Alison Wood Brooks

So levity in the book and in my class that we talk about is So many conversations go off the rails for obvious reasons where people, there's hostility, there's confrontation, there's disagreement. These are very obvious, loud problems and they exist and they are very important, but there's a more quiet killer of conversation and that's boredom.

So levity in the book and in my class that we talk about is So many conversations go off the rails for obvious reasons where people, there's hostility, there's confrontation, there's disagreement. These are very obvious, loud problems and they exist and they are very important, but there's a more quiet killer of conversation and that's boredom.

Boredom and disinterest can be really problematic in conversation. It might be even more pervasive than the sort of louder problems of hostility and disagreement. And so levity is the antidote for boredom. It's the way that we pull each other back in. It's moments of humor, laughter, and warmth.

Boredom and disinterest can be really problematic in conversation. It might be even more pervasive than the sort of louder problems of hostility and disagreement. And so levity is the antidote for boredom. It's the way that we pull each other back in. It's moments of humor, laughter, and warmth.

Boredom and disinterest can be really problematic in conversation. It might be even more pervasive than the sort of louder problems of hostility and disagreement. And so levity is the antidote for boredom. It's the way that we pull each other back in. It's moments of humor, laughter, and warmth.

that just pull you back in enough so that we can maintain this feeling of sustained engagement with each other and really to go on and accomplish any of our goals, whether they're silly or serious. And a conversation devoid of levity, it's going to be very hard for people to maintain the engagement that you need to just enjoy life and enjoy each other and trust each other.

that just pull you back in enough so that we can maintain this feeling of sustained engagement with each other and really to go on and accomplish any of our goals, whether they're silly or serious. And a conversation devoid of levity, it's going to be very hard for people to maintain the engagement that you need to just enjoy life and enjoy each other and trust each other.

that just pull you back in enough so that we can maintain this feeling of sustained engagement with each other and really to go on and accomplish any of our goals, whether they're silly or serious. And a conversation devoid of levity, it's going to be very hard for people to maintain the engagement that you need to just enjoy life and enjoy each other and trust each other.

Well, you've been talking about making people feel like they matter. And boy, if there's anything that makes people feel like they matter, it's callbacks. Callbacks are any time you reference back to something that someone has said earlier in the conversation or earlier in your relationship. There's such a fabulous, undeniable indicator that you've listened to somebody.

Well, you've been talking about making people feel like they matter. And boy, if there's anything that makes people feel like they matter, it's callbacks. Callbacks are any time you reference back to something that someone has said earlier in the conversation or earlier in your relationship. There's such a fabulous, undeniable indicator that you've listened to somebody.

Well, you've been talking about making people feel like they matter. And boy, if there's anything that makes people feel like they matter, it's callbacks. Callbacks are any time you reference back to something that someone has said earlier in the conversation or earlier in your relationship. There's such a fabulous, undeniable indicator that you've listened to somebody.

The only way you can do it is if you heard someone earlier in the conversation, you held it in your mind, and then you're clever enough to raise it later.

The only way you can do it is if you heard someone earlier in the conversation, you held it in your mind, and then you're clever enough to raise it later.

The only way you can do it is if you heard someone earlier in the conversation, you held it in your mind, and then you're clever enough to raise it later.

The other bonus, the other lovely thing about callbacks is that they're almost always funny because it's the sort of moment, witty moment where it's like a little surprising and just feels like a hug that like someone was listening enough to you that they would call it back later. I work with an improv company called Freestyle Plus.

The other bonus, the other lovely thing about callbacks is that they're almost always funny because it's the sort of moment, witty moment where it's like a little surprising and just feels like a hug that like someone was listening enough to you that they would call it back later. I work with an improv company called Freestyle Plus.

The other bonus, the other lovely thing about callbacks is that they're almost always funny because it's the sort of moment, witty moment where it's like a little surprising and just feels like a hug that like someone was listening enough to you that they would call it back later. I work with an improv company called Freestyle Plus.

It's a company that's been spun out from a Broadway show called Freestyle Love Supreme.

It's a company that's been spun out from a Broadway show called Freestyle Love Supreme.

It's a company that's been spun out from a Broadway show called Freestyle Love Supreme.