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Good Listen: Creating Memorable Conversations in Business and Life
Joe Pardavila. Advantage Media, $17.99 trade paper (158p) ISBN 978-1-64225-384-9
This competent debut by Pardavila, director of podcasts at Advantage Media Group, dispenses advice on how to be a good conversationalist. Drawing on his experience as the host of several podcasts, he offers guidance on holding meaningful exchanges for professional or personal purposes. Personal anecdotes illustrate the recommendations, such as when Pardavila contends that “if you’re doing more talking than listening, you’re doing it wrong” and recounts how his paying close attention during an interview with Coldplay’s Chris Martin led the author to ask an unplanned question about Martin’s home life that “humanized Chris for the audience.” Pardavila encourages readers to apply to conversations the “yes, and...” principle of improv comedy by building off what one’s interlocutor says and elaborating on one’s question if they need time to think of a response. Other suggestions include asking open-ended questions to keep conversation flowing and heightening one’s energy because interlocutors are likely to “mirror” the demeanor of whomever they’re talking with. Despite Pardavila’s aspiration to offer conversational advice for contexts as diverse as “job interviews,” “sales,” and “work meetings,” the sensible counsel doesn’t always apply to such situations and is best suited for having friendly conversations or interviews. Aspiring podcasters would do well to pick this up. (Self-published)

Reviewed by Publishers Weekly on 01/06/2023

Release date 07/01/2022

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