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Turning Small Talk into Big Talk
In Turning Small Talk into Big Talk, Jan Janura helps listeners move below the surface and experience deep, meaningful conversations that are not only interesting, but even life-changing.
Small talk is awful, awkward, and ultimately useless—and everyone knows it.
When is the last time you had a significant conversation with your spouse, your kids, your best friend, your neighbor, or a close business associate?
No, not small talk. We do enough of that with our fingers in five-word text “conversations” or in dull, surface-level, face-to-face interactions. Small talk isn’t getting us anywhere. What we need today more than ever is “Big Talk,” real conversations in which we dig deep into our souls and discuss intriguing topics that truly shape the world and impact our daily lives.
Conversation is undoubtedly the most important part of a relationship, whether it’s business, personal, or spiritual. It’s the only way to truly get to know someone, and it’s the best method in strengthening your bond with a business partner, spouse, friends, your children, and even God.
Each of us wants to interact with others, and all of us want to be heard. The conversations we each have can truly change the world—or destroy it—and the words, questions, and answers each of us use (or don’t use) can alter our own life and the lives of everyone around us.
So, why wouldn’t we choose to make our conversations as impactful and memorable as we can?
In Turning Small Talk into Big Talk, Jan Janura unpacks the simple, easy-to-apply method he’s used throughout his career to turn dinner parties and other gatherings into fun, interesting, sometimes life- and career-changing experiences. If you find yourself desperate for deeper connection in your most important relationships, or if you find yourself responsible for regularly hosting clients or co-workers, this book is the missing tool in your tackle box!
Small talk is awful, awkward, and ultimately useless—and everyone knows it.
When is the last time you had a significant conversation with your spouse, your kids, your best friend, your neighbor, or a close business associate?
No, not small talk. We do enough of that with our fingers in five-word text “conversations” or in dull, surface-level, face-to-face interactions. Small talk isn’t getting us anywhere. What we need today more than ever is “Big Talk,” real conversations in which we dig deep into our souls and discuss intriguing topics that truly shape the world and impact our daily lives.
Conversation is undoubtedly the most important part of a relationship, whether it’s business, personal, or spiritual. It’s the only way to truly get to know someone, and it’s the best method in strengthening your bond with a business partner, spouse, friends, your children, and even God.
Each of us wants to interact with others, and all of us want to be heard. The conversations we each have can truly change the world—or destroy it—and the words, questions, and answers each of us use (or don’t use) can alter our own life and the lives of everyone around us.
So, why wouldn’t we choose to make our conversations as impactful and memorable as we can?
In Turning Small Talk into Big Talk, Jan Janura unpacks the simple, easy-to-apply method he’s used throughout his career to turn dinner parties and other gatherings into fun, interesting, sometimes life- and career-changing experiences. If you find yourself desperate for deeper connection in your most important relationships, or if you find yourself responsible for regularly hosting clients or co-workers, this book is the missing tool in your tackle box!
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Published April 11, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 14, 2025
Pretty short, author did convey his message across pretty succinctly! Gave some ideas on how to evolve from small talks to deep conversations which I find it practical and helpful! Overall, a 3.5-4 star!
May 25, 2023
Легкая книга про улучшения качества повседневных бесед. Хорошее наставление, не затянул книгу
August 24, 2023
Not what I was expecting. Could’ve been a great 20 minute podcast.
January 31, 2024
There’s a good idea in this book, but only one, and it could have been summed up in a blog post. If you find yourself a third of the way through asking “Wait, is that ALL you have to offer?” Know that the answer is yes, that’s all he’s offering in this book.
To save you the trouble: Janura’s idea is to present intentionally chosen “table questions” to everyone at the dinner table and have them respond in turn. You do this so that (1) everyone is talking about the same thing (2) you avoid “small talk”, which Janura holds in absolute contempt, and (3) you can control the conversation and make it go where you want. He has some tips on how to go about doing this and some lists of suggested questions.
And that’s it. That’s the whole book. If you feel like you can manage that idea on your own, or if you’d really rather not “control” dinner conversation with your friends, or if you want advice on turning small talk to big talk in venues other than dinner parties…this book is not for you.
And it’s a bit of a shame because I think Janura could probably offer many other ideas and meaningful insights on conversation in a wider array of settings. It’s just that he hasn’t bothered to do so, or at least not in this book.
To save you the trouble: Janura’s idea is to present intentionally chosen “table questions” to everyone at the dinner table and have them respond in turn. You do this so that (1) everyone is talking about the same thing (2) you avoid “small talk”, which Janura holds in absolute contempt, and (3) you can control the conversation and make it go where you want. He has some tips on how to go about doing this and some lists of suggested questions.
And that’s it. That’s the whole book. If you feel like you can manage that idea on your own, or if you’d really rather not “control” dinner conversation with your friends, or if you want advice on turning small talk to big talk in venues other than dinner parties…this book is not for you.
And it’s a bit of a shame because I think Janura could probably offer many other ideas and meaningful insights on conversation in a wider array of settings. It’s just that he hasn’t bothered to do so, or at least not in this book.
October 28, 2023
Book was just someone wanting to say they wrote a book. The subject could have been explained in one short chapter instead of dragging it out by just reframing the subject and then filling it with list of reframed questions to increase the page count. Thankfully I only read books at the library and didn’t spend any money on this book.
July 15, 2025
Both stars are for the lists of questions at the end.
The book felt like the transcript of a late-night infomercial.
-AND-
The idea that the author hosted dinner parties to vet potential multi-level marketers is another level of rude and self-serving behavior. He goes on to criticize their conversations in a book? Awful.
Don't accept dinner invitations from Jan Janura.
The book felt like the transcript of a late-night infomercial.
-AND-
The idea that the author hosted dinner parties to vet potential multi-level marketers is another level of rude and self-serving behavior. He goes on to criticize their conversations in a book? Awful.
Don't accept dinner invitations from Jan Janura.
May 29, 2023
Read the first few chapters and skim the rest. It's one of those things you either buy into or you don't.
The real takeaway is to have meaningful questions to ask people IOT avoid small talk. In my experience - whether on dates or at dinner parties - people really enjoy it.
The real takeaway is to have meaningful questions to ask people IOT avoid small talk. In my experience - whether on dates or at dinner parties - people really enjoy it.
June 3, 2023
I enjoyed this book as a skimmer - reading quickly to get the high points. I love his idea of asking good questions to get real conversation going and it does inspire me to host more dinner parties.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews