
Talk
The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $20.25
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Alison Wood Brooks
About this listen
A groundbreaking book that reveals the hidden architecture of our conversations and how even small improvements can have a profound impact on our relationships in work and life—from a celebrated Harvard Business School professor and leading expert on the psychology of conversation.
“Alison Wood Brooks brings to life the science of conversation, in which she is a world expert, with the utmost warmth, empathy, and joy.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit
All of us can struggle with difficult conversations, but we’re often not very good at the easy ones either. Though we do it all the time, Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks argues that conversation is one of the most complex, demanding, and delicate of all human tasks, rife with possibilities for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. And yet conversations can also be a source of great joy, each one offering an opportunity to express who we are and learn who others are—to feel connected, loved, and alive.
In Talk, Brooks shows why conversing a little more effectively can make a big difference in the quality of our close personal relationships as well as our professional success. Drawing on the new science of conversation, Brooks distills lessons that show how we can better understand, learn from, and delight each other.
The key is her TALK Maxims:
Topics: Choose topics and manage them well
Asking: Ask more questions
Levity: Use humor to keep conversations fizzy
Kindness: Prioritize their partners conversational needs
Through experiments ranging across the conversational spectrum—from speed daters who ask too few questions (or too many), to future business leaders averse to topic forethought, to traffic stops that reveal the essence of kind language—Brooks takes us inside the world of conversation, giving us the confidence and the advice to approach any interaction with more creativity and compassion.
Addressing our face-to-face conversations as well as those we have by phone, email, text, and social media, Talk is a thoughtful guide for anyone seeking to better establish and sustain their relationships. From managing our emotions and sparking creativity to navigating conflict and being more inclusive, the right conversation skills just might be the key to leading a more purposeful life.
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing visual supplements and the Appendix, from the printed book.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2025 Alison Wood Brooks (P)2025 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Why Am I So Anxious?
- Powerful Tools for Recognizing Anxiety and Restoring Your Peace
- By: Tracey Marks
- Narrated by: Tracey Marks
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Anxiety seems to be everywhere in today's world. But how do you know if you're experiencing anxiety, or something else? And what can you do to fix it? Renowned therapist and YouTube star Dr. Tracey Marks is known for her friendly, relatable style that helps followers of her YouTube channel recogize what's bothering them and then guides them to practical solutions that will help them manage their mental health issues.
-
-
I Wish the PDFs were available on Audible
- By Lisa Allen on 08-30-22
By: Tracey Marks
-
The Next Conversation
- Argue Less, Talk More
- By: Jefferson Fisher
- Narrated by: Jefferson Fisher
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation.
-
-
Jefferson is talking to me.
- By Winfred on 03-22-25
By: Jefferson Fisher
-
Fascinate
- Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation
- By: Sally Hogshead
- Narrated by: Sally Hogshead
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why are you captivated by some people but not by others? Why do you recall some brands yet forget the rest? In a distracted, overcrowded world, how do certain leaders, friends, and family members convince you to change your behavior? Answer: fascination, the most powerful way to influence decision-making. It's more persuasive than marketing, advertising, or any other form of communication. And it all starts with seven universal triggers: lust, mystique, alarm, prestige, power, vice, and trust.
-
-
Hog your Head with Fascinate!
- By Lanie Evans on 01-19-11
By: Sally Hogshead
-
Shift
- Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You
- By: Ethan Kross
- Narrated by: Ethan Kross
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s anxiety about going to the doctor, boiling rage when we’re stuck in traffic, or devastation after a painful break-up, our lives are filled with situations that send us spiraling. But as difficult as our emotions can be, they are also a superpower. Far from being “good” or “bad,” emotions are information. When they’re activated in the right ways and at the right time, they function like an immune system, alerting us to our surroundings, telling us how to react to a situation, and helping us make the right choices. But how do we make our emotions work for us rather than against us?
-
-
The toolkit I never knew that I needed
- By Tyler L on 02-07-25
By: Ethan Kross
-
Get Honest or Die Lying
- Why Small Talk Sucks
- By: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God, Elliot Connie, Landon Woodson
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For over a decade, Charlamagne Tha God has cohosted iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated morning radio show The Breakfast Club and has proven his power as a culture mover and thought leader, by being his completely authentic self on-air. From his famous “You ain't black” moment with President Biden, to heartfelt chats with cultural icons like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter and Judy Blume, to viral classics with Kamala Harris and Soulja Boy, his reach and impact on American culture continues to grow. In Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks, Charlamagne takes full command of his new perch.
