Speech and communication are amazing achievements that distinguish humans from the animal kingdom. But it often happens that when we speak, people do not listen to us, so the book describes the barriers that interfere with communication and explains the principles by which correct communication with people is built. The book consists of four parts. In the first part, “Talking and Listening,” the author reflects on oral speech in general and talks about how we listen and, therefore, what tasks should be set for ourselves if you want people to listen to you. The second part, “The Four Steps,” consists of chapters , dedicated to the questions: how to find a topic for conversation; how to get attention when you are ready to speak; how to convey your message in an engaging and convincing manner; How to achieve effective results, taking into account the psychology of remembering, influencing and persuasion. Part three, “The Four Situations,” provides advice on how to speak, using the knowledge gained from the previous chapters, so that people listen to you in various situations: in a conversation, especially when you pursue a specific goal; in difficult conversations, when emotions run high and the stakes are high; at meetings - formal and informal; at public speaking in front of large and small audiences. The fourth part, “The Final Chord,” is a brief summary of the book in twenty-five small sections. The book is intended for a wide range of readers.

People will listen to you only if you can tell something interesting. With so many distractions around us, it is easiest for the brain to latch onto the brightest signals. If a particular signal does not meet its expectations, the brain will stop paying attention to it and will begin searching for new, more stimulating signals. When you speak, you need to maintain a certain level of interest above the “noise” of other distractions. This involves a more dynamic form of presentation that can capture our attention, as well as a captivating narrative that, like a stream, easily and unobtrusively carries us to a specific goal, periodically surprising us to remind us why we want to listen to the end, and, most importantly, - content that intrigues, interests, and stimulates thought. In this chapter, you will talk about how to find interesting ideas, build a narrative from them, and express opinions that people will want to listen to.