide to turning everyday conversations into powerful tools for connection, creativity, and clarity.
We don’t often stop to think about how we converse — we just talk. But The Art of Conscious Conversations by Chuck Wisner is a wake-up call to the enormous influence our daily dialogues have on our relationships, work, and inner lives.
Wisner breaks down the anatomy of conversations with clarity and depth, offering a brilliant framework built around four universal types of dialogue: storytelling, collaborative, creative, and commitment. Each one is presented with actionable insight, allowing us to move beyond reactive communication and into intentional, meaningful exchanges.
What makes this book so impactful is how practical and relatable it is. We’ve all been stuck in looping stories, misaligned expectations, or missed cues. Wisner doesn’t just tell you why it happens — he shows you how to shift it. Whether you’re leading a team, building a relationship, or simply wanting to listen more deeply, this book equips you with the tools to do it.
Highlights include:
Thought-provoking breakdowns of how our internal narratives influence conversations
Concrete examples and strategies to turn unproductive conversations into collaborative breakthroughs
A deeply compassionate tone that encourages reflection without judgment
This isn’t just a communication book — it’s a human connection manual. One that I’ll be returning to often.
If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “That didn’t go the way I hoped,” this book is for you. It will change the way you speak, listen, and show up — one conscious conversation at a time.
We don’t often stop to think about how we converse — we just talk. But The Art of Conscious Conversations by Chuck Wisner is a wake-up call to the enormous influence our daily dialogues have on our relationships, work, and inner lives.
Wisner breaks down the anatomy of conversations with clarity and depth, offering a brilliant framework built around four universal types of dialogue: storytelling, collaborative, creative, and commitment. Each one is presented with actionable insight, allowing us to move beyond reactive communication and into intentional, meaningful exchanges.
What makes this book so impactful is how practical and relatable it is. We’ve all been stuck in looping stories, misaligned expectations, or missed cues. Wisner doesn’t just tell you why it happens — he shows you how to shift it. Whether you’re leading a team, building a relationship, or simply wanting to listen more deeply, this book equips you with the tools to do it.
Highlights include:
Thought-provoking breakdowns of how our internal narratives influence conversations
Concrete examples and strategies to turn unproductive conversations into collaborative breakthroughs
A deeply compassionate tone that encourages reflection without judgment
This isn’t just a communication book — it’s a human connection manual. One that I’ll be returning to often.
If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “That didn’t go the way I hoped,” this book is for you. It will change the way you speak, listen, and show up — one conscious conversation at a time.
November 19, 2022
💬What is this book about?
In this book the author explores the DNA of conversations. It's a practical guide for learning about conversations and also avoiding pitfalls that cause our relationships and work to go sideways. This book is structured through four conversations: storytelling, collaborative, creative, and commitment. These four conversations help us connect the dots.
💬How can this book help me?
Conversations are vital to achieving our goals. We gain a basic understanding of how and why our inner and outer conversations work (and don’t work). Just think about it. Our conversations, at home, at work, or in public, can be a source of pleasure (success), or they can cause us pain (failure). ‘The art of conscious conversations’ tries to detangle the confusing web of daily conversations.
💬My favorite quote
- ‘We live in conversations like fish live in water. Just as fish swim in waters unaware, we thoughtlessly engage in conversations. Most of the time (...) we end up talking and listening on autopilot.’
💬My thoughts
Well written and organized. Easy to understand concepts. Practical. Engaging. I really enjoyed reading the first part about storytelling. Very interesting material! This book is very beneficial if you want to take the next step in how you talk, listen and interact. I have more conscious conversations now, and know how to react when my boss asks me something 😅 I have less stress, one conversation at a time. Read this book, practice, and get better. This book is really awesome, and absolutely a must-read!
In this book the author explores the DNA of conversations. It's a practical guide for learning about conversations and also avoiding pitfalls that cause our relationships and work to go sideways. This book is structured through four conversations: storytelling, collaborative, creative, and commitment. These four conversations help us connect the dots.
💬How can this book help me?
