We Need to Talk

Email, voice mail, cell phones, Twitter, text messages, and yes even blogs -- does anybody even remember how to have face-to-face real conversations any more? In The Art of Conversation: A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure, Catherine Blyth gives us the tools to rebuild this skill, which she describes as "second only to sex, a lot less hassle, and it really matters. A communication technology that has been in research and development for thousands of years, conversation not only saves time but hugely enriches it. This everyday magic is unbeatable for improving mood, boosting the brain, and forging friendship. With a chatty conversational tone, Blyth mixes personal anecdotes with lessons from philosophy, anthropology, history, and literature. "Good conversation is a team sport," she says. "Pace and energy keep it alive." Buy copies for your friends and family and re-energize the art of talking while looking at each other face-to-face!