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If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating
Alan Alda, the award-winning actor and bestselling author, tells us the fascinating story of his quest to learn how to communicate better, and to teach others to do the same. With his trademark humor and candor, he explores how to develop empathy as the key factor.
Alan Alda has been on a decades-long journey to discover new ways to help people communicate and relate to one another more effectively. If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? is the warm, witty, and informative chronicle of how Alda found inspiration in everything from cutting-edge science to classic acting methods. His search began when he was host of PBS's Scientific American Frontiers, where he interviewed thousands of scientists and developed a knack for helping them communicate complex ideas in ways a wide audience could understand--and Alda wondered if those techniques held a clue to better communication for the rest of us.
In his wry and wise voice, Alda reflects on moments of miscommunication in his own life, when an absence of understanding resulted in problems both big and small. He guides us through his discoveries, showing how communication can be improved through learning to relate to the other person: listening with our eyes, looking for clues in another's face, using the power of a compelling story, avoiding jargon, and reading another person so well that you become "in sync" with them, and know what they are thinking and feeling--especially when you're talking about the hard stuff.
Drawing on improvisation training, theater, and storytelling techniques from a life of acting, and with insights from recent scientific studies, Alda describes ways we can build empathy, nurture our innate mind-reading abilities, and improve the way we relate and talk with others. Exploring empathy-boosting games and exercises, If I Understood You is a funny, thought-provoking guide that can be used by all of us, in every aspect of our lives--with our friends, lovers, and families, with our doctors, in business settings, and beyond.
Alan Alda has been on a decades-long journey to discover new ways to help people communicate and relate to one another more effectively. If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? is the warm, witty, and informative chronicle of how Alda found inspiration in everything from cutting-edge science to classic acting methods. His search began when he was host of PBS's Scientific American Frontiers, where he interviewed thousands of scientists and developed a knack for helping them communicate complex ideas in ways a wide audience could understand--and Alda wondered if those techniques held a clue to better communication for the rest of us.
In his wry and wise voice, Alda reflects on moments of miscommunication in his own life, when an absence of understanding resulted in problems both big and small. He guides us through his discoveries, showing how communication can be improved through learning to relate to the other person: listening with our eyes, looking for clues in another's face, using the power of a compelling story, avoiding jargon, and reading another person so well that you become "in sync" with them, and know what they are thinking and feeling--especially when you're talking about the hard stuff.
Drawing on improvisation training, theater, and storytelling techniques from a life of acting, and with insights from recent scientific studies, Alda describes ways we can build empathy, nurture our innate mind-reading abilities, and improve the way we relate and talk with others. Exploring empathy-boosting games and exercises, If I Understood You is a funny, thought-provoking guide that can be used by all of us, in every aspect of our lives--with our friends, lovers, and families, with our doctors, in business settings, and beyond.
213 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2017
1283 people are currently reading
7757 people want to read
About the author
Alan Alda
38 books476 followersFull name: Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo
Son of actor Robert Alda
Husband of children's book author Arlene Alda
Alan Alda is an American actor, director, screenwriter, comedian and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he played Hawkeye Pierce in the war television series M*A*S*H.
Son of actor Robert Alda
Husband of children's book author Arlene Alda
Alan Alda is an American actor, director, screenwriter, comedian and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he played Hawkeye Pierce in the war television series M*A*S*H.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,038 reviews
June 5, 2017
5++ stars
Every single person on the planet should read this book. Alan Alda (who is a phenomenal writer) has written a highly informative book about the importance of communicating better. He then goes on to provide innovative and creative ways to help people do so. He is a natural storyteller, and the book is so entertaining that I completed it in one evening. Alda uses miscommunication stories from his own life to demonstrate how important it is for people to understand each other, and the issues that arise when we don’t. A major focus of Alda’s is teaching empathy. Relating to others creates empathy, and from there the desire to understand and cooperate is born. He also focuses on improving communication through listening with our eyes, using a story to make a point, eliminating confusing jargon, and paying close attention to what the other’s person’s face is telling us.
If I Understood You is one of the most informative and useful books that I have read in a long while. After I finished it, I immediately emailed my daughter’s teachers suggesting they use it to support a creative combined math and science class that she took last year. I also think the techniques will help me with my own relationships, including my husband, children and friends. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone. This book would make a great gift, and our world (and particularly our country right now) would be such a better place if everyone followed his ideas. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Every single person on the planet should read this book. Alan Alda (who is a phenomenal writer) has written a highly informative book about the importance of communicating better. He then goes on to provide innovative and creative ways to help people do so. He is a natural storyteller, and the book is so entertaining that I completed it in one evening. Alda uses miscommunication stories from his own life to demonstrate how important it is for people to understand each other, and the issues that arise when we don’t. A major focus of Alda’s is teaching empathy. Relating to others creates empathy, and from there the desire to understand and cooperate is born. He also focuses on improving communication through listening with our eyes, using a story to make a point, eliminating confusing jargon, and paying close attention to what the other’s person’s face is telling us.
