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Staff Pick
Everyone knows someone who seems like they can talk to anyone. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg uses engaging real-life examples to show us how to become one of those rare people. An important read for anyone who wants to talk to other people effectively (which should be everyone, really). Recommended By Deana R., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work — and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in life
"A winning combination of stories, studies, and guidance that might well transform the worst communicators you know into some of the best." Adam Grant, author of Think Again and Hidden Potential
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.
Communication is a superpower and the best communicators understand that whenever we speak, we're actually participating in one of three conversations: practical (What's this really about?), emotional (How do we feel?), and social (Who are we?). If you don't know what kind of conversation you're having, you're unlikely to connect.
Supercommunicators know the importance of recognizing — and then matching — each kind of conversation, and how to hear the complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and deeply held beliefs that color so much of what we say and how we listen. Our experiences, our values, our emotional lives — and how we see ourselves, and others — shape every discussion, from who will pick up the kids to how we want to be treated at work. In this book, you will learn why some people are able to make themselves heard, and to hear others, so clearly.
With his storytelling that takes us from the writers' room of The Big Bang Theory to the couches of leading marriage counselors, Duhigg shows readers how to recognize these three conversations — and teaches us the tips and skills we need to navigate them more successfully.
In the end, he delivers a simple but powerful lesson: With the right tools, we can connect with anyone.
Review
“Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Duhigg (The Power of Habit) has created a roadmap to better connection through the practice of supercommunication….a timely primer for creating deeper connections with others.” Library Journal
Review
“Providing both an actionable guide and a revealing peek into the psychological needs and motivations that underpin human interaction….It's a smart, revelatory look at the complex ways in which humans conflict and connect.” Publishers Weekly
Review
"This book stayed with me. I found myself thinking about how many questions I ask and how often I laugh in conversation. Given how much talking we all do, it's amazing how little we understand. A much-needed guide to connecting in disconnected times." Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict
About the Author
Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and the author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better. A graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale College, he is a winner of the National Academies of Sciences, National Journalism, and George Polk awards. He writes for The New Yorker and other publications, was previously a senior editor at The New York Times, and occasionally hosts the podcast How To!