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How to Talk to Anyone
Book

How to Talk to Anyone

92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

Leil Lowndes
McGraw-Hill, 2003

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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Applicable
  • Background

Recommendation

"Language most shews a man: Speak, that I may see thee." The great English dramatist and poet Ben Jonson wrote these words in the seventeenth century. They are as true today as they were then. People evaluate you by the words you use and the way you use them. Of course, people also make judgments based on your body language, dress style, attitude, facial expressions and similar criteria that immediately register at a subconscious level. This outstanding book will put you well on your way to becoming a more attractive personality as it reveals the secrets that drama and speech coaches, sales trainers, communication consultants, psychologists and other behavioral experts employ to help their clients become more charismatic, dynamic and appealing. The famous journalist and social critic H.L. Mencken once wrote, "Before a man speaks, it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is seldom necessary to assume it." This cynical maxim may be true for many – but certainly not for those who study this book. It is chock-full of wonderful insights and proven techniques – a whopping 92 in all – that you can use to become the type of person that others admire. getAbstract recommends putting its valuable lessons to use.

Summary

"Clever Hans, the Counting Horse"

In Europe during the halcyon years before World War I, "Clever Hans, the counting horse," was, without a doubt, the most talked-about sensation on the continent. A brilliant entertainer with a unique act, Hans could somehow supply accurate answers to math questions that audience members posed to him. He did so by quickly tapping out the correct answers to any problem – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division – with a hoof. The horse's owner, Herr von Osten, was always by his side while Hans performed these seemingly miraculous feats – but he never spoke to the horse or signaled to him in any way.

No one had ever seen such an amazing animal! Expanding beyond math, Hans "learned the alphabet." By tapping his hoof a certain number of times for each letter, he would answer questions from audience members concerning the latest news, or subjects such as geography and history. Hans always answered every question correctly. Eventually scientists and other leaders organized a special commission to investigate the "human horse." They asked von Osten to leave the hall for their test. Then, they had Hans perform his usual math and ...

About the Author

Leil Lowndes writes and lectures extensively on communication, and acts as a personal communications coach for Fortune 500 company executives and employees.

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