Supercommunicators

How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

By: Charles Duhigg

Narrated by: Charles Duhigg

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work—and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in life

“A winning combination of stories, studies, and guidance that might well transform the worst communicators you know into some of the best.”—Adam Grant, author of Think Again and Hidden Potential

Come inside a jury room as one juror leads a starkly divided room to consensus. Join a young CIA officer as he recruits a reluctant foreign agent. And sit with an accomplished surgeon as he tries, and fails, to convince yet another cancer patient to opt for the less risky course of treatment. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.

Communication is a superpower and the best communicators understand that whenever we speak, we’re actually participating in one of three conversations: practical (What’s this really about?), emotional (How do we feel?), and social (Who are we?). If you don’t know what kind of conversation you’re having, you’re unlikely to connect.

Supercommunicators know the importance of recognizing—and then matching—each kind of conversation, and how to hear the complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and deeply held beliefs that color so much of what we say and how we listen. Our experiences, our values, our emotional lives—and how we see ourselves, and others—shape every discussion, from who will pick up the kids to how we want to be treated at work. In this book, you will learn why some people are able to make themselves heard, and to hear others, so clearly.

With his storytelling that takes us from the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory to the couches of leading marriage counselors, Duhigg shows listeners how to recognize these three conversations—and teaches us the tips and skills we need to navigate them more successfully.

In the end, he delivers a simple but powerful lesson: With the right tools, we can connect with anyone.

©2024 Charles Duhigg (P)2024 Random House Audio

Amazing insight

Simple ways to connect in a world that's more and more divided. Highly recommend this as one of the top books I've read.

amazing insight on how to connect with people.

I've already found myself thinking more deeply about my conversations with people. This book is helping me form better connections and appreciate the people in my life more. could not recommend more.

True, but...

I think this is a great book and true, but I think it misses the point. The author continuously talks about how good of communicators people who listen and only ask questions are. The insight to me is people don't really care what you have to say. People love themselves and their own thoughts. I'm only to synchronization of brains, but of course when someone opts in to never having an opinion and simply mirrors behavior, there's going to be synchronization. Duh. So good points, but I don't understand how the author never saw that.

Communication needs to be a two way street. You need to hear what others say and you need others to hear what you have to say. So far, this book only praises being a good listener and never having an opinion...

Another classic book by Charles Duhigg

I'm a great admirer of "The Power of Habit," and I made sure to approach this book with an unbiased mindset while listening to it. I found the book incredibly informative, especially regarding communication in everyday interactions with diverse groups of people.

One suggestion: In the initial chapters, the subjects under study are labeled as "subject5" or "subject4," which can be challenging to follow, especially when listening on Audible. It would be more helpful to use fictional names instead.

Digs into details of good, meaningful communication, that can be hard to understand as an outsider

The information was easy to connect with, and easy to imagine, using in day-to-day interactions. This would’ve been really helpful for me as a highschooler. 

Concise and informative.

This book maintained my very elusive attention. That the content is worth digesting goes without saying, though it is the narration and inflection of the author that drives this book home, because it reflects a genuine desire to transform the reader.

Insightful and interesting

Loved the message but not as impactful as his other two books. I think I’ll try to read this again later

Very informative

The book narrates in a story-like structure what good communication means and how to develop conversational skills.

Taking that moment to think and understand what it is that you are about to convey

A nicely paced set of lessons to help anyone enjoy a conversation from the most causal standing in line to the hard ones that we all must deal with. There is really nothing new, but all worth a review — one of those books to listen to before changing a job/role to that list reviewed at the start of the year.

great tangible examples and anecdotes

the stores and use cases were excellent! would recommend to anyone looking to grow connections