Conversations are vital to achieving our goals. We gain a basic understanding of how and why our inner and outer conversations work (and don’t work). Just think about it. Our conversations, at home, at work, or in public, can be a source of pleasure (success), or they can cause us pain (failure). ‘The art of conscious conversations’ tries to detangle the confusing web of daily conversations.
💬My favorite quote
- ‘We live in conversations like fish live in water. Just as fish swim in waters unaware, we thoughtlessly engage in conversations. Most of the time (...) we end up talking and listening on autopilot.’
💬My thoughts
Well written and organized. Easy to understand concepts. Practical. Engaging. I really enjoyed reading the first part about storytelling. Very interesting material! This book is very beneficial if you want to take the next step in how you talk, listen and interact. I have more conscious conversations now, and know how to react when my boss asks me something 😅 I have less stress, one conversation at a time. Read this book, practice, and get better. This book is really awesome, and absolutely a must-read!
December 7, 2022
Published just two months earlier in October 2022, this 6 hour audiobook provides a light dose on self-awareness.
I felt that the book is lacking in terms of practical application, examples, and scientific substantiation or statistics. If you’re looking for a general and easy read/listen, this book fits the bill.
The author talks about four key types of conversations.
He advises us to be a neutral observer to our thoughts and experience a separate conscious self even when “we are conditioned to distractions.”
The book reminds us that we react emotionally when our behaviour patterns are interrupted. This may cause us to, for example, frame ourselves as victims.
That said, our brain is pretty amazing at forming habits and dulling some information to help us prevent a data overload.
I felt that the book is lacking in terms of practical application, examples, and scientific substantiation or statistics. If you’re looking for a general and easy read/listen, this book fits the bill.
The author talks about four key types of conversations.
He advises us to be a neutral observer to our thoughts and experience a separate conscious self even when “we are conditioned to distractions.”
The book reminds us that we react emotionally when our behaviour patterns are interrupted. This may cause us to, for example, frame ourselves as victims.
That said, our brain is pretty amazing at forming habits and dulling some information to help us prevent a data overload.
March 10, 2024
This turned out to be one of those books that had something effective to say to me in its earlier pages, and which I then put down and didn't pick up again. Perhaps I'd got what I needed out of it. So thanks for that, Mr Wisner, and sorry that the rest of the book didn't grab me so much. I tried coming back to it yesterday, after renewing it twice from the Library, but there just wasn't anything else that really said, Hello - you need to read this...
I think the book does have good things to say apart from what I gleaned from it. It's a little dry in its approach, but certainly not unreadable.
I think the book does have good things to say apart from what I gleaned from it. It's a little dry in its approach, but certainly not unreadable.
September 19, 2024
The Art of Conscious Conversations by Chuck Wisner is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve the quality of their communication in both personal and professional settings. Wisner breaks down the complexities of human interactions into clear, actionable steps that help foster deeper understanding and more intentional conversations. The book emphasizes the importance of active listening, empathy, and mindfulness, offering tools that can transform how we engage with others.
What I love most is how practical the advice is—whether you're navigating a tough conversation at work or seeking more meaningful connections at home, Wisner’s guidance helps create space for more thoughtful and productive dialogue.
What I love most is how practical the advice is—whether you're navigating a tough conversation at work or seeking more meaningful connections at home, Wisner’s guidance helps create space for more thoughtful and productive dialogue.
December 21, 2022
I should have given this book more attention—didn’t know what to expect. Lots of the “conscious” here is spiritual or almost mystical—lots of Buddhism, koan and Hafez in here. I’ll probably give another listen. Great section on commitment conversations at the end
December 13, 2024
Useful and inspiring
Full of practical guidance that drives you towards being more engaged and empathetic in the workplace, at home, with yourself, and elsewhere. I wish it came with a worksheet or palm card or something so I could keep an at-a-glance reference at my desk.
Full of practical guidance that drives you towards being more engaged and empathetic in the workplace, at home, with yourself, and elsewhere. I wish it came with a worksheet or palm card or something so I could keep an at-a-glance reference at my desk.
December 17, 2025
This book was informational but there were times it could have done a better job at explaining some content. There were still good takeaways from it but it was a little disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews