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  • How to Talk to Anyone

  • 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships
  • Written by: Leil Lowndes
  • Narrated by: Joyce Bean, Leil Lowndes
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (479 ratings)

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How to Talk to Anyone

Written by: Leil Lowndes
Narrated by: Joyce Bean,Leil Lowndes
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Publisher's Summary

"You'll not only break the ice, you'll melt it away with your new skills." -Larry King

"The lost art of verbal communication may be revitalized by Leil Lowndes." -Harvey McKay, author of How to Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

What is that magic quality that makes some people instantly loved and respected? Everyone wants to be their friend (or, if single, their lover). In business, they rise swiftly to the top of the corporate ladder. What is their “Midas touch?”

What it boils down to is a more skillful way of dealing with people.

The author has spent her career teaching people how to communicate for success. In her book How to Talk to Anyone, Lowndes offers 92 easy and effective sure-fire success techniques - she takes the listener from first meeting all the way up to sophisticated techniques used by the big winners in life. In this information-packed audiobook you’ll find:

  • 9 ways to make a dynamite first impression
  • 14 ways to master small talk, “big talk,” and body language
  • 14 ways to walk and talk like a VIP or celebrity
  • 6 ways to sound like an insider in any crowd
  • 7 ways to establish deep subliminal rapport with anyone
  • 9 ways to feed someone’s ego (and know when NOT to!)
  • 11 ways to make your phone a powerful communications tool
  • 15 ways to work a party like a politician works a room
  • 7 ways to talk with tigers and not get eaten alive

In her trademark entertaining and straight-shooting style, Leil gives the techniques catchy names so you’ll remember them when you really need them, including: “Rubberneck the Room,” “Be a Copyclass,” “Come Hither Hands,” “Bare Their Hot Button,” “The Great Scorecard in the Sky,” and “Play the Tombstone Game,” for big success in your social life, romance, and business.

How to Talk to Anyone, which is an update of her popular book, Talking the Winner's Way (see the 5-star reviews of the latter) is based on solid research about techniques that work!

By the way, don't confuse How to Talk to Anyone with one of Leil's previous books, How to Talk to Anybody About Anything. This one is completely different!

©2003 Leil Lowndes. (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about How to Talk to Anyone

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93 little tricks to come off as a fake idiot

I dono what is more fake, the 92 little "tricks" or the number of plastic surgeries the author had done over the years. This book reeks of disgusting corporate America. The narration feels like a terrible 90's sales pitch given by a Karen who's putting on a fake smile so she can cash in her expired coupon at Staples. The case studies are so cringe that you feel embarrassed just listening to her. Ever hear an old dude say "radical" and "far out maaannnnn" or "groovy"? Well, she literally refers to social mishaps as "boners" and "bo bos" for 3 chapters. Have you ever gotten into a convo with a guy who just won't stop staring at you? It's likely he followed the advice given in the book. No she literally tells you to not break eye contact during a convo for as long as possible and stare across the room at someone for prolonged periods of time... ( emoji with the green guy vomiting)

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36 people found this helpful

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Sexist, dated, and verbose

Yes, many of the phrases and jargon are dated, but the same can be said of an infinite number of books with valid content; this is the least of my contentions. The book suffered greatly from a lack of a solid editor - the book could easily have been cut down to half its length. This would have allowed the tips to have a much greater impact, and hopefully would have also removed the authors blatant sexist bias. Due to how terrifically painful the excessive wording is and the high amounts of obvious disdain for males, this is the only book I have returned.

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18 people found this helpful

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Great Insight

As an 25 year old male engineer, socializing can be daunting. My awkwardness is something I don't like about myself and I've always wished I was better at talking to people. This book had a lot of good insight on what to pay attention to, how to react, little tips to go from good to amazing, and it is well organized so that the information isn't lost on you. I now try to focus on a couple tips at a time and try to implement them in my everyday life. I've gotten a lot out of this book and recommend it to anyone trying to tune up and maximize their social skills, especially in the professional environment.

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11 people found this helpful

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If you can get past the voice...

