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The Art of Talking to Anyone
From the author of How to Say It, the million-copies-sold bestseller
If you want to improve your conversational skills--and achieve greater levels of personal and professional success--The Art of Talking to Anyone is the ultimate book. Rosalie Maggio has built a career on teaching people how to say the right thing at the right time--and she's made her techniques available to you.
This essential communication handbook includes:
Sample dialogues, topics, and responses
Quick-reference dos and don'ts
Tips for handling special situations
Confidence-building advice and quotations
Key words that get to the business at hand
Whether it's small talk or big, social or work-related, The Art of Talking to Anyone gives you all the tools you need to speak up with confidence, to charm and persuade, and to talk your way through any situation--successfully.
If you want to improve your conversational skills--and achieve greater levels of personal and professional success--The Art of Talking to Anyone is the ultimate book. Rosalie Maggio has built a career on teaching people how to say the right thing at the right time--and she's made her techniques available to you.
This essential communication handbook includes:
Sample dialogues, topics, and responses
Quick-reference dos and don'ts
Tips for handling special situations
Confidence-building advice and quotations
Key words that get to the business at hand
Whether it's small talk or big, social or work-related, The Art of Talking to Anyone gives you all the tools you need to speak up with confidence, to charm and persuade, and to talk your way through any situation--successfully.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
86 people are currently reading
740 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 31, 2011
This book further cements my bias to rarely pick up a book without looking at reviews first. The table of contents looked promising--How to Deal with Conversation Predicaments, How to Keep Any Conversation Going, How to Graciously Stop A Conversation, etc... but this book was all fluff. Sure, there were some decent ideas, but I'm a pretty awkward guy and 90% of the material was completely obvious or fluff--nothing truly helpful (in fact, some things I would say were downright counterproductive: some of the things the author suggested I *tried* to visualize when or how I would say such a thing without disastrous results... many times I could think of no way out. The author was out of touch).
March 10, 2016
It contained a few solid pieces of advice, but mostly pages and pages of suggested questions or responses for various situations.
Read
December 8, 2012واصلة لشبتر 7 .. موضوع الكتاب محمسني بس طوله احسه بيقتل حماسي !
عموماً كتاب مُفيد عن تجربة
عموماً كتاب مُفيد عن تجربة
October 16, 2014
ببساطة اذا كنت تجيد فن الحوار ، ولكن لاتعرف أن تعلمه صديقك الفقير منه لاتحزن فقط اهدية هذا الكتاب .
January 4, 2022
This book seemed way too bloated; maybe 1/3 could have been removed and the content would still be intact, as all that extra stuffing is simply pages upon pages of one/two-liner example sentences that very well could have just been three or four examples. The reader does not need three pages listing various interchangeable examples on filler phrases in order to keep the active talker talking:
Mmhmm...
Really?
Go on.
Really!
etc.
Not to mention, some of the examples listed one after the another are so similar they really did not need to waste more space repeating it... Page 186:
"I wish I could, but I can't.
I wish I could help, but it's not possible right now."
These constant laundry-lists of canned responses that the author encourages you to pick and choose from like some sort of mix and match deal at the supermarket invokes in you a feeling of reading a 'How to Act Like A Normal Human Being' manual. Now, this would be acceptable, if it was supposed to be written as a guide for people who absolutely have difficulty understanding social cues and how to navigate such a difficult world. However, mingling alongside these seemingly-obvious responses are these bizarrely nuanced phrases that would require a bit more tactfulness to understand and supposedly pull off... but more often than not, would likely cause major eye-rolling and confusion. Example, page 158, one of the supposed responses to an unwanted conversation from an airplane seatmate is: "Say, does your family have enough life insurance? I have a whole range of policies that cover practically any situation." There was also an example where if you don't want to talk, you tell them you are on some heartburn medicine and it's making you ill so you can't talk... forgot to tab which page it's on to find a direct quotation, but you get my point. And maybe it's just me, but the attempted humour throughout just felt... awkward. The extremes in both seemingly-obvious responses and near-inappropriate eccentric phrases may frustrate many types of readers.
