Throughout the book, we are shown the importance of a good conversationalist being driven by knowledge. Nihal Arthanyake has done a wonderful job of telling us how wonderful conversations by bringing people who need to communicate on. Let’s Talk blends Nihal’s experiences as an acclaimed interviewer with expert opinion on the secrets and psychology behind successful communication. He wants to know what it really means to have a ‘great conversation’ and, most importantly, how he can teach us to have better interactions in our everyday lives. When you see a true master of verbal communication, remember that these are learned behaviours, not something innate which you are either born with or not.

The pandemic has exacerbated the trend towards fewer face-to-face interactions, while the growth of social media has led to heated arguments online. We're not currently in the golden era of conversation - it has either eroded away into emojis or escalated into online wildfires. From tracing the evolution of dialogue to discovering what lights up in the brain when we’re enjoying a good discussion, Nihal speaks to conversational authorities including Lorraine Kelly, former president of Ireland Mary McAleese, Professor Tanya Byron, internationally bestselling author Johann Hari, Matthew Syed, and many more, to find out why good conversation has eroded over time and how we can fix it. He wants to know what it really means to have a 'great conversation' and, most importantly, how he can teach us to have better interactions in our everyday lives. He won interviewer of the year for the BBC Radio and Music Awards and his first book is Let's Talk: How to Have Better Conversations.Really enjoyed the start, particularly the bit about children maths test snd how their hormones were impacted depending on whether they spoke to someone after or if the texted. Never heard of Arthanayake before (or his *star-studded* career) and a lot of this read like a high school essay. I managed to finish the book and I actually like the chapter with negotiator John Sutherland (again, he's the greatest while the rest of the police force is very bad!

While effective dialogue is supposed to lead to greater fulfilment in our personal and professional lives, all the scientific evidence points towards us sharing fewer interactions than previous generations. For those who aren’t aware, Nihal Arthanayake is a Radio DJ for BBC Radio 5 Live and the host of the Headliners podcast. The only thing lacking for me was actual transcripts of the conversations, in raw form, before they are converted into the prose of the book. Although this won’t be a major revelation for most, I enjoyed this read and found it v insightful in parts. Was it challenging, did you learn something – information or insight – and did it create a connection?

He revealed insights from leading authorities in neuroscience as well as from popular figures including Lorraine Kelly, former president of Ireland Mary McAleese, Professor Tanya Byron, Matthew Syed and many more, whom he has interviewed to find out why good conversation has eroded and how we can fix it. a very impassioned defence of conversation as an art and one of the things that can save and retain our humanity in a world of GIFs and emojis and fifteen second digital dopamine hits. Broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake helped me through lockdown; I’d often sit listening to his interviews on his BBC Radio 5 Live show when my social interaction and conversation topics were limited! With insights from ‘professional conversationalists’ from various sectors, this is a thoughtful read with some practical takeaways on how to have better conversations. When I first heard him interviewing someone, I genuinely thought he had forgotten his train of thought, the pauses and space between the interviewees conversation and his was something I’d never heard on radio before.

A book that involves some interesting information to glean about the art of talk, from some interesting people.

And I think thats what the Author wanted to get across from the book and they suceeded surprisingly well. This book was on my to-read list the minute I heard it was due to be published in the summer of 2022.