. . . . . . "A good talk : the story and skill of conversation" . "A good talk : the story and skill of conversation"@en . . . . "A good talk the story and skill of conversation"@en . . "\"A stylish, funny and surprising guide to the art of conversation\"--Provided by the publisher."@en . . . "Electronic books"@en . "This book is a guide to the art of conversation. In it the author helps readers navigate the shallows, reefs, and open seas of conversation. After discussing the origins of language and social talk, he explains how good conversations work. Focusing on first encounters and a single recorded exchange, the author shows that such talks have four stages: Survey, Discover, Risk, and Roles. He then addresses the deeper concerns that underlie conversations and their common social dilemmas and opportunities, from insults to instant messaging, from dating to dinner-ordering, from the value of humour to the handling of hubris. The book considers the physical benefits of conversation and its indispensable place in our social, moral, amd political lives. -- From book jacket." . . . .