Finally, the last gripe I had with this book is how it handled some uncomfortable situations. I understand the book is supposed to help you talk to anyone, but I think confidence is the way to go, and some of the given examples just felt very timid and unassertive. A lot of times the author suggested white lies on how to get out of conversations, from pretending you are coming down with something or have to go to the bathroom, to making a fake phone call. In situations where you're stuck with someone who just will not let you go and will keep yammering on, it's better to actually give them a clear signal that this conversation is over. Ducking away to the buffet "because it looks like there's fresh shrimp cocktails" or you "finally got a call you've been expecting all day" does not tell the other person that the conversation is over. In fact, if they are the type to keep talking while you are gone just to save your space, they will attempt to seek you out once they think you are done with your errand. The author failed to point this out, and taking the easier way out feels cowardly and does not instill confidence in improving your social skills.
Mmhmm...
Really?
Go on.
Really!
etc.
Not to mention, some of the examples listed one after the another are so similar they really did not need to waste more space repeating it... Page 186:
"I wish I could, but I can't.
I wish I could help, but it's not possible right now."
These constant laundry-lists of canned responses that the author encourages you to pick and choose from like some sort of mix and match deal at the supermarket invokes in you a feeling of reading a 'How to Act Like A Normal Human Being' manual. Now, this would be acceptable, if it was supposed to be written as a guide for people who absolutely have difficulty understanding social cues and how to navigate such a difficult world. However, mingling alongside these seemingly-obvious responses are these bizarrely nuanced phrases that would require a bit more tactfulness to understand and supposedly pull off... but more often than not, would likely cause major eye-rolling and confusion. Example, page 158, one of the supposed responses to an unwanted conversation from an airplane seatmate is: "Say, does your family have enough life insurance? I have a whole range of policies that cover practically any situation." There was also an example where if you don't want to talk, you tell them you are on some heartburn medicine and it's making you ill so you can't talk... forgot to tab which page it's on to find a direct quotation, but you get my point. And maybe it's just me, but the attempted humour throughout just felt... awkward. The extremes in both seemingly-obvious responses and near-inappropriate eccentric phrases may frustrate many types of readers.
Finally, the last gripe I had with this book is how it handled some uncomfortable situations. I understand the book is supposed to help you talk to anyone, but I think confidence is the way to go, and some of the given examples just felt very timid and unassertive. A lot of times the author suggested white lies on how to get out of conversations, from pretending you are coming down with something or have to go to the bathroom, to making a fake phone call. In situations where you're stuck with someone who just will not let you go and will keep yammering on, it's better to actually give them a clear signal that this conversation is over. Ducking away to the buffet "because it looks like there's fresh shrimp cocktails" or you "finally got a call you've been expecting all day" does not tell the other person that the conversation is over. In fact, if they are the type to keep talking while you are gone just to save your space, they will attempt to seek you out once they think you are done with your errand. The author failed to point this out, and taking the easier way out feels cowardly and does not instill confidence in improving your social skills.
July 20, 2022
Admits its own aporia early on: "Someone once asked a friend, 'How did you get to be really good at making conversation?' The friend replied, 'By experience.' 'Oh?' asked the other. 'And how did you get your experience?' The friend said dryly, 'From being really bad at making conversation'" (x).
There's likely a snappy article distributed through this book, which is laden with repetitive lists of examples. The literary quotations are fun and usually appropriate, but they may not add much technical value to this rhetorical etiquette project. Every so often, there's a good observation, such as how "happenstance meetings are usually too short for any meaningful exchanges. Instead, the most inane conversations are acceptable and, in fact, appropriate" (156), which suggests that those who err in such circumstances (and in the opposite one) make a rylean category mistake that confuses different levels of discourse.
