What to Talk About: On a Plane, at a Cocktail Party, in a Tiny Elevator with Your Boss's Boss

by Chris Colin, Robert Baedeker

Homo sapiens have been speaking for hundreds of years—and yet basic communication still stymies us. We freeze up in elevators, on dates, at parties, under Dumpsters. We stagger through our exchanges merely hoping not to crash, never considering that we might soar. We go home sweaty and eat a birthday cake in the shower.

But no more. With What to Talk About you'll learn to speak—fluently, intelligently, charmingly—to family, friends, coworkers, lovers, future lovers, horse trainers, children, even yourself. This hilarious manual, written by two award-winning authors and illustrated by legendary cartoonist Tony Millionaire, is tailor-made for anyone who might one day attend a dinner party, start a job, celebrate a birthday, graduate from school, date a human, or otherwise use words.

What to Talk About is not rocket science, but it is a lot like brain surgery, in the sense that is terrifying, risky—and could change you forever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Self Help, Personal Development, How To, Business, Communication

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2014

Reviews

[Tammie Maloney]

Cute book but not overly serious about the topic. Best use: to finish that 50 book reading challenge you set for yourself on New Years.

[Lise]

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I spent most of it with a confused look on my face, inwardly wondering, "Is this for real? Am I being trolled?" This was sold to me (via a segment on WBUR) as a book on improving your social skills, but it's so full of zany, absurd humor that there's nary a useful tip to be found in the whole thing.

I think if it had been presented to me as humorous, I could have dealt with it, and might have even appreciated the humor, but I went into it expecting advice and was completely disappointed.

Well, if nothing else I had my first experience of wishing I could return an ebook.

[Adam Wells]

Trite, shallow, and primarily composed of a mix of bad advice and socially-awkward humor. A good example of what NOT to do in most cases.

[Samuel]

In 2008, during the beginning of a friendship, I found myself combing the lower levels of Strand Bookstore in New York City. My friend and I found a self-help book that was filled with hilariously earnest advice. The only thing I recall is that central to the piece on flirting and crushes was a point to make intimate physical contact with their ear. Just a light touch.

We didn't buy the book. Foolishly.

I've been searching since then to recapture the magic that was that book. Of which I remember nothing but that intimate scene. For a second, upon starting this one, I hoped it was mine. My lost friend. This book is not it. This book is a slight humor piece that doesn't even go in for the earnest.

It was funny, but say not more funny than Is Sex Necessary? or Why You Feel the Way You Do and you can never go wrong with EB White and James Thurber.

[Vi]

I am OK at conversations, but this book, part of me wants to take it out and really try it. My people will look at me in horror.

[Nana Kesewaa]

I expected something else when I picked up this book - I struggled to finish this .

A positive note is the steamrollers and pancake analogy- some good tips were offered in that session.

[Hlyan]

I was happy reading this book and often laughed out loud. I finished it just in a day. This book is entertaining, funny, and it really gives you practical advice on what to talk about.

[Eva Pimentel]

When I first saw it I just couldn't believe there's a book for that. It was funny reading it but I always had the WTF look on my face.

[Maeve McMahon]

My mother finds herself funny and so she'll always give me "subtle" hints on what she wants me to work on through the presents she'll give me. For my 12th birthday she gave me a pencil case that literally said "stay focused". This book was another not-so-subtle hint that I can be horrendous when it comes to carrying a conversation. Now, I'll admit I thought this book was going to be a boring how-to with some confidence builders thrown in, but it was so much better. I would read this book whenever I was bored or needed a good laugh. It also had some hilarious-to-awfully strange discussion topics and facts at the end of the book. Sure, some of the instructions definitely should not be taken seriously, but the basis of the book was actually pretty helpful. And bonus: now I know a lot about Chuckawalla lizards.

[Friscomama]

I had a thought to just give it up in the beginning. The book has a lot of silly comedy. But as I got into it, I figured out that there was also an attempt to encourage the reader to have something interesting to say. Not "how do you like this weather?" I remember feeling funny when I got a question that I was was supposed to have an answer for. "What kind of music do you listen to?" Uh, um, I don't really listen to music. (My parents were both musicians.)

[Paul Mashack]

3.5 stars. Take this book for what it is. It's not meant to be taken super serious, but does provides a few morsales for being a better communicator. I was able to breeze through this book through lunch and while waiting for the internet to be restored at work.

[Sadie Beng]

Coffee table books. Visually appealing, valuable it is not. Please don't waste your dollars! xx

[Rama]

an enjoyable read with uncommon reminders about conversation. Good humour in expressing ideas, easy to implement methods.

[Philippe]

I was not sure of the tips where a koje or not

[Kristina Variano]

It was funny, but I wish it had more advice on how to talk to people.

[Amy]

“If this conversation were cheese, I’d say it’s been aged to “Good-bye!”