If I Understood You is one of the most informative and useful books that I have read in a long while. After I finished it, I immediately emailed my daughter’s teachers suggesting they use it to support a creative combined math and science class that she took last year. I also think the techniques will help me with my own relationships, including my husband, children and friends. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone. This book would make a great gift, and our world (and particularly our country right now) would be such a better place if everyone followed his ideas. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2019
Disappointing. I can't say I didn't get anything out of it, or that it's outright BS, but I expected better based on Alda's years of experience in training people on this topic.
Nerd addendum:
The absence of references is lazy for a serious nonfiction book about science. It made it harder than necessary to verify some of the claims made, e.g. that empathy training of doctors improves patient outcomes. Alda is emphatic about this assertion but the science is pretty weak. The meta-analysis not cited on page 94 involves 13 studies featuring sample sizes of 3 and 8 and "not reported." !!!!!!!????????!!!!!! The studies with the most solid objective outcomes (blood pressure) showed no difference between treatment and control groups. And for people who care about facts and such, here's the link to the reference: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/arti.... See comment stream below for more details.
Alda's claim about the impact of teaching doctors "empathy" is a central selling point for his technique of teaching scientists and doctors how to communicate. The fact that this assertion is based on such weak evidence damages the premise of the entire book.
Alda doesn't claim to be a scientist (or else he would get 1*), and I accept that he is a master communicator. But this kind of mess just illustrates how you have to understand the basics of the scientific process before you can communicate it. Science is not a collection of gee-whiz factoids. Science is a method for understanding the universe.
"Science-writing" is not the same thing as writing science.
Nerd addendum:
The absence of references is lazy for a serious nonfiction book about science. It made it harder than necessary to verify some of the claims made, e.g. that empathy training of doctors improves patient outcomes. Alda is emphatic about this assertion but the science is pretty weak. The meta-analysis not cited on page 94 involves 13 studies featuring sample sizes of 3 and 8 and "not reported." !!!!!!!????????!!!!!! The studies with the most solid objective outcomes (blood pressure) showed no difference between treatment and control groups. And for people who care about facts and such, here's the link to the reference: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/arti.... See comment stream below for more details.
Alda's claim about the impact of teaching doctors "empathy" is a central selling point for his technique of teaching scientists and doctors how to communicate. The fact that this assertion is based on such weak evidence damages the premise of the entire book.
Alda doesn't claim to be a scientist (or else he would get 1*), and I accept that he is a master communicator. But this kind of mess just illustrates how you have to understand the basics of the scientific process before you can communicate it. Science is not a collection of gee-whiz factoids. Science is a method for understanding the universe.
"Science-writing" is not the same thing as writing science.
August 11, 2020
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Who doesn’t love him? I still do, him and all the other characters from M*A*S*H, and have seen the show several times. But then I wanted to know more about the man behind, so I read his two autobiographies: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned and Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, and loved them to pieces. Besides being a great actor, I have discovered a great man too.
Years passed and a couple of weeks ago, someone posted a link with a series of his podcasts and I realized I have missed his story-telling and fine humor and searched for something new to read by him, which led me to this book.
Perhaps there are better books out there about empathy and communication, but for me this is a 5 stars one, because none of the others has Alan Alda as a narrator, with his candor, curiosity, enthusiasm and funny side.
He may not be a scientist, but he spent years and years communicating with them, especially during his time as a host for Scientific American Frontiers, the renowned PBS show. During this time, he came up with the idea of creating the Center for Communicating Science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5q-5...
And in terms of communication, he is an expert, there is no doubt about it. He does not give us a lecture; he's telling us a story. He doesn't pretend to have all the knowledge; he gives credit to those who have it. He is just passing the information and tell us the story as he sees it, with vivid and clear examples and on everyone's understanding.
The book is about how to become more empathic in relation with others, how to relate to them and develop better communication skills. As most of us are well aware, communication and empathy are the keys in understanding one another in every possible situation you can think of: relationships, work, teaching, doctor-patient relationship, capturing the audience you speak in front of, performing music in public, even writing a book. But in order to understand each other, is not enough to be a good listener; you need to pay attention too to what you say and how the other reacts to that. And he gives a lot of great examples, some personal, some not, but all of them right to the point.
“Practicing contact with other people feels good. It’s not like lifting weights. It feels good while you’re doing it, not just after you stop.
When it clicks, when you’re in sync with someone, even for the briefest moment, it feels like the pleasure of reconciliation. We’re no longer apart. We have an actual two-way conversation. We go from “No, you’re wrong” to “Oh. Maybe you’re right.” And boom. Dopamine.