Certainly it highlights, very specifically and concretely, that all rhetoric is an exercise in etiquette, which is the depoliticized way of noting the truism that speech acts always exist in context and are accordingly possessed of a definitive politics.
There's likely a snappy article distributed through this book, which is laden with repetitive lists of examples. The literary quotations are fun and usually appropriate, but they may not add much technical value to this rhetorical etiquette project. Every so often, there's a good observation, such as how "happenstance meetings are usually too short for any meaningful exchanges. Instead, the most inane conversations are acceptable and, in fact, appropriate" (156), which suggests that those who err in such circumstances (and in the opposite one) make a rylean category mistake that confuses different levels of discourse.
Certainly it highlights, very specifically and concretely, that all rhetoric is an exercise in etiquette, which is the depoliticized way of noting the truism that speech acts always exist in context and are accordingly possessed of a definitive politics.
August 27, 2023
My friend lent me this book just after we came out of lockdown and I'd forgotten how to socialise - only just read it! There are defo some useful tips and reminders to keep our manners when making conversation. I also feel as though it built my confidence a bit and I like how it wasn't afraid to repeat itself which helped keep the advice cemented in my mind. I do however agree that the sentence starters felt unnecessary especially as they weren't really good examples of how people actually speak and were way too formal. After about halfway I began skimming over these so for that reason I believe that this book could've been shorter and more condensed.
May 12, 2017
This book has a lot of tips. The actual questions, to be used in various situations, were the most helpful. One thematic piece of advice is don't discuss politics, religion, and sex at work. Another piece of advice, keep office communication light and focused on business, since your employer is paying you to work and not socialize. One way to follow all of the advice in this book is to be considerate of others, and to be aware of different circumstances that may arise.
February 4, 2019
Yea, there are some funny lines in this and there are some weird and outdated things BUT this book was also possibly life-changing for me. I wish I had read it much earlier. It may have spared me some lost relationship with friends.
It’s easy enough to skim and implement later that day. We all have conversations and this book helped me to realize where I was going wrong with talking to others.
It’s easy enough to skim and implement later that day. We all have conversations and this book helped me to realize where I was going wrong with talking to others.
May 14, 2017
Cumplidor. Te sirve para mejorar tus habilidades de conversar. Hoy en día hay muy pocas personas que pueden comenzar y sostener una conversación, tendemos a estar aislados y como todo, cuando no se practica, se va perdiendo esa habilidad.
August 4, 2020
This is book has some good information. I just found it very repetitive, mostly because I already do most of it. It was suggest for a book club, meh. I wouldn’t read it again. But, I’d offer it to someone who’d be interested in learning some new techniques.
July 25, 2025
Not much to say, quite complete - slightly old fashioned but neutral.
A lots of suggestions for any kind of situations. It's not bad and very practical, but does not go in depth. This book clearly doesn't aim for that.
A lots of suggestions for any kind of situations. It's not bad and very practical, but does not go in depth. This book clearly doesn't aim for that.
Want to read
August 1, 2017ISBN: 978-0-07-145229-8
List Price: 23.00
List Price: 23.00
October 16, 2019
Such a wonderful book. One can learn so many things. Kudos to the author for putting so much efforts for bringing such a marvelous piece of art to public.
February 6, 2020
More like the art of small talk. Does not dive into the depth of communication. 40% of the book seems like it was examples and quotes about communication.
July 26, 2020
First book for my book club. Soo informative. Only one or two tiny disagreements for me with it. Would recommend.
September 7, 2020
Loved the examples!
February 17, 2021
Good to read once.
August 22, 2021
I liked the behavioral details explained in examples of the arguments, had some self-realizations to see few of my blind spot old habits, specially in first impression conversations.
September 5, 2021
now, this is a good read. Loved it.
September 14, 2021
repetitive parts and comments in the book
Read
January 15, 2024السلام عليكم
اللهم بارِك 💛
إفهم
إعمل
و=غ
Punchline 💛
اللهم بارِك 💛
إفهم
إعمل
و=غ
Punchline 💛
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
Read the reviews before picking this one up. A lot of fluff on potential responses to conversations.
