This book will provide you with a guide on how to use small talk and your body language to establish a connection with anyone. But it’s not enough to have an initial contact if you want to create a network of people from which you can truly benefit personally and professionally.

The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation…

If you do bring up something that isn't generating interest or find yourself in an awkward conversation, change the subject and move on to something else. Instead, successful covnersations tend start broad with small talk and get more specific as the dialogue progresses. Imagine how much more in control of your interactions you’ll feel once you’re able to start conversations with people effortlessly.Having good small talk topics up your sleeve won’t just help you kick off great conversations, it’ll also relieve some of the anxiety of walking into an unknown environment. If it feels like social cues often pass you by, this book will help you learn to read between the lines when you’re interacting with other people. I think a book by an extrovert can be a valuable perspective if you’re an introvert, but others might find it alienating. You’ll never depend on the right witty phrase at just the right time if your social habits are on point.

Best Books on Small Talk - Bigger Investing 24 Best Books on Small Talk - Bigger Investing

It’s written by someone who to me seems to be an extrovert, so the perspective is very different than in, say, “Improve Your Social Skills”. His 1995 self-help book, How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Communication, might not make you into a late night talk show host… but it will help you master the art of breaking down barriers and getting to know just about anyone. You have Aspergers (or are on the autism spectrum) or simply want to make sure to build your knowledge from the ground up.

But this book is focused on relationships, not conversation skills, so it probably isn’t much help if you want to learn how to talk to people. Focus, repeat the name, think of someone you know with that name, use the name in conversation, and say it again when leaving the conversation. As the title suggests, this book has a very narrow focus: dealing with people who make your life difficult. It also helps you decide whether it’s worth confronting someone in the first place, which is helpful if you find it hard to pick your battles.