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 41.
Pàgina
... social gatherings— particularly whenmen were drinking a lot—therewas notmuch listening. In Fielding's Joseph Andrews (1741) a gentleman deplores the conversation of agroupof dissolute men. “Their best Conversation wasnothing but Noise ...
... social gatherings— particularly whenmen were drinking a lot—therewas notmuch listening. In Fielding's Joseph Andrews (1741) a gentleman deplores the conversation of agroupof dissolute men. “Their best Conversation wasnothing but Noise ...
Pàgina 11
... social interaction in general : " the action of consorting or having dealings with oth- ers , " as the O.E.D. says . In Henry IV , Part II Lancaster says : " but all are banished till their conversations / Appear more wise and modest to ...
... social interaction in general : " the action of consorting or having dealings with oth- ers , " as the O.E.D. says . In Henry IV , Part II Lancaster says : " but all are banished till their conversations / Appear more wise and modest to ...
Pàgina 12
... social gathering where the discussion focused on art , literature , science , and the human condition . Johnson writes Hester Thrale : " I have been invited twice to Mrs. Vesey's conversation . " Boswell says : " I was at a conversation ...
... social gathering where the discussion focused on art , literature , science , and the human condition . Johnson writes Hester Thrale : " I have been invited twice to Mrs. Vesey's conversation . " Boswell says : " I was at a conversation ...
Pàgina 16
... social life consists ... of dreary fundraisers for good causes , like saving the salmon . " To engage in " mocking talk " one needs to be a good lis- tener as well as a good talker . Hester Thrale apparently was a good listener . One ...
... social life consists ... of dreary fundraisers for good causes , like saving the salmon . " To engage in " mocking talk " one needs to be a good lis- tener as well as a good talker . Hester Thrale apparently was a good listener . One ...
Pàgina 17
... social gath- erings — particularly when men were drinking a lot — there was not much listening . In Fielding's Joseph Andrews ( 1741 ) a gen- tleman deplores the conversation of a group of dissolute men . " Their best Conversation was ...
... social gath- erings — particularly when men were drinking a lot — there was not much listening . In Fielding's Joseph Andrews ( 1741 ) a gen- tleman deplores the conversation of a group of dissolute men . " Their best Conversation was ...
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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Frases i termes més freqüents
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