How to Talk With Practically Anybody About Practically Anything
by Barbara Walters
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Offers advice in conversing with individuals ranging from celebrities, clergymen, politicians and employers to handicapped people.Tags
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Walters shows geniune leadership as a public figure. Her interviews are not just about herself, but about bringing out people, and especially ones with something to say.
Many of the suggestions are banal. For example, using "conversational ploys" that are "guaranteed to stimulate conversation" like "If you could be any person in history, whom would you like to have been?" [170]. What kind of question is that? However, even the banal is promising in this arena. And so many of her suggestions are real gold -- for all of us. I do particularly like her suggestion that we broaden and deepen conversation, and that we genuinely interview and poll each other for ideas, opinions, and insights.
"The best ice breakers are genuine interest, a warm show more introductory compliment, and smiling as you clearly say who you are and something about what you are." [172] There you go. show less
Many of the suggestions are banal. For example, using "conversational ploys" that are "guaranteed to stimulate conversation" like "If you could be any person in history, whom would you like to have been?" [170]. What kind of question is that? However, even the banal is promising in this arena. And so many of her suggestions are real gold -- for all of us. I do particularly like her suggestion that we broaden and deepen conversation, and that we genuinely interview and poll each other for ideas, opinions, and insights.
"The best ice breakers are genuine interest, a warm show more introductory compliment, and smiling as you clearly say who you are and something about what you are." [172] There you go. show less
This book is from the 70s, but so intriguing and helpful for anyone wanting advice on interpersonal relationships both in business and personal life. I so wish Barbara Walters would do an updated version just to get it out there again!
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Author Information
6 Works 1,126 Members
Barbara Walters was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 25, 1929. She earned a B.A. in English from Sarah Lawrence College in 1951 and began her television career in the publicity department of an NBC affiliate in New York City. She went on to produce women's programs for an independent television station and later wrote and produced news show more and public affairs programs for CBS. In 1961 Walters became a writer and reporter for the NBC television show Today. She was a regular panel member on the show from 1963 to 1974, when she became co-host. In 1976 Walters signed a then-record $1 million contract and moved to the rival ABC network as correspondent and the first female co-anchor of network evening news. In 1979 she began her 25 years as co-host of the television news magazine 20/20. She is also known for the Barbara Walters Specials, an irregularly scheduled celebrity interview series, as well as her participation and patronage of the daytime women's talk show, The View. She was a contributor to the magazines Good Housekeeping, Family Weekly, and Reader's Digest, and in 1970 her popular book "How to Talk to Practically Anybody about Practically Anything" was published. She has also written the autobiography "Audition." In 1975 Walters was named broadcaster of the year by the International Radio and TV Society. She has won Daytime and Prime Time Emmy Awards and the GLAAD Excellence in Media award. Walters received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2007 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Women's Agenda in 2008. In 2009 she was honored at the 30th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to the men I have always found it easiest to talk with -- my husband, Lee Guber, my father, Lou Walters and the enlightened males at NBC who took a chance on an unknown girl and ultimately made this boo... (show all)k possible.
- First words
- A few years ago I found myself at lunch with Aristotle Onassis, then as now one of the world's wealthiest and most intriguing men.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The stagehands applauded, Mr. Beatty's press agent recovered from the heart attack he was sure he was about to have, and I learned an extremely valuable lesson which I now pass on to you as my last words of advice on the fine art of conversation. You can't win 'em all.
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- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.60)
- Languages
- English, Finnish
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- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 7
