Overview

"""WE NEED TO TALK."" They are, perhaps, the most dreaded four words in the English language. But in her timely, insightful, and wonderfully practical audiobook, We Need to Talk, Celeste Headlee--who earns a living by talking on the airwaves of National Public Radio--makes the case that they are urgently needed. Today most of us communicate from behind electronic screens, and studies show that Americans feel less connected and more divided than ever before. The blame for some of this disconnect can be attributed to our political landscape, but the erosion of our conversational skills as a society lies with us as individuals. And the only way forward, says Headlee, is to start talking to each other. In We Need to Talk, she outlines the strategies that have made her a better conversationalist--and offers simple tools that can improve anyone's communication. For example: BE THERE OR GO ELSEWHERE. Human beings are incapable of multitasking, and this is especially true of tasks that involve language. Think you can type up a few emails while on a business call, or hold a conversation with your child while texting your spouse? Think again.CHECK YOUR BIAS. The belief that your intelligence protects you from erroneous assumptions can end up making you more vulnerable to them. We all have blind spots that affect the way we view others. Check your bias before you judge someone else.HIDE YOUR PHONE. Don't just put down your phone, put it away. New research suggests that the mere presence of a cell phone can negatively impact the quality of a conversation. Whether you're struggling to communicate with your kid's teacher at school, an employee at work, or the people you love the most--Headlee offers smart strategies that can help us all have conversations that matter."

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9781538454480

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Reviews

"[A] well-researched and careful analysis of how and why we talk with one another-our strengths and (myriad) weaknesses...A thoughtful discussion and sometimes-passionate plea for civility and consideration in conversation. -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" It is evident in Headlee's narration that she is a professional accustomed to tailoring her diction to a broad audience: She enunciates clearly and deliberately, maintaining a comfortably relaxed yet forward-moving pace and emphasizing key words and phrases appropriately for impact. Headlee's hope is that by employing the techniques she presents in this book, we can all learn to communicate better in this age of digital distractions and make efforts to truly connect as individuals by listening and sharing. -- ""AudioFile"" Refreshingly honest...In the era of the lost art of conversation, Headlee helps us find our voice. -- ""Essence"" The perfect pre-Thanksgiving read to head off family squabbles and turn the holiday meal into a feast of ideas instead of a political fracas. -- ""Augusta Chronicle"" This unassuming but powerful debut offers ten strategies for improving conversational skills. -- ""Publishers Weekly"""

[A] well-researched and careful analysis of how and why we talk with one another-our strengths and (myriad) weaknesses...A thoughtful discussion and sometimes-passionate plea for civility and consideration in conversation. -- Kirkus Reviews This unassuming but powerful debut offers ten strategies for improving conversational skills. -- Publishers Weekly The perfect pre-Thanksgiving read to head off family squabbles and turn the holiday meal into a feast of ideas instead of a political fracas. -- Augusta Chronicle Refreshingly honest...In the era of the lost art of conversation, Headlee helps us find our voice. -- Essence It is evident in Headlee's narration that she is a professional accustomed to tailoring her diction to a broad audience: She enunciates clearly and deliberately, maintaining a comfortably relaxed yet forward-moving pace and emphasizing key words and phrases appropriately for impact. Headlee's hope is that by employing the techniques she presents in this book, we can all learn to communicate better in this age of digital distractions and make efforts to truly connect as individuals by listening and sharing. -- AudioFile

Author Information

Celeste Headlee is the host of the daily news show On Second Thought on Georgia Public Broadcasting. She has spent more than a decade with National Public Radio and has been a host for Public Radio International since 2008. Celeste has appeared on CNN, the BBC, PBS, and MSNBC. She is also a classically trained soprano who doesn't get enough time to sing anymore. She has one son and one rescue dog, and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

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