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

Blyth, Catherine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1592404197 ISBN 13: 9781592404193

Publisher: Gotham, 2008

Synopsis

Read Catherine Blyth's posts on the Penguin Blog.

A wide-ranging, exhortatory look at the pleasures of great conversation, including strategies for how to bring it about, from the witty pen of an Englishwoman wise in its ways

In The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth eloquently points out the sorry state of disrepair that conversation has fallen into—and then, taking examples from history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, and popular culture, she gives us the tools to rebuild. Her prose embodies the conversational values she promotes: It’s smart, succinct, self-deprecating, and light on its feet.

The Art of Conversation isn’t about etiquette, elocution, or knowing how to hold your teacup with your little finger crooked just so. It’s about something simple and profound: connecting. In our distracted days, it’s easy to forget that each of us possesses a communication technology that has been in research and development for thousands of years. Conversation costs nothing, but can bring you the world.

Blyth offers us a chance to revel in the possibilities of conversation. As Alexander Pope nearly wrote, “True ease in talking comes from art, not chance, as those move easiest who have learned to dance.” Okay, Pope was actually talking about writing, but Catherine Blyth has that skill as well. When you have read The Art of Conversation, you’ll not only know the steps, but hear the music like never before.

About this title

Book Description:

'Blyth has tips to talk you out of any situation.' (ES Magazine)

'Brings a professional sensibility to the topic' (Scotland on Sunday )

'It's fun, it's fresh and it's flirty - all the things it teaches that we can be, if only we master the art of conversation' (The Resident )

'Erudite, high-spirited and enjoyably bossy . . . a lot of wit and wisdom' (Literary Review )

'The book offers a host of delightful tips on listening, talking shop and even surviving conversational bores' (Diplomat )

'Her book, The Art of Conversation, is a rallying cry for this neglected yet vital pleasure.' (Psychologies )

'Everybody will read it, but pretend they haven't' (Observer)

From the Back Cover:

'Get off that bloody computer and read this bloody great book. Reclaim the orgasmic pleasures of a bloody good conversation. Don't let modern technology turn you into an uncommunicative ninny: ingest this book and start conversing...and then start living.' Simon Doonan, author of ECCENTRIC GLAMOUR

'It is a treasure trove of literary and historical delights, with each page containing a little gem in the form of a quotation or a factoid... I can imagine The Art of Conversation becoming a film in the same way that Stephen Potter's One-Upmanship books became School For Scoundrels. In the meantime, people will buy it for the same reason they buy all books: to give themselves something to talk about.' Toby Young, Independent on Sunday

"Take the wittiest, most spellbinding dinner companion and put her between book covers; that's The Art of Conversation by Catherine Blyth. ... By turns arch, humane, historical, and hysterically funny, she's the person you hope you'll find at the next cocktail party--or the person you'd like to be." Margaret Shepherd, author of THE ART OF CIVILISED CONVERSATION

"Modern man - and woman - have forgotten how to engage larynx and ears. Catherine Blyth teaches the lost art with wit and charm." Harry Mount, author of CARPE DIEM

`A witty and thoroughly entertaining guide to the noble art of conversation.' Katie Hickman, author of THE AVIARY GATE

"Wittily mixing up philosophy with literature, blending science with psychology, Blyth persuasively argues the case for banter and badinage - it's free, its fun and it gets your brain cells firing like the prettiest of firework displays." MARIE CLAIRE

"Blyth is a passionate talker, and here she takes us on an entertaining tour of the art of proper conversation...you'll never be at a loss for words again!" GLAMOUR

About this edition

• Publisher: Gotham
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1592404197
• ISBN 13: 9781592404193
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304