Supercommunicators

How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

By: Charles Duhigg

Narrated by: Charles Duhigg

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

ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE SABEW BEST IN BUSINESS BOOK AWARD

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

Valuable advice and information.

I would have enjoyed this far more if the writer did not find the need to push political ideology, however subtle it was very much there.

Netflix chapter

The Netflix chapter ruined the whole book completely had no point whatsoever as good as the book started

Helpful way of engaging with others

It was a practical and insightful book especially on how to ask engaging questions for the purpose of connectedness and emotional communication (in a good way).

One thing that was very annoying through about three quarters of the book (maybe it was a social experiment of the author) was the reader would repeat or stutter the first word of a sentence. It was very distracting.

I loved listening to this book.

As a person who studied Interpersonal/Organizational Communication in both undergrad and graduate school, this book was fascinating to me. I wish I had it as a textbook while I was in school because it would have created fantastic conversation and discussion topics. I LOVE reading/hearing about how people connect through communication and now I can’t wait to read the author’s other book about Habit.

Great message! Helpful! Wish everyone read this!

This book was fantastic. It was written in a way, told through stories, that made the material easy to comprehend & remember. It was moving and had a great message. I felt the author offered concrete tips for improving communication across the board. I especially liked the end and his personal touches. I feel if everyone read this, the world would be a better place!

Tips on how to listen.

Popular culture takes ideas, and identity at face value without consideration that leaders behind the scenes may be lying and intentionally creating discord.

Content A++++

The author and narrator presented great content with both humor and seriousness. I was captivated from the get go and could not stop listening. Highly recommend!

Communication Dynamics Illustrated

Communication dynamics are complex, this book uses examples to illustrate some of that complexity. It also offers some frameworks to untangling that complexity. This is a good resource if you’re on the journey to learning and improving how you communicate with yourself and the world outside of you.

Had to stop and listen

This book is filled with so many great nuggets that I found myself stopping other activities to singlemindedly focus and take in the valuable insights. I may listen a second time. I other words, this is a great book!

Incredible insight

This one is a must read for communicators, leaders and anyone who desires to improve their marriage and family. It is Duhigg’s best one yet!