-
-
Everything
- By Destini on 04-13-25
-
Tiny Experiments
- How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World
- By: Anne-Laure Le Cunff
- Narrated by: Anne-Laure Le Cunff
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Life isn’t linear, and yet we try to mold it around linear goals: four-year college degrees, ten-year career plans, thirty-year mortgages. What if instead we approached life as a giant playground for experimentation? Based on ancestral philosophy and the latest scientific research, Tiny Experiments provides a desperately needed reframing: Uncertainty can be a state of expanded possibility and a space for metamorphosis. Neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals that all you need is an experimental mindset to turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity.
-
-
A Refreshing Take on Growth and Creativity!
- By Naya on 03-05-25
-
Why Am I So Anxious?
- Powerful Tools for Recognizing Anxiety and Restoring Your Peace
- By: Tracey Marks
- Narrated by: Tracey Marks
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Anxiety seems to be everywhere in today's world. But how do you know if you're experiencing anxiety, or something else? And what can you do to fix it? Renowned therapist and YouTube star Dr. Tracey Marks is known for her friendly, relatable style that helps followers of her YouTube channel recogize what's bothering them and then guides them to practical solutions that will help them manage their mental health issues.
-
-
I Wish the PDFs were available on Audible
- By Lisa Allen on 08-30-22
By: Tracey Marks
-
The Next Conversation
- Argue Less, Talk More
- By: Jefferson Fisher
- Narrated by: Jefferson Fisher
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation.
-
-
Jefferson is talking to me.
- By Winfred on 03-22-25
By: Jefferson Fisher
-
Fascinate
- Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation
- By: Sally Hogshead
- Narrated by: Sally Hogshead
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why are you captivated by some people but not by others? Why do you recall some brands yet forget the rest? In a distracted, overcrowded world, how do certain leaders, friends, and family members convince you to change your behavior? Answer: fascination, the most powerful way to influence decision-making. It's more persuasive than marketing, advertising, or any other form of communication. And it all starts with seven universal triggers: lust, mystique, alarm, prestige, power, vice, and trust.
-
-
Hog your Head with Fascinate!
- By Lanie Evans on 01-19-11
By: Sally Hogshead
-
Shift
- Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You
- By: Ethan Kross
- Narrated by: Ethan Kross
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s anxiety about going to the doctor, boiling rage when we’re stuck in traffic, or devastation after a painful break-up, our lives are filled with situations that send us spiraling. But as difficult as our emotions can be, they are also a superpower. Far from being “good” or “bad,” emotions are information. When they’re activated in the right ways and at the right time, they function like an immune system, alerting us to our surroundings, telling us how to react to a situation, and helping us make the right choices. But how do we make our emotions work for us rather than against us?
-
-
The toolkit I never knew that I needed
- By Tyler L on 02-07-25
By: Ethan Kross
-
Get Honest or Die Lying
- Why Small Talk Sucks
- By: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God, Elliot Connie, Landon Woodson
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For over a decade, Charlamagne Tha God has cohosted iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated morning radio show The Breakfast Club and has proven his power as a culture mover and thought leader, by being his completely authentic self on-air. From his famous “You ain't black” moment with President Biden, to heartfelt chats with cultural icons like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter and Judy Blume, to viral classics with Kamala Harris and Soulja Boy, his reach and impact on American culture continues to grow. In Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks, Charlamagne takes full command of his new perch.
-
-
Everything
- By Destini on 04-13-25
-
Tiny Experiments
- How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World
- By: Anne-Laure Le Cunff
- Narrated by: Anne-Laure Le Cunff
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Life isn’t linear, and yet we try to mold it around linear goals: four-year college degrees, ten-year career plans, thirty-year mortgages. What if instead we approached life as a giant playground for experimentation? Based on ancestral philosophy and the latest scientific research, Tiny Experiments provides a desperately needed reframing: Uncertainty can be a state of expanded possibility and a space for metamorphosis. Neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals that all you need is an experimental mindset to turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity.
