What I’m Reading: How To Talk With Practically Anybody About Practically Anything

Lately, I’ve bought most of my books electronically through iBooks or Kindle so I can read them at-will on my phone and iPad. However, the book I’m reading now is a good old-fashioned, actual worn pages, hardcover BOOK. My time machine worked! Just kidding…

It’s called “How to Talk With Practically Anybody About Practically Anything”. 

I had never heard of it, but while I was reading Barbara Walter’s biography “Audition” she mentioned the book saying she wrote it YEARS ago and she was surprised how many people still tell her they’ve read it. I’m a television reporter and I love interviewing people, so I was immediately intrigued by the title. (Plus, Barbara Walters is a legend and if I could be even half as good at what I do as she is at what she does, I would be doing pretty well!) I looked for the iBook hoping to purchase it instantly. Unfortunately, it isn’t available electronically, so I bought it on Amazon.com and waited for what felt like a lifetime for the actual book to come in the mail.

It finally came!

So far, I like it! I’m only on the second chapter of the book, but I have already learned and been reminded of so much that can help me do my job better.

She gives solid tips and advice  — ie “Never ask a writer where he gets his ideas. That’s trite.” — mixed in with personal stories so it reads less like a how-to textbook and more like a fun, informative gabfest with your successful aunt.

One important thing to note is that the book was published in 1970 and apparently hasn’t been updated. In the book she says things like “women have just left the kitchens and nurseries” and she respectfully refers to Black people as “Negroes” which is really weird. (It’s amazing how far this country has come in a relatively short time!)

Other than that, it’s been a pretty great book so far. I’m surprised it wasn’t required reading while I was in journalism school.

It’s definitely a book I’m going to devour over the next couple of weeks and I hope I see measured improvement as a result!

What are you reading?

Here’s a little extra for my fellow #bookworms: two cute, apropo quote/pictures I found on Pinterest. Follow me!