Rating: 
Summary: Delivers, but could be so much more
Review: Two of the four sides of this set are extremely good. The others add information but not in the same "wow, this is great stuff" way. Example: Side 1, the Introduction, starts with "Debra, is it ok to be shy?" And her witty retort is "Yes, it is very ok to be shy." Repetitious and dumb sounding. Side 4 on Listening is marred by imperfections as she intentionally confuses logcial, literal phrases with poor listening skills ("Put a dot ON the letter i, NOT above it!! You weren't listening!") However, I rate this four stars because the content is easily digested and presented, the price is right, and, despite my shyness, I am seeing noticeable improvements after one week of listening to the set twice. The set is geared towards both business and personal users, and emphasizes them about equally. I particularly enjoyed learning how to make appropriate small talk at a wake, and how to avoid conversation killers.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent
Review: If you are an intelligent person and a decent conversationalist you may not need this. It covers the basics and a lot of it is common sense. It could have easily delved into a much more advanced and detailed system and structure but it's really just a basic frame for conversation. I was done with it in about an hour - its not that extensive but its a good basic program.
Rating: 
Summary: It worked for me
Review: I felt really silly having to resort to this, but the tips work. Conversations have definitely becoming more interesting, and less stressful, at networking events.
Rating:
Summary: the exact real-life experience is very helpful
Review: This is my first audio book and second one on small talk. Though the 'tricks' Ms Fine provided is not uncommon in this field, she presented them with passion, which makes a great difference.What is more, Ms Fine does a great job to illustrate her points with vivid and helpful examples. For example, I believe many of us know that we should ask the so called 'opened ended' questions to keep converstaion going, but exactly what are open ended questions, and how one should ask them? Ms. Fine gives the answer, with vivid, to-the-point examples. Personally, I learn a lot from this audio tape, because of the use of examples, instead of just theory and high level statements.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is an excellent tape. It gives you concrete things to do to improve your conversational skills. Tells you how to start a conversation and keep it going for business and professional use.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I hate small talk books that make such a big science of the whole thing. Debra presents a means to develop the proper attitude about small talk. She gives techniques and examples. She is funny in relating stories and empowering in those techniques. I came to Amazon to see if I could find any other audiobooks by her. Those reviewers here who called her presentation tedious are way off the mark. I often listen to this tape in my car and I find myself entertained as well as trained.
Rating: 
Summary: better help elsewhere
Review: As one of the reviewers said, this tape goes into alot of detail about conversational manners verses the art of small talk itself. Though it has some practical advice it doesn't deliver on starting a conversation and keeping it going as you might expect. A better and more thorough approach to small talk can be better found in Bernardo J. Carducci's consice guide called 'The Pocket Guide to Making Successful Small Talk: How to Talk to Anyone Anytime Anywhere about Anything.'
Rating:
Summary: Fine talking
Review: I hired Deb Fine for an international professional consultants assn. conference I have been associated with for 25 years (as President for 2 yrs.) This is a pretty sophisticated group who've heard it all and are very tough on speakers. They loved her. The tape is a great refresher. Even the most successful and experienced sales and marketing folks need a kick in the pants or a reminder. This does it for sure. Well presented, humorous and to the point. Well worth it. I give it to my new consultants as part of their training. I listened to the tape just before an important visit with a difficult client. The reminder I got was used the next day and we won over the client.
Rating:
Summary: BEGINNINER GUIDE...PERIOD
Review: Ms. Fine's tape provides basic guidelines on how to start and maintain a conversation. However, Ms. Fine is providing hints on small talk, not integral calculus. While the tape is relatively easy to follow, the subject matter is not particularly high level, in spite of the difficulty casual conversations often present to many intelligent people. Keep in mind that while the tape does provide helpful advice it is not a silver bullet for shy or uninterested people. For the shy, you still have to approach people and take the risk that, inspite of Ms. Fine's avice, you may be rejected. For the uninterested, you will need a class on acting- being able to engage another in conversation requires you to be truly interested in what one has to say. Only the most shallow will not be able to see through the manipulative veneer of those simply going through the motions of asking open ended questions.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: As someone who is shy but wants to reach out, this cassette is a great help. I listen to it every once in a while for a refresher, a source of conversational motivation. Debra hits home on several points of communication you would not otherwise consider. I recommend this product to anyone who wants to improve their confidence in conversing with people.
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