Book Review: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

Title: How to Talk to Anyone

Author: Leil Lowndes

Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher

Ratings: 4.6/5

How to talk to anyone is a book which talks to you and solves all your communication problems. In a party, there’s always a person who seems to have it all. People with the best jobs and interesting friends around them. Neither they are qualified more than you nor they are better looking, then what is it that makes them stand unique among the crowd.

These big winners just have better communication skills. This book talks about 92 little tricks for big success. These tricks are divided into 9 parts which are discussed below.

Part 1 – You only have ten seconds to show you’re a somebody

In this part, the author speaks about how to have the indelible expression on others perfectly. There are 9 tricks which teach us how to welcome others into our small world. Your body speaks much before your lips start moving. These tricks are described in detail with practical examples. Author has delineated how your smile, your glare, your behaviour and your other small gestures affect other people. The big winners are aware of these tricks before meeting anyone.

Part 2 – What do I say after I say “hello”?

Author has written that just like your first glimpse please their eyes, your first words should please their ears. Without saying anything the first thing you should do is match your listener’s mood. The author says that your first line when you meet someone could be anything! It’s not what you say but how you say it. You should always carry a Whatzit to gain others attention. The author portrays the perks of carrying something different with an alternative idea for it.

The best trick was – Be a Word Detective. We should listen to our conversation partner carefully and recognise their quick words.

Part 3 – How to talk like the big boys ‘n’ girls?

How most of the people respond with “hmmm…” in a conversation. The author strictly prohibits using this word because it clearly shows disinterest towards your conversation partner. The author suggests that rather than asking what do you do, one should ask how do you spend most of your time? Leil gives 14 tricks on how to talk like big boys and girls and be a big winner.

Part 4 – How to be an insider in any crowd?

In a crowd where everyone speaks gobbledygook, it is hard to catch up with them. This part consists of six tricks which are well illustrated by Leil. Scramble therapy is one of the best tricks which not only helps in being a part of the conversation but also become a knowledgeable person. The author suggests to go for a different activity or read a book of an unfamiliar genre on your weekend.

In this part, you will learn the significance of different customs followed worldwide. Before visiting any other country for any important, you should always read about its customs and culture.

Part 5 – Why we’re just alike

People feel comfortable around people who move just like they do. You echo your conversation partner’s precise words. You should listen to the arbitrary choice of the nouns, adjectives and prepositions of your conversation partner so that you can match your frequency with that person.  This part consists of 7 influential tricks.

Part 6 – The power of praise, the folly of flattery

This part talks about the difference between praise that lifts and flattery that flattens. The author proposes the idea of telling someone who is close to the person whom you wish to compliment. There is a trick Carrier pigeon kudos which delineates to be a good message conveyer. The author suggests being careful of the bad unintentional implications to which we often get stuck with. The nine tricks of this part are very important.

Part 7 – Direct dial their hearts

This part is very important when it comes to telephonic conversation. It illustrates the small talking gestures which affect the conversation greatly. As you pick up the call, your tone should be straight, but as you hear the person’s name from the other side… Stop… smile… then speak! You should always make sure that you are calling other people at their convenient time. And never forget to record if it is an important conversation for you.

While reading this book, you will come across many small things that go unnoticed in our daily lives but matter a lot.

Part 8 – How to work a party like a politician works a room

We often think how all the big winners get their deals done while maintaining an out-of-work class in the parties. There are many tricks to do it. Some of them are – Munching or mingling, be the chooser not the choosee, tracking, etc. These tricks explain the broad effect of the small gestures and note that you make.  

Part 9 – Little tricks of big winners

This is a fascinating part of this book as its first trick says See no bloopers, hear no bloopers! It also discusses an important thing, i.e., favours. Don’t jump immediately when someone is doing you a favour. Big winners never discuss their work on the dining table because Dinner’s for dining.

This book is a mouth to the people who are shy and don’t know what to speak. These 92 tricks are completely practical and are well illustrated in this book with the examples. Everyone should once have the honour of reading this book.

Check out the best price for How To Talk To Anyone

About the Author

Leil Lowndes is an internationally recognized communications expert who specializes in the subconscious interactions that take place in all interpersonal communications. She has spoken and conducted hundreds of seminars for major corporations, associations, and the public in every city in the US and some internationally.

She is the author of 10 top-selling books on communication skills for business, social relationships, and love. Some have been translated into 26 languages.