[Kate Hartman]

To summarize - all those crazy, whacked out things you think in your head- go ahead and say them out loud at your next social gathering.
This should be fun.

[Itziar Arenas]

By far one of the worst books I’ve ever read. When in doubt, skip this one out!

[Rebecca]

A light combination of practical and funny advice.

[Ike Urquhart]

Initially, I thought the authors aren't as funny as they think they are. Upon further reading, I actually think the authors are exactly as funny as they think they are (not very).

[Sharayah]

I read another review that said this book is best used as a quick read to finish your reading challenge for the year, and that’s pretty much what I did.

I struggle with small talk, and generally abhor it, but I also recognize its strategic value in relationships and networking, so it is an area where I need improvement.

One thing this book does well is humor. It’s engaging and random, and that helps the book to go fast. Many of the conversational tips rely on surprise, using some out-of-left-field comment to steer the conversation in such a way that catches the other person off balance, making you look powerful, clever, and interesting. See, strategy. But, many of the suggested tips/comments are random enough that they would feel odd in actual conversation. I would guess that it takes a charismatic person to actually pull them off.

A strength of this book is reframing the idea of small talk as useful and necessary, focusing on relationship and connection. I can see the value, even though it is not my comfort zone. Some of the best tips involved taking the typical, safe small talk topics (weather, traffic, and prices), and shifting the conversation to ‘big talk’ about those topics. This is great because it uses a safe starting point to delve into more personal or vulnerable territory, which is great for those of us who need ‘deep’ conversation. My favorite question about the safe topic of traffic was, “Which number is greater, the number of drivers you’ve flipped off, or the number of times you’ve been the flippee?” This is lighthearted enough to still be safe, yet still allows those chatting to actually get to know each other.

[Kaleena Rheeya]

This Goodreads First Reads book was a quick, easy read. I really enjoyed the humor in this book overall. While the advice is sometimes quite silly, it does raise an important point--people need to stop being concerned so much about how they appear when they talk to others and focus more instead on being the wacky selves they are (although it is fun every once in a while to pretend you are someone else for a little while when the right moment strikes.) I am glad I read this book and look forward to recommending it to friends who want to break out of their shells a little more when conversing with others.

[Sylvia]

I didn't know what to think of this book. Just looking at the title, I first thought that this was a true self-help book, but once I started reading it I quickly new that this was more of a comedic-type gift book. There were some real hints for real situations, but most of the book was an outlandish approach to conversation starters. My favorite part of the book was the "conversation piñata" at the end of the book. In compliance with FTC guidelines, I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Lilo]

… I wasn't expecting this. At all..
I was really hoping for a book more… "academic", with real ideas to help people with sociability issues, but the propositions are so absurd ! They tried to make it smart and witty, and it totally failed. I smiled twice, during the romance part, and that's all..
I won't remember or use any of their sentences.. They are stupid and shallow.
Really disappointed (even though I didn't have much expectations in this book.. but I was hoping for something helpful and funny.. Maybe it's just not my kind of humor..)

[Erin]

If it were possible, I would give this book three and a half stars, mainly because it is really silly, occasionally very funny, and sometimes, yes, actually useful. I think if you read it as a humor book and not in any way an actual guide to small talk, it probably warrants the fourth star. I did laugh out loud, and some things (like the list of conversational topics for talking to children eight and under) were genuinely hilarious. It is also a very quick read.

[elizabeth sawyer]

I had grabbed this to preview as a book for teenager or college student, thinking of something for my own son or a new go to gift item with $ for grad gifts. The examples & suggestions are very sarcastic & witty - many of which in the wrong tone/delivery/environment could be horrible. I appreciated their effort to get people to laugh and get past the basics but definitely not a book I'd recommend.

[Siim]

A humorous book about what to say.

You know the saying "it's funny because it's true". This book has that, and useful advice, but be careful - the authors take the subject matter very lightly and if you are not a careful reader you might mistake their own brand of humour for advice (in that case the joke's on you).

I find humour makes advice more memorable and I enjoyed this book. Regardless of what other reviews say.

[Apple Huang]

I'm not sure how much of this book is a joke a how much is just terrible advice. There might be a few nuggets of really good advice in here but if you're reading a book like this you probably don't want to trust yourself to pick them out. Definitely do not read this if you're actually trying to improve your social skills--your time is better spent on any number of other books--but if you're like me the humor will be right up your alley.

[Amy]

Cute, but not too practically. Many of the "advice" is pretty goofy. There is a little food for thought in there so it's not a waste of time, plus it is pretty short. I find myself often thinking, "Definitely written by men (and probably for men)". Would I recommend it? Go for it, it's at least good for a couple laughs.

*I received this free as a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for a review."

[Ash]

Now that my dad is here, he goes to the library quite often. He picked this book thinking I might find it interesting. Unfortunately, I did not like this book. I am pretty sure people will think I am a nutcase, if I start saying some of the example sentences given in the book. Tips given are impractical.