-
-
A Refreshing Take on Growth and Creativity!
- By Naya on 03-05-25
-
The Alchemist
- A Fable About Following Your Dream
- By: Paulo Coelho
- Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
- Length: 4 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest.
-
-
A Timeless Tale
- By Judi on 01-07-07
By: Paulo Coelho
-
Meditations for Mortals
- Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
- By: Oliver Burkeman
- Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
- Length: 4 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, Meditations for Mortals offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life Oliver Burkeman calls “imperfectionism.” It helps us tackle challenges as they crop up in our daily lives: our finite time, the lure of distraction, the impossibility of doing anything perfectly.
-
-
Outstanding everyone needs to learn
- By Lily K. on 02-03-25
By: Oliver Burkeman
-
How to Be Yourself
- Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety
- By: Ellen Hendriksen
- Narrated by: Ellen Hendriksen
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Up to 40% of people consider themselves shy. You might say you're introverted or awkward, or that you're fine around friends but just can't speak up in a meeting or at a party. Maybe you're usually confident but have recently moved or started a new job, only to feel isolated and unsure. If you get nervous in social situations - meeting your partner's friends, public speaking, standing awkwardly in the elevator with your boss - you've probably been told, "Just be yourself!" But that's easier said than done - especially if you're prone to social anxiety.
-
-
"Life" Changing
- By Lisa on 05-22-18
By: Ellen Hendriksen
-
The Friction Project
- How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder
- By: Robert I. Sutton, Huggy Rao
- Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every organization is plagued by destructive friction. Yet some forms of friction are incredibly useful, and leaders who attempt to improve workplace efficiency often make things even worse. Drawing from seven years of hands-on research, The Friction Project by bestselling authors Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao teaches readers how to become “friction fixers.”
-
-
not clear purpose
- By Gg on 05-09-24
By: Robert I. Sutton, and others
-
Impact Players
- How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact
- By: Liz Wiseman
- Narrated by: Liz Wiseman
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Impact Players, New York Times best-selling author and researcher Liz Wiseman reveals the secrets of these stellar professionals who play the game at a higher level. Drawing on insights from leaders at top companies, Wiseman explains what the most influential players are doing differently, how small and seemingly insignificant differences in how we think and act can make an enormous impact, and why - with a little coaching - this mindset is available to everyone who wants to contribute at their highest level.
-
-
A must read/listen
- By Tiffany on 03-30-23
By: Liz Wiseman
-
The Book of Awakening
- Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have
- By: Mark Nepo
- Narrated by: Mark Nepo
- Length: 17 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Book of Awakening, by poet and teacher Mark Nepo, provides small doses of what really matters, simple truths and stories from everyday lives, plus inspiration from the great wisdom traditions. Each day’s entry is accompanied by simple, yet profound, practices designed to help us live the life we want by being present to the life we have. For, in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “You are that which you are seeking.”
-
-
I wish someone besides the author were performing.
- By Stellar Addla on 04-20-12
By: Mark Nepo
-
Mastery
- The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment
- By: George Leonard
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on Zen philosophy and his expertise in the martial art of aikido, best-selling author George Leonard shows how the process of mastery can help us attain a higher level of excellence and a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our daily lives. Whether you're seeking to improve your career or your intimate relationships, increase self-esteem or create harmony within yourself, this inspiring prescriptive guide will help you master anything you choose and achieve success in all areas of your life.
-
-
thank you.
- By cjkliemann on 03-24-19
By: George Leonard
-
The Next Day
- Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward
- By: Melinda French Gates
- Narrated by: Melinda French Gates
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a rare window into some of her life’s pivotal moments, Melinda French Gates draws from previously untold stories to offer a new perspective on encountering transitions. Melinda will reflect on some of the most significant transitions in her own life, including becoming a parent, the death of a dear friend, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. The stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends navigate times of crisis, embracing uncertainty, and more.
-
-
So much wisdom
- By Michelle Hicks on 04-16-25
-
Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
- By: Lisa Feldman Barrett
- Narrated by: Lisa Feldman Barrett
- Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify that big gray blob between your ears. In seven short essays (plus a bite-sized story about how brains evolved), this slim, entertaining, and accessible collection reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You'll learn where brains came from, how they're structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience.
