"WE NEED TO TALK."
Now in paperback, public radio journalist Celeste Headlee's insightful
and urgent book on how to bridge what divides us--by having real
conversations
BASED ON THE TED TALK WITH OVER 10 MILLION VIEWS
NPR's Best Books of 2017
"We Need to Talk is an important read for a
conversationally-challenged, disconnected age. Headlee is a talented,
honest storyteller, and her advice has helped me become a better spouse,
friend, and mother." (Jessica Lahey, author of New York Times
bestseller The Gift of Failure)
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.
