Member Reviews

Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!!

BLOWN AWAY by this book and can not wait to get my hands on the physical copy so I can read it again and underline and make notes.

I consider myself to be an excellent communicator and this book taught me so much about why I feel that way, and it helped me understand so much about what I am already doing well and what I can do to become an even better communicators.

In this day and age, we are forgetting how to effectively CONNECT and COMMUNICATE with each other. Social media has had a huge effect on all of us, but we still need to operate in this world by communicating with other humans around us. This book will help you do that better!

I loved the stories included to help make the points, the drawings that also helped visualize the points that were being made.

This book should be required reading for anyone who talks to other people - especially in any sort of team, community or business environment. So basically everyone.

Get this. Savor it. Underline. Practice. Be human. Talk and communicate well.

Enjoy your time in this book! I'm already jealous of how much you are going to learn and I honestly can't wait to read it again!

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Supercommunicators is a book about learning how to communicate better so you can connect with people more. It’s laid out with real-world stories and pop culture references with plenty of source material to back up its points.

Though a little dry for my preference, for those who like their personal development books with less warm and fuzzy and more fact and action, this is it. Also, because I’ve learned some of the book’s points (i.e. using “I” statements, repeating back what you’ve just heard for clarity, etc.) from other personal development books and therapy, some areas seemed repetitive.

What being a supercommunicator boils down to is learning self-awareness and reading the room, so you don’t put yourself in awkward and/or contentious situations. My biggest takeaway is learning how to listen better and getting to the root of what a conversation is really about.

There are valuable lessons in there, but I feel those who may need the book most may be the least inclined to pick it up.

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I quite enjoyed reading this book about how to become a supercommunicator. I'm not a huge self-help book fan, but I found this one to be well worth the read.

We all communicate and want to be able to communicate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes it's hard to know how to do that. This book presents three questions for us to use/solve when approaching a conversation. They are: What's this really about?, How do we feel?, and Who are we?.

Each concept is explained and broken down into more details. There are studies to back up these questions/methods and there are stories to go along too.

I enjoyed the stories and real-world examples mixed in with the science. Hearing how these questions/methods were used in real situations was very helpful in understanding the concepts and seeing them play out with real people. There were so many different sectors where these communication methods were used, for example, Netflix, the CIA, and gun politics. These stories are what stuck with me the most. Seeing how much each question/skill can change a conversation is huge!

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their communication skills. Even if you only try one or two of these concepts, I think they'd make a huge difference.

Thank you to NetGalley for early access.

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An excellent read! It was incredibly helpful for someone like me who is very introverted and needs advice on initiating deep conversations.

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This was a DNF for me. I have read this author's books before but this one I just couldn't do. I was super bored. When it comes to books like this, we all know this stuff. We all understand these concepts and nothing was new. For this reason, the information needs to be presented in a way that keeps my attention, and this did not.

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This book is gripping from the beginning (not something I usually say about a HOW TO book). And it is full of useful, new-to-me tips for how to better communicate with those we encounter. I also found that it was interesting to learn how others might be using their communication skills to persuade me to action--I hope I remember to put this new counter-skill to good use. Pacing was fantastic, not too many stories and not too much education but a great mix at just the right points. I can't wait to get the audio and listen, and really seal in the practicalities of a worthy goal: being a super-communicator.

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I appreciate the narrative style of this book. The characters are more than they seem but they develop organically which isn’t an easy task to manage.

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Overall this was good, it just took me forever to read because I kept getting a little bored reading it. There isn’t anything in here I didn’t already know, although the examples were interesting. The chapters were also a little too long and made it hard to commit to reading through onto the next one.

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I've been a fan of Charles Duhigg since his book The Power of Habit. It was an instant favorite, so of course I requested this book as soon as I saw it, and it did not disappoint! I wasn't even interested in the topic initially but knew that Duhigg's compelling writing would draw me in and teach me something new, and I was right! He provided so many interesting anecdotes, from the FBI to anti-vaxxers, and so many interesting psychological studies, that this book was hard to put down.

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This was a really insightful study of communication patterns, and as always with Duhigg's books, I walked away with several actionable takeaways.

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Thank you to both #NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Random House for providing me an advance copy of Charles Duhigg latest #nonfiction work, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, in exchange for an honest review.

In a world where empathy and the spoken word are increasingly being eroded by sterile technologies and impersonal modes of communication, #Supercommunicators reminds readers about the importance of maintaining relationships, honing social skills, and preserving personalization.

The book alternates between offering practical guidance and demonstrating how that guidance applies using real life anecdotes from across various industries, ranging from the medical community to major corporations. The anecdotes keep the subject matter entertaining and educate the reader about studies they might not have known otherwise.

The one point that I wish the book focused on more is how to become a “supercommunicator” online. While there was a lesson dedicated to interacting on social media, readers could benefit from a greater emphasis on the primary modes of communications in the 21st century, and perhaps, less about older studies and statistics to keep the work concise.

Overall, a fascinating read into the human psyche and the ways we can better communicate with one another.

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This was a good read. I thought there were a lot of valuable tips in here and I liked learning about classifying different types of conversations. The last case study describing the Harvard study really resonated with me and got me thinking. I wish there were even more examples throughout the book! A good read for anyone looking to strengthen both their personal and professional relationships consciously and thoughtfully.

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I am not a supercommunicator but would love to be. Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, makes the case in his new book that we can all learn to be one, and he attempts to show us how.

The book is based on the premise that there are three conversations (and mindsets) and four rules. The three conversations are: a) what's this really about (decision-making mindset), b) how do we feel (emotional mindset), and c) who are we (social mindset). And the four rules are: 1) pay attention to what kind of conversation is occurring; 2) share your goals, and ask what others are seeking; 3) ask about others' feelings and share your own; and 4) explore if identities are important to this discussion. Sounds simple, right?

