HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

BOOK REVIEW ON 'HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE' BY LARRY KING.

A REVIEW DONE BY Emmalex Emmanuel

Talking is what we do everyday. According to Larry King, talking is like driving a car, the more you do it, the better you get at it and the more fun you have doing it.

The secrets of good communication are revealed in the book. In the book you will discover how to overcome shyness, how to start a conversation, how to give speeches and presentations, and many more tips on how to be a good conversationalist.

Larry King was an American television and radio host, whose awards included 2 Peadodys, an Emmy and 10 cable ACE Awards. He is known as the master of communications and has hosted over 50,000 interviews over his career. King was born on 19 November, 1933 and raised in New York City by Jewish parents. He got the name, Larry King from his first job to host 'The Larry King show'.

THE FOUR BASICS OF SUCCESSFUL CONVERSATION

To have more fun in talking, you must understand the fundamentals first. The following are the basics of successful conversation:-

1. HONESTY: Be honest at all times with your conversational partners, audience or listeners. If it's your first time presenting a speech, tell your audience, if you're nervous tell them. Being honest with them will put them in your shoes and they will know that you are trying your best. Telling them the truth will put you at ease also and you will suddenly have the courage to go on. When you're being interviewed or asked questions, give honest responses too.

2. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE: Having the right attitude is your willingness to talk even when it might not be comfortable at first. There are things to do to develop the right attitude to talking like talking out loud to yourself, standing in front of the mirror and talking and talking to the image, consulting books and videos on how to talk, and talking to a pet. Talking to the image in the mirror is a training for good eye-to-eye contact.

3. INTEREST IN THE OTHER PERSON: To show your interest in your conversational partner, make sure you look them right in the eye, and ask them questions about themselves. It is very important to make eye contact but you don't need to stare continuously in the other person's eyes, it can make you both uncomfortable. The greatest question ever asked is "why?" It shows your curiosity to know about the other person. 

4. OPENESS ABOUT YOURSELF: The saying - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - applies to conversation too. You should be willing to reveal the kind of information that you'd ask of the another person. But this doesn't mean you should talk about yourself all the time or divulge personal secrets. 

The first rule of conversation is 'listen'. To be a good talker you must be a good listener. Careful listening makes you a good talker when it's your turn as you would know what to say and what type of questions to ask. 

Other tips to becoming a successful talker includes:-

1. Show your sense of humor.

2. Follow your instincts.

3. Wear comfortable and presentable outfits.

4. Let your body language show naturally.

5. Empathize with your conversational partners.

6. Respect the other person.

7. Stand up straight when talking.

8. Look at your audience.

EIGHT THINGS THE BEST TALKERS HAVE IN COMMON 

1. They look at things from a new angle.

2. They have broad horizons.

3. They are enthusiastic.

4. They don't talk about themselves all the time.

5. They are curious - They ask "why?" 

6. They empathize.

7. They have a sense of humor.

8. They have their own style of talking.

In conclusion, talk is mankind's greatest invention. Think of every conversation as an opportunity to be a better talker. When you meet with strangers, celebrities or people that seem intimidating to you, remind yourself that the other person is probably shy too, and is a normal human being just like you. Remind yourself that you have to talk. 

If you feel you're not good at it, you can be and if you feel you are good at it, you can be better. 

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to be a better talker.