Monday, January 11, 2010

Book Giveaway: A Good Talk by Daniel Menaker

Anna and Hatchette Book Group are generously sponsoring a giveaway of 5 copies of A Good Talk by Daniel Menaker.

About the Book:
A Good Talk is an analysis of and guide to that most exclusively human of all activities-- conversation.

Drawing on over forty years of experience in American letters, Menaker pinpoints the factors that drive and enliven every good conversation: the vagaries (and joys) of subtext; the deeper structure and meaning of conversational flow; the subliminal signals that guide our disclosures and confessions; and the countless other hurdles we must clear along the way. Moving beyond self-help musings and "how to" advice, he has created a stylish, funny, and surprising book: a celebration of "the most excusively human of all activities."

In a time when conversation remains deeply important-- for building relationships, for relaxing, even for figuring out who we are-- and also increasingly imperiled (with Blackberries and texting increasingly in vogue), A Good Talk is a refreshing celebration of the subtle adventures of a good conversation.

About the Author, courtesy of the publisher:
Daniel Menaker has been a part of America's life of letters for almost forty years. As a writer, he has met and talked to thousands of people about their work and their lives. He is widely read and well versed in psychological literature and practices and, as an editor at Random House, has had countless meetings and other exchanges with writers, agents, public figures, and ordinary people. His own writing has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Slate; he lives in New York with his wife and their two children.

CONTEST DETAILS:

To enter please share why you'd like to win this book.

Rules:
1. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address, no entry.
2. You must be a follower to join the contest.

The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at noon on February 7, 2010.

Thank you so much to Anna and Hatchette Book Group for sponsoring this giveaway!

13 comments:

  1. Please enter me to win this book. I love reading and I could really use a book on interpersonal communication for my own good, since it is what I do at work.

    shopgurl101@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd like to win this book so I can become a better conversationalist :) Following with Google Friend Connect -- *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I spend much of my day speaking with people on the phone, doing tech support and sales-- and I'm not overly fond of people! I could really use some guidance on speaking with people.

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to win this book because in today's busy world people are forgetting how to really communicate and I'd love to read this perspective.

    I am a follower.

    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wouldn't it be nice to know how to be a better conversationalist.

    I am a follower.

    dsandyboy@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've always wanted to be able to have better conversations. Maybe this book will help.

    I'm a follower.

    walkerd@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  7. i'm not very good at conversation and would like to learn more
    spynaert@gmail.com

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  8. As a high school mathematics teacher, I need to be able to explain ideas and concepts in such a manner that is understandable to my students. In return, they need to feel comfortable enough to be able to convey to me their misunderstandings. Conversations between teachers and students are an integral part of the learning process.

    Thank you,

    Christine
    womackcm@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am a follower of Starting Fresh.

    Thank you,

    Christine
    womackcm@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have a lot of trouble sometimes with casual conversation. This would help.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm taking a new job which will involve plenty of networking and conversation, this book sounds like it might be interesting and helpful!

    r_lapus at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Forgot to mention that I follow!
    r_lapus at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd like to win this book because the topic interests me very much, I'm not much of a talker and would like to be. Tips for maintaining and having great conversations would be invaluable.

    I'm following you, name is Bani.

    wakeupangel at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete