Conversation: A History of a Declining ArtYale University Press, 1 d’oct. 2008 - 368 pàgines Essayist Stephen Miller pursues a lifelong interest in conversation by taking an historical and philosophical view of the subject. He chronicles the art of conversation in Western civilization from its beginnings in ancient Greece to its apex in eighteenth-century Britain to its current endangered state in America. As Harry G. Frankfurt brought wide attention to the art of bullshit in his recent bestselling On Bullshit, so Miller now brings the art of conversation into the light, revealing why good conversation matters and why it is in decline. Miller explores the conversation about conversation among such great writers as Cicero, Montaigne, Swift, Defoe, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and Virginia Woolf. He focuses on the world of British coffeehouses and clubs in “The Age of Conversation” and examines how this era ended. Turning his attention to the United States, the author traces a prolonged decline in the theory and practice of conversation from Benjamin Franklin through Hemingway to Dick Cheney. He cites our technology (iPods, cell phones, and video games) and our insistence on unguarded forthrightness as well as our fear of being judgmental as powerful forces that are likely to diminish the art of conversation. |
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Resultats 1 - 5 de 31.
Pàgina xi
... improving one's sex life than on improving one's " conversation life . " ( In the past month the New York Times Book Review has run a full - page review of seven books on sex . ) The number of books published on a subject is not ...
... improving one's sex life than on improving one's " conversation life . " ( In the past month the New York Times Book Review has run a full - page review of seven books on sex . ) The number of books published on a subject is not ...
Pàgina 1
... improve his mind . " If I am sparring with a strong and solid opponent he will attack me on the flanks , stick his lance in me right and left ; his ideas send mine soaring . Rivalry , competitiveness and glory will drive me and raise me ...
... improve his mind . " If I am sparring with a strong and solid opponent he will attack me on the flanks , stick his lance in me right and left ; his ideas send mine soaring . Rivalry , competitiveness and glory will drive me and raise me ...
Pàgina 4
... improving their conversation . Some people will always talk too much about themselves and their medical problems . " Some , without any Ceremony , will run over the History of their Lives ; will relate the Annals of their Disease , with ...
... improving their conversation . Some people will always talk too much about themselves and their medical problems . " Some , without any Ceremony , will run over the History of their Lives ; will relate the Annals of their Disease , with ...
Pàgina 6
... improving con- versation : include women . He praises the conversation at the court of Charles I : " The Methods then used for raising and cul- tivating Conversation , were altogether different from ours " be- cause " both Sexes ... met ...
... improving con- versation : include women . He praises the conversation at the court of Charles I : " The Methods then used for raising and cul- tivating Conversation , were altogether different from ours " be- cause " both Sexes ... met ...
Pàgina 8
... improved them by reading and conversation . " Her conversation was very rewarding . " All of us who had the hap- piness of her friendship , agreed unanimously , that , in an after- noon or evening's conversation , she never failed ...
... improved them by reading and conversation . " Her conversation was very rewarding . " All of us who had the hap- piness of her friendship , agreed unanimously , that , in an after- noon or evening's conversation , she never failed ...
Continguts
29 | |
EighteenthCentury Britain | 79 |
A Conversational Triumph Lady | 119 |
Raillery to Reverie | 150 |
From Benjamin | 194 |
From | 242 |
NINE The Ways We Dont Converse Now | 264 |
TEN The End of Conversation? | 291 |
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According Addison admired agree American anger appeared argues asked attacked attended avoid became become Boswell Britain called century cities civil clubs Coffee coffeehouses common continually conversationalist conversible world critic culture describes dinner discussion easy effect eighteenth-century England English enjoyed essay feel Franklin friends give guests human Hume ideas implies important Instant Messaging interest Italy Johnson Lady Mary leading learned less letter listen live London look mainly manners means meet mind natural never one's opinion party passions person play pleasures poem polite popular praised questions raillery reason refers remark salon sation says seems sense social society Socrates solitude sounds speaks Spectator sublime suffering Swift talk thing thought tion told turn versation wants women Woolf writers wrote young