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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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.

As a communication professional, I was really looking forward to reading this and I’m glad I did! I love this author and I think he writes fascinating books. My issue was there wasn’t much new in here for me, but I think that is mostly because I’ve read a lot of similar books on this topic. I think this would be a really outstanding book for someone studying communication, and it does have its place for sure! Thank you so much for allowing me advanced access to this book.

As usual Duhigg has done an excellent job in researching this book. I recommend it to anyone who has to communicate with another human. It takes the conversations to an entirely new level. I have started applying the concepts in my business and have notices better understanding and connection with my clients. It is a must read for people with jobs that involve public interaction

The author presents engaging stories and scenarios to describe the concepts that they are trying to put forth. This books reads like a story rather than a run-of-the-mill 'self-help' book. The transition from one topic to the next is very gradual and the reader gets convinced on the concepts through the narrative. Overall, this is a good book to learn about and improve on one's communication.

Ironically, I did not connect with this book.

I enjoyed “The Power Of Habit”, but Supercommunicators felt like a slog. I’ve learned that when a book starts to feel more like a chore than a challenging & fulfilling experience, then I need to stop reading and move on to the next candidate on my To Be Read pile.

The story about the CIA agent is full of moral ambiguity. Right at the start, we’re asked to believe that he’s a good guy working for a good government agency-- or at least we should ignore all the potentially horrible unintended consequences of his good intentions.

Yes he (eventually) figured out the best way to recruit a foreign agent-- yay? The result was a “happily ever after” relationship, but everything could have gone horribly wrong. The foreign agent trusted the entire American agency (not just the recruiter) and had no idea how their information would be used. The foreign agent had no idea whether the recruiter really worked for the CIA instead of some other government or group. That foreign agent could have entered into a life of coercion and blackmail, or even been convicted of crimes and imprisoned. Why should this story inspire me to develop this type of supercommunicator skill?

The jury story required a very long and detailed explanation of the jury’s trial and an understanding of the alleged criminal’s mental stability. Once again we’re required to suspend our disbelief in the events behind the story and accept that the jury needs to reach a verdict with no other assistance or information.

It felt as though the jury’s story ran for a few pages, then halted for an analysis of supercommunicator skills. We returned to the jury story, but a few paragraphs later we had to stop yet again for another analysis & explanation.

Then we returned to the supercommunicator juror who shared a completely unrelated personal story to explain why the entire case should never have been sent to trial in the first place. The jury’s debate about the American justice system (and the jury’s failure to ask for more guidance from the judge) completely overwhelmed the description of supercommunicator techniques. I’m not an editor, but that story was very difficult to work through.

I don’t have solutions to my problems with reading the book. I simply know that when I don’t connect with a book then it’s time for me to move on.

I was really looking forward to reading to this because I love this author. It took all that had to read it. The information just didn’t reasonate with me. I was hoping it would because I work in customer service and wanted to get more tools to be able to communicate and understand people I talk with.

The author presents engaging stories and examples that effectively support their points. While some information is fundamental, the overall presentation is excellent, offering robust communication approaches. I recommend it.

I stopped at 8% but I found the ideas and the studies presented conceptually interesting. I imagine it will sit well next to the books already on the shelf. I didn’t feel like, from what I read, much was/would be added to the genre. But it was easy to read, easy to follow, and will likely go over well with the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.