Much of this sounds familiar. I am sure I have come across this before, in other books on communication (and that's why I rated the book a 4 and not a 5). But what I really like about this book are the numerous stories to highlight each of the rules or tools. From NRA debates to Netflix culture to NASA interviews, Duhigg takes us on a delightful journey of supercommunicators.

Another thing I like about this book are the tools he provides. Each chapter is filled with figures that provide simple tools for us to use. And then, if that is not enough, he summarizes each of the main sections with a short guide to using the ideas shared. If you didn't want to take notes in the narrative chapters, these are perfect.

Will I become a supercommunicator as a result of reading this book? Well, like all self-help books, it depends on whether I commit to adding the tools into my toolbox and putting them into practice. I sure will try. Time will tell.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.

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This is an amazing book! I loved the case studies with organizations such as the CIA and Netflix because they gave the reader inside information on how these organizations operate and the policies they have that makes them successful. As well as the personal journeys the employees and organizations undertook to overcome challenges. The author's ability to weave together these stories in relation to what it takes to be a super communicator and his ability to reflect on what it has meant in his own life brings everything together in a way that is a delight to read. For me, it was both educational and entertaining and I'm sure you will find it a pleasure to read. At one point, I wasn't in agreement with a premise he had around the COVID vaccine, however, I could appreciate the way he covered the topic overall.

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Filled with anecdotes and practical tips, Supercommunicators is a compelling read for anyone seeking to connect better with others.

As someone who reads literature on active listening, coaching, facilitation, etc., I am not sure I learned anything new, though I appreciated the way the information was presented and will certainly incorporate some of the suggested questions and approaches into my conversations.

Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

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"Supercommunicators" by Charles Duhigg is a profound exploration of the intricate layers underlying every conversation. With compelling narratives that range from a jury room to the CIA, Duhigg unveils the hidden dynamics of practical, emotional, and social dialogues. While the depth of the book may require time, the enriching stories and valuable tips make it a worthwhile read for those seeking to master the art of connection in diverse scenarios.

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Get better at connecting with people: Book review: Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg's new book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection offers practical ways to hold deeper, more meaningful, less conflict-driven conversations.

Given the divisiveness in small towns and rural communities today, these are essential community-building skills. It's also relevant for rural small business owners who face a variety of communication challenges with customers, employees, suppliers, community members and more.

Duhigg's name may be familiar. He also wrote The Power of Habit, another book I found useful.

In Supercommunicators, he covers different types of conversations we have: practical, emotional, and social. Usually, we don't even think about what kind of conversation we're having, and that leads to the kinds of problems we're all used to. Duhigg provides insights on how to recognize and adapt to each type of conversation.

The book's advice on everyday conversations is particularly useful. This advice is practical and not too hard to remember. Simple graphics make concepts ultra clear. The advice on social and belonging conversations is trickier. When we're talking about who we are and how we fit or don't fit in, more care and more guidelines are needed. It starts to feel like a lot, but it's better than pretending we already know all about it.

The biggest issue I had with the book is the complicated structure within sections. Duhigg often starts a story, then interrupts it with another story, then interrupts that with explanation. It makes it hard to keep track of all the narratives at the same time if you're not reading large sections in one sitting. Despite this, Duhigg does a good job of getting the practical information across, and the illustrations make the book engaging and informative.

I received an advance copy of the ebook at no cost from the publishers via NetGalley. These are my honest opinions. The book's publication date was set for Feb 2024.

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A great introduction to the concept, with collaborating stories. Decent pacing, but basic information.

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Supercommunicators is a fascinating exposition on the art of communicating well. From the first page, the book is both informative and entertaining as Charles Duhigg weaves storytelling and science to build the case for effective communication.

The book opens with the explanation that within every conversation is three distinct discussions that move fluidly from one to the next: analytical, emotional, and identity based. In the following chapters, he walks the reader through conversational pitfalls, and then he breaks down how to recognize each type of conversation and tips on navigating that discussion thoughtfully. In order to drive the points home in each chapter, he chooses hot button topics affecting the world today to demonstrate how a super communicator might engage in tricky discussions without alienating- these topics include: gun control, vaccines, political party, race and prejudice, parenting minefields, and one very fascinating Birds Eye view into a jury room discussion, etc.

This book is a must read for humans. So many thought provoking insights packed into one succinct, very approachable book.

I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I enjoyed this book enough, the pacing was decent and the text as a whole was engaging. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of several different stories which made this feel less like a dry non-fiction and more like a collection of personal stories tied together with an overarching theme and line of advice. Additionally, the various statistics and data from published research papers woven into the chapters made the advice feel more legitimate and useful to me (as a scientist I appreciate this kind of background of evidence).

The idea of a "supercommunicator" isn't something new. Duhigg makes it clear throughout the work that the kind of person he calls a supercommunicator is a kind of person who is excellent not only at communicating but reading those whom they are communicating with and to. We have all been exposed to this kind of person before. Maybe we even ARE this kind of person. Honestly, I feel like I might just be (or maybe it's just vanity). Where Duhigg's text differs from other self-help style books is the depth with which he talks about the effects of different kinds of communication. This is also where the various stories were useful in getting the point across; it's much harder to be impacted by dry data-laden advice than it is to be drawn in by the moral of a good story.

My biggest gripe about this is that it could have been much shorter. Honestly, did it need to be a whole book? I think it would have been interesting as a large chunk in another book about human behavior, but obviously, that would have been a much bigger task research-wise. I chose not to knock my rating down much for this because while it could have been shorter it didn't feel overly drawn out and repetitive.

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