-
-
slow reader & little bit of a Wokie
- By darren on 06-01-21
-
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
- By: Julie Smith
- Narrated by: Julie Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before teaches you how to fortify and maintain your mental health, even in the most trying of times. Dr Julie Smith’s expert advice and powerful coping techniques will help you stay resilient, whether you want to manage anxiety, deal with criticism, cope with depression, build self-confidence, find motivation, or learn to forgive yourself.
-
-
Monotonous
- By John Olson on 02-28-22
By: Julie Smith
-
How to Change
- The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
- By: Katy Milkman, Angela Duckworth - foreword
- Narrated by: Katy Milkman, Angela Duckworth
- Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Change comes most readily when you understand what's standing between you and success and tailor your solution to that roadblock. If you want to work out more but find exercise difficult and boring, downloading a goal-setting app probably won't help. But what if, instead, you transformed your workouts so they became a source of pleasure instead of a chore? Turning an uphill battle into a downhill one is the key to success.
-
-
Finally, actionable steps
- By lisa on 05-05-21
By: Katy Milkman, and others
-
Roar (Revised Edition)
- Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong Body for Life
- By: Stacy T. Sims PhD, Selene Yeager
- Narrated by: Gina Daniels
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By understanding your physiology, you’ll know how best to adapt your lifestyle and build routines to maximize your performance, on and off the sports field. You’ll discover expert guidance on building a rock-solid foundation for fitness and everyday life with tips for determining your high-performance body composition, gaining lean muscle, and nailing your nutrition. Because a women’s physiology changes over time, you’ll also find full chapters devoted to pregnancy and menopause.
-
-
Gold mine of info, HORRIBLE NARRATION
- By elluminate on 08-02-24
By: Stacy T. Sims PhD, and others
Critic reviews
“Reading Talk is like having a conversation with the world’s best conversationalist. Alison Wood Brooks brings to life the science of conversation, in which she is a world expert, with the utmost warmth, empathy, and joy. . . . This book has raised my game as a conversationalist. I’m recommending it to everyone I know.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit
“Talk is that rarest of treats: smart, insightful, immediately useful, and way more fun to read than should be allowed. . . . This book gave us fresh ideas that we put into practice immediately on friends, family, clients, and colleagues. Talk has changed how we think about what it means for two people to really talk to each other.”—Sheila Heen and Doug Stone, bestselling co-authors of Difficult Conversations
“For many, one of the lost arts in modern life is conversation. Alison Wood Brooks’s wonderful new book, Talk, has the solution. Read this book, and your life will improve.”—Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Inspire
- The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others
- By: Adam Galinsky
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Social psychologist and leadership expert Adam Galinsky has spent three decades building a method for determining when we are inspiring versus infuriating, and where various leaders—presidents, CEOs, coaches, teachers, parents, and a wealth of others—currently land on that spectrum. Galinsky shows how inspiring leaders can fill us with a wellspring of hope and possibility as they guide us to become better versions of ourselves. In contrast, infuriating leaders disappoint and annoy, fueling seething cauldrons of rage.
By: Adam Galinsky
-
Mindmasters (Anna Caputo version)
- The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior
- By: Sandra Matz
- Narrated by: Anna Caputo
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Columbia Business School professor Sandra Matz reveals in fascinating detail how big data offers insights into the most intimate aspects of our psyches and how these insights empower an external influence over the choices we make. This can be creepy, manipulative, and downright harmful, with scandals like that of British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica being merely the tip of the iceberg.
-
-
An Important book!! Very well written!! Empowering!
- By onili on 02-03-25
By: Sandra Matz
-
Shift
- Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You
- By: Ethan Kross
- Narrated by: Ethan Kross
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s anxiety about going to the doctor, boiling rage when we’re stuck in traffic, or devastation after a painful break-up, our lives are filled with situations that send us spiraling. But as difficult as our emotions can be, they are also a superpower. Far from being “good” or “bad,” emotions are information. When they’re activated in the right ways and at the right time, they function like an immune system, alerting us to our surroundings, telling us how to react to a situation, and helping us make the right choices. But how do we make our emotions work for us rather than against us?
