I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. It is the best book I have read this year! It offers so much! It gives techniques on listening, self-improvement and meditation techniques; it also gives us insight on the reasons people overtalk, categorizes it, and provides solutions. This book covers everything and gives us a wealth of information and resources. It is like when you are writing a research paper and you find other incredible journals and resources through the footnotes or references. The book never stops giving I learned about the CEO whisperer Jerry Colonna through this book which is has been very beneficial.

My mom is a very talkative person and when I was listening to this book, she heard it and became very engaged! It allowed the conversation to be addressed without addressing it or saying a word! This was such a tremendous help to touch on a touchy subject that would not ordinarily be easy to approach. Sometimes the closer we are, the harder it is to objectively listen without taking it as criticism or a personal attack on one's character. Sometimes it takes an outside source to help foster the conversation and to get a loved one to listen without taking it personally. This was definitely that outside source, and it has helped tremendously!

This book is a must have for your book collection, self-health and self-improvement resources and for gifting to others. I would suggest having both a physical copy and audiobook; it is a book that you will want to revisit from time to time. I personally have relistened to this book and plan to revisit it in the future. I really loved that the author narrated the book himself and he did an incredible job! I loved this book so much; I never wanted it to end! I will definitely be keeping a physical copy and an audio copy to refer to in the future. It is so helpful!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Dan Lyons and Macmillian Audio/Henry Holt & Company.
for giving me this ARC for an honest review! I would really like to say thank you so much! It has been a treasure.!

The idea of this book is one that resonates with me, but after listening to it for about an hour, I honestly just caught myself, wishing the author would just STFU. DNF.

I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

A funny, lighthearted self-help book on the importance of listening and talking less. Pulling from research into health benefits around talking less and unplugging, anecdotal evidence from the writer themself, and real-world CEOs and the power of silence, sources are plentiful and diverse. Would we be happier if we all got off social media and knew a little less about each other? Would our blood pressure be lower if we didn't feel the need to share our opinions all the time? Do we have more power if we don't feel the need to fill every moment of silence in a job or negotiation setting? Science and experience say probably, yes. But learning to STFU takes intention and practice. There is actual scientific evidence that says being a talkative person comes down to brain science. So trying to become less talkative does take effort. But here, you might find not only the motivation to try but some tips on how to do so.

“Our noisy world has trained us to think that those who get in the last word win, when in fact it’s those who know how to stay silent who really hold the power. STFU is a book that unlocks this power and will change your life, freeing you to focus on what matters. Lyons combines leading behavioral science with actionable advice on how to communicate with intent, think critically, and open your mind and ears to the world around you.”

While I find the irony delicious, it has to be said:

This book could have been a BuzzFeed article.

While I liked the science and even some of his personal anecdotes, the author comes across as petty and self-aggrandizing.

Also: Silence as a weapon smacks of misogyny.

Men have been taught for GENERATIONS that, if they just employ the silent treatment, women will inevitably become emotional (read: hysterical) and men WIN.

Do I think we’d benefit from more silence? Yes.

Do I buy into his Stiff Upper Lip bullshit? Absolutely not.

5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

STFU is a book that’s here at the right time, as so many of us are learning to talk more. As we are being told to talk more, share more, be more vocal, do more…But this book gives another perspective, and offering the power of saying less! It talks about benefits to mental health, physical health, relationships, parenting, careers, and more. I think this is a powerful tool and resource, especially coming from an author who proclaims himself a recovering talkaholic.

If you are constantly intertwined in conversations, talking at others, forgetting to listen, or constantly finding something to say in person or on social media, this book may be for you. Take a minute, read or listen, you won’t regret it.

The audiobook was narrated by the author, and he did an excellent job. I listened at 1.75 - 2x speed, with my standard being 1.75x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley and and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audio copy of STFU.

3.5 ⭐
Perhaps it should be named...
Manage your social media usage, be aware of over talking, and think ahead to pitfalls that happen due to blurting, blabbing, and mansplaining.

Did I like this book? Yeah, the first hour or two I really enjoyed. Then it started to feel redundant and wordy for a book focused on STFU.

I think this book might be better consumed in print so you can skip around and read what is most relevant to you and your personal issues around you. It has some interesting data and references to common misconceptions surrounding communication and some great thoughts on ways to pause and listen more.

It's certainly worth thinking about ways you may benefit from STFU and to putting your flaws in perspective as well as evaluating your communication style and those around you.

I really enjoyed STFU. Lyons did a fabulous job of looking at the topic from so many angles. STFU was well-written and enjoyable to listen to. I appreciated the psychological framework and was surprised to find so many practical, use-able tips. Overall, highly recommended.

For a book that tells you to STFU it really was wordy.

I thought the book could have benefitted from more editing. Also, arranging the chapters in more precise ways. A lot of the antidotes kept referencing past concepts.

This book also relied on insulting others to make their point. While it works when it is self-deprecating, Lyons also takes aim at a lot of celebrities and business executives.

Overall it was okay, not great, and will absolutely rub a lot of people the wrong way.

Thank you for access to this audio ARC.

STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in a World that Won’t Stop Talking, Dan Lyons

I’ve had this one on my NetGalley TBR for a few weeks and wanted to make sure I was in the right headspace to listen to the audiobook. I really enjoyed it! Great points about how our society is so obsessed with sharing every little thought that we have in our heads- in conversation, on social media, everywhere! There is something to be said for just STFU. At work, at home, with friends- we all just need to close our mouths, talk less and listen more. As I get older, I’ve found myself leaning towards this mindset and this book solidified my urge to just STFU. Highly recommend!!

Good consolidation of information, and a lot of good points.

The book could have been much shorter. There's a lot of repetition. Oh, the irony.

That said: already recommended to a friend.

STFU by Dan Lyons is a thought-provoking book. It explores our tendency to seek attention and over-share, both verbally and online and provides practical advice on how to learn to STFU. The audiobook I also read by the author and is thoroughly engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish this book were required reading for everyone. It is beyond refreshing to hear, from a privileged white male, the art of shutting up and letting others talk. I particularly appreciated the references Lyons makes to additionally shutting up on social media, digital detoxing, and listening more than we speak. If this book doesn't get you from a philosophical perspective, perhaps Lyons' medical rational will. Highly, highly recommend!

Really enjoyed the audio. It’s definitely a book that I normally wouldn’t read or listen to, but it definitely helped my interest. I do recommend this to family and friends.

Do I need to talk less... probably not. Do I know people who are serial talkers... absolutely. I thought I would gain some tools for dealing with those people but instead I learned to just let my mind have some peace and quiet to do it's thing. This isn't just a book about talking less, its about silencing the unnecessary noise in our world (looking at you Facegram and Instabook) and allowing our brain time to work through things. There was a lot more useful information in here than I expected.

Narrated by the author which I love and this one was no exception.

First of all, I love audio books. I listen to audio books while I'm at work and when I'm out walking etc. So, I'm very happy that Net Galley now offers audio books. It took me a while to figure out how to request them and view the titles but I'm thrilled to read all types of new books.

I chose STFU by Dan Lyons because the title caught my eye. Last year I read another book called "Stupid Things I won't do when I get old". by Steven Petrow. Again, I picked the book because the title caught my eye. I loved that book.

STFU is what I would call a "self help" book that gives you suggestions on how to improve your life. In many cases, it's pretty straight forward , common sense things like, don't say rude things to people, don't interrupt people when they are talking. But some how, people need to see things like this in print even though in our head, we know what to do.

I liked the examples the author gave for his suggestions. He used examples from the real word, i,e covid isolations, vaccines, etc...and he talked about how the book affected his life.

I'ts not a "rock my world" type of book because to me, it's common sense....but I enjoyed the book.

This book was very practical, and many could benefit from it. I especially enjoyed the sections on mansplaining and how men "overtalk" their female counterparts. I highly recommend this book to anyone working in & communicating in the business world. Good quality information!!!

What a fascinating book! I absolutely loved listening (as the author encourages us to do more) Dan Lyons read his book STFU (The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World.

As the mother of a communication scholar, I was intrigued by the title. As I progressed in the book, I realized what a wonderful tool it will be for anyone in a workplace environment, especially those where regular meetings are held. I wish I had a copy of this book before I retired. I think it would have helped me greatly in my profession as an educator. Anyone who speaks to others can benefit from STFU. Everyone should take this advice.

The final chapter on listening provided a few simple practices to help everyone to become a better listener.

I would highly recommend listening to STFU as the author's words seem to make more of an impact on me than I believe the text would by reading the book.

I enjoyed listening to this book. There were a lot of practical tips as well as the data to support the recommendations given.

The author of this audiobook reads it himself. He is a journalist who has a lifelong habit of "overtalking." He would often dominate conversations to the point of alienating friends, colleagues and family members. He realized he had a problem and set out to find out how to cure his talkativeness and also to find ways to increase listening. He cites many studies and speaks to many experts who have studied communication interactions. It was interesting to learn that the author, while aware that he often dominated conversations, was shocked when he either read or listened to transcripts of himself speaking with others. He points out that many over-talkers "don't realize they are doing it" which seems a bit of a stretch. He lists ways you can train yourself to be more of a listener and less of a talker by doing such things as learning to become an active listener, saying nothing when possible, enduring awkward silences, spending time in silence, and avoiding social media. Many high-powered figures in business and government are listed as examples of people who say little yet accomplish a great deal. He does acknowledge that it can be difficult to overcome the impulse to interrupt or ignore what someone else is saying in order to be ready to say what YOU want to, but training yourself to do this had many benefits. Not only will you learn more about people, but you will likely be seen as a better communicator when you say less.

I enjoyed the book and the many examples that the author provided. However, it does seem as if not much would be said if everyone followed his advice to speak less and let uncomfortable silences carry on. It's easy for a Jeff Bezos or an Angela Merkle to assert their power by saying little, but I do wonder if they would have been able to reach their lofty positions by not saying anything or promoting their ideas! Still, the advice to talk less and listen more is something that can benefit everyone.

The topic of STFU intrigued me because I know I'm an overtalker. So the first chapter that explained the way the brain works and the different type of talking was really interesting. Beyond that, the liberal views were too much, and I just couldn't continue. Dan Lyons couldn't keep politics out of it and bashed conservatives using his "over talking". He would reach more people if he took his own advice and STFU.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.