Instead of reading suggested lines to use in a conversation, try speaking to people instead
Instead of reading suggested lines to use in a conversation, try speaking to people instead
August 28, 2016
The information repeated a bit here and there, but only because each chapter is meant to stand on its own, e.g. with chapters on how to to talk to particular kinds of people (coworkers, love interests, etc). I got a lot of good warnings against some of my foibles—certain things that fall under the "gossip" category, oversharing—as well as many solid ideas to bolster my weakest spot—office/event small talk/mingling—with the real takeaway being the realization that I run out of things to ask people about, stalling conversations, because I never spend any time thinking ahead, or taking a moment to learn about the goals of someone in a particular field. Thus, I never bring any curiosity along with me, and don't know enough to even probe my way toward developing any on the spot. I plan to remedy this.
Each chapter in the second half, which deals with specifics, ends with a a 1-3 page list of "What to say" or "If they say.../You say..." examples, which are helpful to get the feeling for a particular kind of dialogue, even if these exact examples are destined to fade from memory. However, the last chapter simply ends right after its final list of examples, without so much as a "Now get out there and start talking!" The abrupt nothingness felt a bit out of place after 220 pages of how to converse, with several sections on how to make appropriate goodbyes, to then simply be dumped into the Index, although the final "what to say" example in the final chapter (on talking in romantic relationships) does part with an upbeat, "Truman Show"esqe vibe: "You'll be my last thought tonight, and my first thought tomorrow morning." Indeed.
Each chapter in the second half, which deals with specifics, ends with a a 1-3 page list of "What to say" or "If they say.../You say..." examples, which are helpful to get the feeling for a particular kind of dialogue, even if these exact examples are destined to fade from memory. However, the last chapter simply ends right after its final list of examples, without so much as a "Now get out there and start talking!" The abrupt nothingness felt a bit out of place after 220 pages of how to converse, with several sections on how to make appropriate goodbyes, to then simply be dumped into the Index, although the final "what to say" example in the final chapter (on talking in romantic relationships) does part with an upbeat, "Truman Show"esqe vibe: "You'll be my last thought tonight, and my first thought tomorrow morning." Indeed.
April 14, 2013
The book focuses everything about talking in public, society, business, family and friends. The common sense idea and the don’ts in the book are just non-sense. However, I liked the book because it doesn’t tell you to be more conscious of it, it suggests basic stuffs and calls people universally liked. Even after being rude sometimes for important things it suggests you to talk all the time. It talks about preparing yourself to talk about things you should talk about with anyone. I’m sure I’ve got many things from the book and have been applying and improving.
January 19, 2015
I learned a lot about how to talk with people in the business world through this book. It gave me a lot of insight on little things that I took for granted so in that aspect of it I thought the book was really well written. Besides that it had a lot of little things to offer it was very detail oriented on conversing with people in different occasions of life.
January 17, 2015
Because I am an introvert and not a stellar conversationalist, I read this book. Did it help me, yes I got some ideas to work on, but the book was a little hard to follow for me and I can't say I will read it again. Is it worth a time through, yes, particularly if you are looking to improve your own art of talk.
October 9, 2016
One of the best books I've read so far about the art of small talk and how to connect with anyone .Lots of practical tips and lots of questions to ask people in different situations
I loved and enjoyed reading this book .After reading lots of books about communication ,I think the secret of making connection with anyone is to be interested in them and their lives
I loved and enjoyed reading this book .After reading lots of books about communication ,I think the secret of making connection with anyone is to be interested in them and their lives
September 5, 2017
I found this book provided helpful information in how to carry on communications with other people. I tend to be an introvert, and I have trouble making small-talk. This has helped me come out of my shell.
March 8, 2009
I liked it the first time I read it, but maybe I should read it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews