The Art of Conversation: A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure

Do these words fill you with dread? It's time to hear their promise, and revel in an art that anyone can master. Conversation costs nothing. Let it bring you the world.

In challenging times, great conversationalists have a huge advantage. Why not join them? Get on with others, and you will get on in life. And enjoy it far more.

A communication technology that has been in research and development for thousands of years, conversation not only saves time but also hugely enriches it. This everyday magic is unbeatable for improving your mood, boosting your brain, and enriching friendship. And the qualities of a good conversation are those we want of the people around us, which is why the best conversationalists get dates, win contracts.

Because conversation is not just about how to talk to anyone. It's about connecting, through the host of tools we have for reading and changing minds. About how and why we laugh, how we flirt, how we flatter, and most important of all: how we listen.