Book Review #1: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

Table of Contents
The Book in 3 Sentences. Who should read it? Summary and Highlights. How it impacted me. Top 3 Quotes. Information about the book.

The Book in 3 Sentences.

1. When meeting someone, think of your partner like an old friend. Prepare yourself like you are going to meet them after ages. But just before saying the first “Hello”, stop pretending.
2. When introducing yourself to someone new, mention your field of expertise as you give your résumé in any job interview.
3. If you want to make someone your professional or personal future, find their one unique quality and when in private, look straight in their eyes and deliver the killer compliment.

Who should read it?

I want to recommend this book to those who feel, talking to someone is challenging. After reading this book, you will learn:

1. How to prepare yourself for a great conversation.
2. How to convince anyone with your confidence.
3. How to become a master at controlling the flow of dialogue.
4. How to behave like a political leader.
5. How to make your tone more believable, and many more incredible tricks.

Summary and Highlights

This book is divided into eight parts. I am giving a summary of all the parts individually, which may seem like a spoiler, so I recommend finishing reading the book first.

• Part One: How to Intrigue everyone Without saying a Word

1. Your smile is the biggest weapon. Use it timely.
2. Keep good eye contact.
3. Make a straight posture.
4. Limit your fidget.
5. Imagine yourself in the specific situation before approaching.

• Part Two: How to Know What to Say After You Say “Hi”

1. Understand the mood of the listener and act accordingly.
2. If there is nothing to say, start with “what is that” “who is that”
3. If there is nothing special, eavesdrop and pick a topic to talk about.
4. When introducing your job or address or any other person, say an extra line or two.
5. Listen to what your partner says and pick his favourite topic.
6. Tell a positive story in the first meet.
7. If nothing is left to say, talk about the latest news.

• Part Three: How to Talk Like a VIP

1. When talking to someone new, tell them what are you good at, a verbal resume.
2. Use uncommon words randomly.
3. Make your partner feel special by using “you” more and “me” less.
4. Reserve a different smile for different persons.
5. Be specific with what you want to mean. Call a spade a “spade”.
6. Deliver good or bad news with relative empathy.
7. To give a compliment, don’t be judgemental, instead tell them how they/that have helped you.

• Part Four: How to Be an Insider in Any Crowd

1. Do Something uncommon once a week and gather experience to talk about them.
2. Learn the terminologies of different professions to talk professionals at ease.
3. Learn the hot issue in every profession before approaching them.
4. Get wind of the “dos and taboos” before visiting a country.

• Part Five: How to Sound Like You are Peas in a Pod

1. Copycat your foreign partner’s movements.
2. Talk in your partner’s accent to make them feel like a family.
3. Speak from your partner’s point of view.
4. When replying, stop saying “hmm” and elaborate on what it seems.
5. Remind your partner of the last happy visit you two had.

• Part Six: How to Differentiate the Power of Praise from the Folly or Flattery

1. Praise people indirectly, to their closest person, and make sure they hear it.
2. If you are the nearest person to someone, deliver the acquired compliment to its receiver.
3. Compliment someone special in private, not in front of other notable persons.
4. If someone praises you, let them know how happy they made you.

• Part Seven: How to Direct Dial Their Hearts

1. Talk like an RJ over the phone, with all emotions vocal pitches.
2. Frequently address your partner by their name.
3. In any business call, make your partner feel that their identity is what makes the business deal special.
4. After picking the phone, ask if they are busy or not in the first place.
5. Record business calls rather than asking to repeat something.

• Part Eight: How to Work a Party Like a Politician Works a Room

1. At a party, complete your feast before meeting someone. Don’t talk about business during dinner.
2. At a party, analyse the situation and determine whom to talk to.
3. Remember your partner’s special event and surprise them timely.
4. If any accident happens during someone’s speech, remind them to carry on in time.
5. If someone wants to help you, let them help.
6. When you help someone, don’t ask for repayment instantly.
7. If you and your partner have any unfinished business, don’t resolve it in an unplanned meeting.
8. Let your partner complete what they wanted to say, and then you reply.
9. When someone is angry with you, empathize with them first and reason later.
10. When someone is mad at you for your guilt, satisfy them more than they can expect.

How it impacted me.

• After reading the book, I felt that I knew most of them unconsciously. This time I have a more in-depth understanding of the tricks.
• Many of the tricks are going to be new habits for me shortly.
• I can feel the difference in my personality from this guideline, and now I can measure the amount of improvement I need to be better.

Top 3 Quotes

“Nobody gets to the top alone.”

“Excellence is not a single and solitary action. It is the outcome of many years of making small, smooth moves.”

There are two kinds of people in this life; Those who walk into a room and say, “Well, here I am!” and those who walk in and say, “Ahh, there you are.”

Information about the book