-
-
The toolkit I never knew that I needed
- By Tyler L on 02-07-25
By: Ethan Kross
-
Validation
- How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life
- By: Caroline Fleck PhD
- Narrated by: Caroline Fleck PhD
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all spend a lot of energy trying to get people to listen to us, and despite our best efforts, we often fail. But what if the secret to influencing others was to demonstrate acceptance? Enter validation—communication where one accepts and sees the validity in another person’s experience. Research on validation shows that it has profound effects, from improving relationships and de-escalating conflicts to increasing one’s influence and self-compassion.
-
-
A work of LOVE
- By Mark A. Tomski, M.D. on 02-25-25
-
Speak and Be Heard
- The Keys to Effective and Persuasive Speaking
- By: DANIEL RIFFLE
- Narrated by: Greg Walters
- Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unlock the power of your voice with "Speak and Be Heard: The Keys to Effective and Persuasive Speaking." This essential guidebook is your roadmap to transforming your communication skills and making your voice resonate with authority and confidence. Whether you're addressing a boardroom, leading a community meeting, or engaging in everyday conversations, this book provides invaluable insights and practical techniques to elevate your speaking prowess. Discover the art of crafting compelling messages, mastering body language, and harnessing the psychology of persuasion.
By: DANIEL RIFFLE
-
The Art of Words
- How to Use Words as the Ultimate Weapon
- By: Natasha Cox
- Narrated by: Steven A. Gannett
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This enlightening guidebook delves deep into the nuances of communication, revealing how words can be wielded with precision to influence, inspire, and innovate. Perfect for both seasoned communicators and those looking to refine their linguistic prowess, this book explores the strategic art of rhetoric, persuasion, and storytelling.
By: Natasha Cox
-
Inspire
- The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others
- By: Adam Galinsky
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Social psychologist and leadership expert Adam Galinsky has spent three decades building a method for determining when we are inspiring versus infuriating, and where various leaders—presidents, CEOs, coaches, teachers, parents, and a wealth of others—currently land on that spectrum. Galinsky shows how inspiring leaders can fill us with a wellspring of hope and possibility as they guide us to become better versions of ourselves. In contrast, infuriating leaders disappoint and annoy, fueling seething cauldrons of rage.
By: Adam Galinsky
-
Mindmasters (Anna Caputo version)
- The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior
- By: Sandra Matz
- Narrated by: Anna Caputo
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Columbia Business School professor Sandra Matz reveals in fascinating detail how big data offers insights into the most intimate aspects of our psyches and how these insights empower an external influence over the choices we make. This can be creepy, manipulative, and downright harmful, with scandals like that of British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica being merely the tip of the iceberg.
-
-
An Important book!! Very well written!! Empowering!
- By onili on 02-03-25
By: Sandra Matz
-
Shift
- Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You
- By: Ethan Kross
- Narrated by: Ethan Kross
- Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s anxiety about going to the doctor, boiling rage when we’re stuck in traffic, or devastation after a painful break-up, our lives are filled with situations that send us spiraling. But as difficult as our emotions can be, they are also a superpower. Far from being “good” or “bad,” emotions are information. When they’re activated in the right ways and at the right time, they function like an immune system, alerting us to our surroundings, telling us how to react to a situation, and helping us make the right choices. But how do we make our emotions work for us rather than against us?
-
-
The toolkit I never knew that I needed
- By Tyler L on 02-07-25
By: Ethan Kross
-
Validation
- How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life
- By: Caroline Fleck PhD
- Narrated by: Caroline Fleck PhD
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all spend a lot of energy trying to get people to listen to us, and despite our best efforts, we often fail. But what if the secret to influencing others was to demonstrate acceptance? Enter validation—communication where one accepts and sees the validity in another person’s experience. Research on validation shows that it has profound effects, from improving relationships and de-escalating conflicts to increasing one’s influence and self-compassion.
-
-
A work of LOVE
- By Mark A. Tomski, M.D. on 02-25-25
-
Speak and Be Heard
- The Keys to Effective and Persuasive Speaking
- By: DANIEL RIFFLE
- Narrated by: Greg Walters
- Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unlock the power of your voice with "Speak and Be Heard: The Keys to Effective and Persuasive Speaking." This essential guidebook is your roadmap to transforming your communication skills and making your voice resonate with authority and confidence. Whether you're addressing a boardroom, leading a community meeting, or engaging in everyday conversations, this book provides invaluable insights and practical techniques to elevate your speaking prowess. Discover the art of crafting compelling messages, mastering body language, and harnessing the psychology of persuasion.
