Good info, but painful to listen to

Any additional comments?

I found some good information in this book, but I would have found it SO MUCH BETTER if the 92 tricks were listed instead of having to listen to this entire book. Part of the problem is that 92 tips and tricks are far too many to remember. There are a lot of good pointers, but there are way too many ideas expressed here. More detailed examples and explanations of fewer tips and tricks would probably be more effective... would make them easier to incorporate into actual interpersonal communications.

But far worse is her old-timey way of writing (and presumably speaking). Most of the reviews are correct... the language she uses is so outdated (I've never heard the word 'golly' so many times in my life), the generalizations are pain (and I am anything but PC), and her constant use of alliteration is cringe-worthy (and I almost always appreciate alliteration). I don't believe 90% of her stories about this friend or that acquaintance. They just sound so stilted. And if it wasn't for a few awkward uses of modern-day terms, I'd think this book was written in Dale Carnegie's day (Amazon says the book was released in 2003). She may be an expert in modern-day communication, but she sounds like she belongs in a 1940s newsreel.

I'm only through #57, and I may try to find the list online to get the rest of them without subjecting myself to more uses of terms like 'big winners' and 'fat cats.' Glad I got it on-sale.

563 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Hard to take seriously

Sorry, but I have a hard time taking the author seriously when she refers to martial artists having to register their hands as lethal weapons (urban legend), bats having superior eyes that can see in the dark better than we can (they don't, they are just using their ears to navigate with sonar), lovers referring to each other as "my turtledove" (what is this... the 40's???), advising her listeners to answer the phone with a polite but flat voice then wait until they hear who it is on the line before gushing with pretend happiness (who doesn't have Call ID these days?), or making sexist comments about how women don't understand football analogies but can talk about childbirth all day. When she talked about a customer calling her to complain that "one of her tapes had broken", I checked the publication date of the book thinking it would be from the 80's but to my surprise the publication date is actually 2015 with a copyright date of 2003. If that's true and she's still referring to things that have been outdated for decades, I don't know how much of her advice I really want to trust.

The author may be a legit communications expert, but she lost a lot of credibility with me due to her narrow-mindedness, overgeneralization, and outdated references. The two nicest things I can say about this book is that it's short enough to be tolerable... and I got it on sale. Don't spend your credit on this one.

488 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Can I get my credit back?

This book is corny and after listening to it for 30 mins I was ready to stop but continued on for another 30 mins. Overall get a book from grant cardone. Any book and you'll pick up similar tips but with great presentation

223 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Too self important

This book has a few good tips, but the author is far too pretentious for me. I expected a book with communication tips (of which there are some), but the book is much more about manipulating people to benefit oneself.

201 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

It could do with some editing

Some of this is very helpful and might change the way you interact with people. But it needs cutting down it seems very longwinded and repetitive in parts. It is also a little dated.

190 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

superficial

92 tricks? Is that really practical to remember? A lot of information in this story was repeated or focused on superficial manipulation of others. I love books on audible but this was a real struggle to finish.

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Less about how to talk to anyone and more about playing the game

The book makes some good points, however, it also comes across as very manipulative and insincere. Many of the tactics that are portrayed as bulletproof can easily be seen through. It's more about how to play the "game."

137 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

The purplest of prose

The information in this book is interesting, but the delivery is godawful. The writing is terrible and the author reads the text in lilting, smarmy tones. I'm going to find a print version so I can skim the bad writing and cheesy anecdotes to glean the concepts, some of which are thought provoking.

103 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

so outdated

Has How to Talk to Anyone turned you off from other books in this genre?

I had to look at the date it was written and couldn't believe it was 2015. I thought it was something from the 30's or 40's. Sorry, but a good one to go to sleep with.

87 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Great despite some bad reviews

Any additional comments?

Some say the reading is smarmy and annoying. I can see why they say that about the author who reads only the introduction.

Some say the names for techniques are goofy and patronizing. I say they are good memory aids. They are goofy and inspire visual images, which are easier to remember.

Some say the author sounds too self-congratulatory about her many important friends and her uniquely superior save-the-day wisdom. I was just a bit annoyed by this. But I appreciate personal stories as examples. Stories are easier to remember. It's part of her job as a writer to sell you on the usefulness of the suggestions. Besides, I don't care if she is a bit self-important. That doesn't change my evaluation of the usefulness of the suggestions.

Some say the techniques are manipulative. I don't think so. In fact some of her tips specifically discussed the line between manipulation and sincerity and warns that unless you are completely sincere it will backfire. I think tips are good manners, and good manners are about being aware of how you affect other people. It's about being considerate.

Some say that her examples were dated and out of touch. Well, I may be out of touch myself, but didn't think so. The only dated examples that stood out to me were her suggestion of calling the chamber of commerce and using the world wide web. (hahaha) That hardly invalidates all the interpersonal awareness taught in the book.

I found the suggestions extremely helpful. Some I realized I already do but was really glad for the reminder. Others, I had no idea and I wish someone had told me!

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