Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 320 pages
Audiobook Length: 11 hours
First Published: 2024
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Rachael’s Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
We all know that person who is able to connect deeply with anyone they meet; a skill that anyone can learn. All conversations can be categorized as practical, emotional, or social. Charles Duhigg argues that these supercommunicators can identify and match each type of conversation while also hearing complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and understanding possible biases. Using the power of storytelling, Duhigg promises to help you become more adept at recognizing and navigating any conversation you find yourself in.
Although I’ve loved Charles Duhigg’s previous books (The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better), Supercommunicators is my new favorite. Duhigg has always been great at presenting interesting anecdotes and food for thought. However, Supercommunicators shines because it feels so much more doable. I could instantly see how to practically apply his advice into my life. Yet, I forced myself to read the book slowly so I could ponder each section, not wanting to miss anything. It’s not a quick fix self-help book, but I feel that, if you took the time to contemplate and analyze your conversations, you would become a much better communicator.
Publisher’s Description
We all know people who are capable of connecting with almost anyone. They’re the ones we love talking to, who we turn to for advice, who hear what we are trying to say and make us feel seen.
What do they know about conversation that makes them so special?
Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg argues, 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, connection is hard.
Skilled communicators know the importance of recognizing—and then matching—each kind of conversation, and how to hear the complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and hidden 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.
With his trademark clarity and storytelling, Duhigg shows readers how to recognize these three conversations—and teaches us the skills we need to navigate them more successfully.
Communication is a superpower. By bringing readers into jury deliberations and fraught CIA recruitments, into Netflix’s company-wide conversations about equity and the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory, we learn why some people are able to make themselves heard—and to hear others—so clearly. We learn how to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.
In the end, we learn a simple but powerful lesson: With the right tools, we can connect with anyone.
Quotes from Supercommunicators
The most effective communicators pause before they speak and ask themselves: Why am I opening my mouth? Unless we know what kind of discussion we’re hoping for—and what type of discussion our companions want—we’re at a disadvantage.
To communicate with someone, we must connect with them. When we absorb what someone is saying and they comprehend what we say, it’s because our brains have, to some degree, aligned.
About Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg is the author whose works include The Power of Habit, Supercommunicators, and Smarter Faster Better. He is also a former journalist for The New York Times. Visit the author’s website →
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