By: DANIEL RIFFLE
-
The Art of Words
- How to Use Words as the Ultimate Weapon
- By: Natasha Cox
- Narrated by: Steven A. Gannett
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This enlightening guidebook delves deep into the nuances of communication, revealing how words can be wielded with precision to influence, inspire, and innovate. Perfect for both seasoned communicators and those looking to refine their linguistic prowess, this book explores the strategic art of rhetoric, persuasion, and storytelling.
By: Natasha Cox
-
Reset
- How to Change What's Not Working
- By: Dan Heath
- Narrated by: Dan Heath
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points.
-
-
Accompanying PDF has chapter summaries
- By JOHN B SHRADER on 02-07-25
By: Dan Heath
-
The Next Conversation
- Argue Less, Talk More
- By: Jefferson Fisher
- Narrated by: Jefferson Fisher
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation.
-
-
Jefferson is talking to me.
- By Winfred on 03-22-25
By: Jefferson Fisher
-
Labor of Love
- The Invention of Dating
- By: Moira Weigel
- Narrated by: Kyra Miller
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Weaving together over 100 years of history with scenes from the contemporary landscape, Labor of Love offers a fresh feminist perspective on how we came to date the ways we do. This isn't a guide to "getting the guy". There are no ridiculous "rules" to follow. Instead Weigel helps us understand how looking for love shapes who we are and hopefully leads us closer to the happy ending that dating promises.
-
-
Not Meant To Be Useful, But Quite Fun
- By Gillian on 02-14-17
By: Moira Weigel
-
The Importance of Words in Communication and Ways to Persuade the Opponent Using Words
- By: Mark Hardin
- Narrated by: Gordon Webster
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unleash the power of language with The Importance of Words in Communication and Ways to Persuade the Opponent Using Words. Crammed with wisdom, this guidebook offers transformative insights into the role of words in shaping conversations, connections, and conflicts.
By: Mark Hardin
-
Speak to Connect
- The Power of Empathy in Verbal Communication
- By: Indio Garnett
- Narrated by: B W Cripe
- Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unlock the transformative power of words with "Speak to Connect: The Power of Empathy in Verbal Communication." In this illuminating exploration of human interaction, renowned psychologist and communication expert Dr. Emily Hart delves into the art and science of empathetic dialogue. Discover how empathy can bridge divides, foster deeper understanding, and create meaningful connections in both personal and professional realms. Drawing on cutting-edge research and real-world examples, Dr. Hart reveals practical strategies to enhance your communication skills.
By: Indio Garnett
-
Defy
- The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes
- By: Dr. Sunita Sah
- Narrated by: Dr. Sunita Sah
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many of us comply much more than we realize. How many times have you wanted to object, disagree, or opt out of something but ended up swallowing your words, shaking your head, and just going along? Analyzing cases ranging from corporate corruption and sexual abuse to everyday acquiescence at work, the doctor’s office, and in our personal lives, award-winning organizational psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah delves deep into why the pressure to comply is a corrosive and often invisible force in our society.
-
-
Defiance as a learned skill
- By Amazon Customer on 04-14-25
By: Dr. Sunita Sah
-
Supercommunicators
- How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
- By: Charles Duhigg
- Narrated by: Charles Duhigg
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Come inside a jury room as one juror leads a starkly divided room to consensus. Join a young CIA officer as he recruits a reluctant foreign agent. And sit with an accomplished surgeon as he tries, and fails, to convince yet another cancer patient to opt for the less risky course of treatment. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.
-
-
Valuable advice and information.
- By Cheryl J. on 03-13-24
By: Charles Duhigg
-
The Book of Awakening
- Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have
- By: Mark Nepo
- Narrated by: Mark Nepo
- Length: 17 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Book of Awakening, by poet and teacher Mark Nepo, provides small doses of what really matters, simple truths and stories from everyday lives, plus inspiration from the great wisdom traditions. Each day’s entry is accompanied by simple, yet profound, practices designed to help us live the life we want by being present to the life we have. For, in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “You are that which you are seeking.”
