Conversation: A History of a Declining ArtEssayist 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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... frequently about conversation . Hester Thrale , Johnson's friend , often evaluated the conver- sation of her friends and acquaintances . The novelist Frances ( Fanny ) Burney said of Hester Thrale's conversation : " It is so ...
... frequently about conversation . Hester Thrale , Johnson's friend , often evaluated the conver- sation of her friends and acquaintances . The novelist Frances ( Fanny ) Burney said of Hester Thrale's conversation : " It is so ...
Page 36
... answers Job from " within the Whirlwind , " making it clear that it is presumptuous for Job to want to talk to him . The Unnamable's lengthy speech , in which there are frequent references to the wonders of nature 36 Ancient Conversation.
... answers Job from " within the Whirlwind , " making it clear that it is presumptuous for Job to want to talk to him . The Unnamable's lengthy speech , in which there are frequent references to the wonders of nature 36 Ancient Conversation.
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A History of a Declining Art Stephen Miller. which there are frequent references to the wonders of nature , persuades Job that he must accept the mystery of suffering . As Job says : " I have spoken of the unspeakable / and tried to ...
A History of a Declining Art Stephen Miller. which there are frequent references to the wonders of nature , persuades Job that he must accept the mystery of suffering . As Job says : " I have spoken of the unspeakable / and tried to ...
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... frequently attacked An- tony ) . Eight months later Cicero was murdered by government soldiers . Cicero is a central figure in the history of conversation . In The Art of Conversation ( 1993 ) , Peter Burke says of the man- uals on ...
... frequently attacked An- tony ) . Eight months later Cicero was murdered by government soldiers . Cicero is a central figure in the history of conversation . In The Art of Conversation ( 1993 ) , Peter Burke says of the man- uals on ...
Page 56
... frequently quote from Scrip- ture and arrogantly assume that they alone know how to in- terpret the word of God . " An Enthusiast in Religion , " he says , " is like an obstinate Clown . " Both Johnson , a devout Anglican , and Hume , a ...
... frequently quote from Scrip- ture and arrogantly assume that they alone know how to in- terpret the word of God . " An Enthusiast in Religion , " he says , " is like an obstinate Clown . " Both Johnson , a devout Anglican , and Hume , a ...
Contents
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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Common terms and phrases
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