...you may pick up some nuggets or maybe not. I couldn't get past the narration.

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8 people found this helpful

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Need to trim the fat..

Too much unnecessary information. And with all due respect the narrators voice is mildly annoying. Better off having someone with a more pleasant voice. That being said, the book has some decent content.

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Great concepts but super outdated LINGO

This book has amazing concepts that can be applied in so many situations. However I find the slang is super dated and kind of cringe at times.

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4 people found this helpful

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perfect audiobook for digesting in daily chunks

I power though most audiobooks but this one gave me reason to take my time and listen in discrete daily sessions. It was perfect for listening to 4-5 points then giving pause to assimilate them. The points have been very helpful so far and I'm going to a conference this week and intend to put more of them into practice

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loved it

I will definitely read this book again and take notes this time. Thank you Leil!

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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outdated techniques

there are some good ideas, but a lot of the strategies have been made obsolete by modern technology.

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waste of time

struggling to listen too much" water" filling like wasting my time listening to this book.

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  • Scott
  • 2016-09-19

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.

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  • TheTechDoc
  • 2016-03-04

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.

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  • Gudrun
  • 2016-04-29

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.

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  • Patrick Detmer
  • 2016-11-14

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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  • Mr. Barker
  • 2016-10-05

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."

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  • LynneKLR
  • 2015-12-28

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.

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  • rider
  • 2017-01-02

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.

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  • Melissa Montana-Sharette
  • 2016-03-24

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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  • Trey Malone
  • 2016-02-16

Painful Writing

I've got to be honest- I couldn't finish the listen. The writing style is painfully cliche, the advice is anecdotal at best, and the whole thing reads like the author is pandering to herself. Save your money- or better yet, read Dale Carnegie's classic instead.

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  • MARK E.
  • 2016-01-12

Tips are gender neutral enough for this guy

This book will be completely relatable to both men and women. It is not by a woman for women.

The narration is clear, pleasant and has a good pace.

I liked the "big cats/ little cats" theme. The author explains not only how each behaves, but explains why one approach is better and how to deploy the big cat strategy.

Each topic concluded with the perfect blend of concept, imagery, examples and action items.

I couldn't help but think, "Oh, that's why!", "Whoops!" or "Now I know how to..." as I listened.

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  • DA M.
  • 2018-05-01

Clair concis

Ce livre est relativement clair et concis, les 92 points mériteraient juste un petit résumé globale à la fin. La lectrice est bien et claire.

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  • Axel
  • 2018-09-30

Indispensable

Cet ouvrage est un outil indispensable pour les personnes qui n'ont pas acquis de façon instinctive tous les codes qui régissent les relations interpersonnelles. Moins utile pour les personnes disposant déjà d'une très grande intelligence sociale.

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  • Goldf
  • 2018-09-26

Must listen to practically anyone

This book has been a real life enhancer. It offers practical and actionable tips that instantly improved my communication skills.

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  • Felipe Roquette
  • 2020-11-07

Very superficial book

I read a lot of books about the same subject and this one is just a superficial one, this book is like: do X and you are going to get Y. I didn't like at all.

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  • Blanche Elisabeth Cornuau
  • 2020-07-09

1st book about communication to read

If you are looking for a book which gives tips, exemple, how and why to add them in your daily habits, stop there and listen to the one! GREAT!

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  • Aja
  • 2019-03-31

Good tricks concrete examples for every day

I liked it, it has tens of tips very clear, but sometimes some of them are not that clear, I'd love to have a summary or recap at the end of each one

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  • Client d'Amazon
  • 2022-08-08

Terrific

Terrific book. Will need to buy a physical copy so I can reference it easier!

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  • David Bugalho de Moura
  • 2022-06-12

whoever wrote this still lives in the 70s

the way men are desirable because of their job title, or the way women have a 6th sense because they are more sensitive doesn't allow me to take anything in this book seriously

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Elo Madiste
  • 2023-06-03

Nothing exceptional

Just an ordinary book giving advice that normal grown-ups should already know. However, a couple of useful tips as well.

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