-
-
I wish someone besides the author were performing.
- By Stellar Addla on 04-20-12
By: Mark Nepo
-
How to Talk to Anyone
- Communication Strategies to Unlock Networking Skills, Gain Confidence, and Master Conversations for Social and Professional Success
- By: Deborah Meyers
- Narrated by: Hope March
- Length: 4 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unlock the communication skills that will transform you into a confident, engaging conversationalist—whether in social settings, networking events, or professional environments. Does it seem like others effortlessly connect while you’re stuck in small talk? Do networking events fill you with dread? You’re not alone! Research shows that 85% of job success comes from strong communication skills, yet many struggle in this vital area.
-
-
Master Conversations
- By M.Rauch on 03-25-25
By: Deborah Meyers
-
The Empathy Fix
- Why Poverty Persists and How to Change It
- By: Keetie Roelen
- Narrated by: Allegra Marland
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Poverty is bad for everyone. Being at the sharp end of disadvantage is shameful, reduces brainpower, and hampers positive action. It increases crime, burdens healthcare systems and raises taxpayers' bills. With millions around the world struggling to make ends meet and increased socioeconomic uncertainty making poverty a more probable prospect for many more, tackling poverty has never been more urgent. The Empathy Fix exposes the realities of poverty and reveals why policies don't work. It is a radical rethink of current efforts to tackle poverty, what it means and how we break the cycle.
By: Keetie Roelen
-
Life in Three Dimensions
- How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life
- By: Shigehiro Oishi PhD
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For many people, a good life is a stable life, a comfortable life that follows a well-trodden path. This is the case for Shigehiro Oishi's father, who has lived in a small mountain town in Japan for his entire life, putting his family's needs above his own, like his father and grandfather before him. But is a happy life, or even a meaningful life, the only path to a good life? In Life in Three Dimensions, Shige Oishi enters into a debate that has animated psychology since 1984, when Ed Diener (Oishi's mentor) published a paper that launched happiness studies.
-
The DOSE Effect
- Optimize Your Brain and Body by Boosting Your Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins
- By: TJ Power
- Narrated by: Tj Power
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The brain’s ability to change and adapt is one of the most powerful tools we can harness to improve our lives. Renowned neuroscientist and co-founder of Neurify, Tj Power, believes in the human ability to optimize and rewire brain chemistry to unlock one’s full potential. However, to do so, one must first implement a series of practical, life-changing strategies. The DOSE Effect reveals the secrets of our brain chemistry, offering simple and accessible ways to make modifications to your lifestyle that can transform your brain.
-
-
Great book! Love all the extras at the end!
- By David Cox on 04-26-25
By: TJ Power
What listeners say about Talk
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John S
- 04-07-25
Solid guidance with Structure
Writing a review since a prior review gave a low rating with which I disagree, namely the notion that this subject is commonsensical. If you are a terrific conversationalist I suppose so, you’ve come to aspects of the guidance here on your own. But I don’t think that’s true for many today, especially younger persons who do not have the robust social skills building opportunities my generation did (I’m a child psychiatrist and have my ears tuned to books that could be useful for young adults). I also liked the research underpinnings and references, and the author’s own road to coming to this topic (viz. not a salesman or self help guru who decided they have a great idea to share).
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jason k
- 03-29-25
Something for all levels of communication!
Great insight backed by impressive research. Found to be a great reality check for current ways of conversation while offering a wide variety of every day conversation enhancements. Great Read/Listen!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dotty
- 04-17-25
Not very informative/boring.
The reader was sing songy and not very effective in bringing what little information was offered in this read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patricia
- 04-27-25
Not practical
I thought it would give practical advice on communicating, but it was a disappointment. I don’t feel like gained anything.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Heather
- 02-24-25
Too perky and banal
The overly enthusiastic narration makes it very difficult to stay with the author; an object lesson in “don’t narrate your own books, hire a professional”. I didn’t get far due to the degree to which this made listening a chore. But what I did hear amounted to a little history about conversation and Kant that felt straight out of Encyclopedia Britannica and some advice that any sentient being who regularly speaks with others would have figured out by the time they were 20. Tiresome.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!