It’s a good feeling.”
There is a lot of information in such a small book; in fact, I think I’ve spent as much time searching the internet for more details as I’ve actually spent reading the book.
If I were to compare him with someone else, I would choose Richard Feynman. Doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have the same background; they both share the same passion for science and the gift of storytelling.
“We can’t resist stories. We crave them.”
Indeed. And Alan Alda is one of the greatest storytellers still out there.
Worthy links:
Simon Baron-Cohen’ Social Intelligence Test, “Reading the Mind in the Eyes”: http://socialintelligence.labinthewil...
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science: https://www.aldacenter.org/get-starte...
The Flame Challenge: https://www.aldacenter.org/outreach/f...
Steven Strogatz’s essay on “Writing about Math for the Perplexed and the Traumatized”: https://www.ams.org/notices/201403/rn...
About Viola Spolin – her groundbreaking book Improvisation for the Theater transformed American theater and revolutionized the way acting is taught: https://www.violaspolin.org/bio; https://www.secondcity.com/history/
Prof. Matt Lerner Spotlight program for children with Autism, mostly: https://spotlightprogram.com/about-us...
Theory of Mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_...
Emotion Recognition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion...
"Yes, And..." Improv: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_and...
A series of podcasts with Alda in conversation with different scientists and not only: https://omny.fm/shows/clear-vivid-wit...
Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Who doesn’t love him? I still do, him and all the other characters from M*A*S*H, and have seen the show several times. But then I wanted to know more about the man behind, so I read his two autobiographies: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned and Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, and loved them to pieces. Besides being a great actor, I have discovered a great man too.
Years passed and a couple of weeks ago, someone posted a link with a series of his podcasts and I realized I have missed his story-telling and fine humor and searched for something new to read by him, which led me to this book.
Perhaps there are better books out there about empathy and communication, but for me this is a 5 stars one, because none of the others has Alan Alda as a narrator, with his candor, curiosity, enthusiasm and funny side.
He may not be a scientist, but he spent years and years communicating with them, especially during his time as a host for Scientific American Frontiers, the renowned PBS show. During this time, he came up with the idea of creating the Center for Communicating Science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5q-5...
And in terms of communication, he is an expert, there is no doubt about it. He does not give us a lecture; he's telling us a story. He doesn't pretend to have all the knowledge; he gives credit to those who have it. He is just passing the information and tell us the story as he sees it, with vivid and clear examples and on everyone's understanding.
The book is about how to become more empathic in relation with others, how to relate to them and develop better communication skills. As most of us are well aware, communication and empathy are the keys in understanding one another in every possible situation you can think of: relationships, work, teaching, doctor-patient relationship, capturing the audience you speak in front of, performing music in public, even writing a book. But in order to understand each other, is not enough to be a good listener; you need to pay attention too to what you say and how the other reacts to that. And he gives a lot of great examples, some personal, some not, but all of them right to the point.
“Practicing contact with other people feels good. It’s not like lifting weights. It feels good while you’re doing it, not just after you stop.
When it clicks, when you’re in sync with someone, even for the briefest moment, it feels like the pleasure of reconciliation. We’re no longer apart. We have an actual two-way conversation. We go from “No, you’re wrong” to “Oh. Maybe you’re right.” And boom. Dopamine.
It’s a good feeling.”
There is a lot of information in such a small book; in fact, I think I’ve spent as much time searching the internet for more details as I’ve actually spent reading the book.
If I were to compare him with someone else, I would choose Richard Feynman. Doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have the same background; they both share the same passion for science and the gift of storytelling.
“We can’t resist stories. We crave them.”
Indeed. And Alan Alda is one of the greatest storytellers still out there.
Worthy links:
Simon Baron-Cohen’ Social Intelligence Test, “Reading the Mind in the Eyes”: http://socialintelligence.labinthewil...
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science: https://www.aldacenter.org/get-starte...
The Flame Challenge: https://www.aldacenter.org/outreach/f...
Steven Strogatz’s essay on “Writing about Math for the Perplexed and the Traumatized”: https://www.ams.org/notices/201403/rn...
About Viola Spolin – her groundbreaking book Improvisation for the Theater transformed American theater and revolutionized the way acting is taught: https://www.violaspolin.org/bio; https://www.secondcity.com/history/
Prof. Matt Lerner Spotlight program for children with Autism, mostly: https://spotlightprogram.com/about-us...
Theory of Mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_...
Emotion Recognition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion...
"Yes, And..." Improv: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_and...
A series of podcasts with Alda in conversation with different scientists and not only: https://omny.fm/shows/clear-vivid-wit...
June 30, 2017
Alan Alda is something of an institution at this point. He has parlayed his fame as an actor on a long-running well-written TV serial, M*A*S*H, into doing whatever takes his fancy. Good for him. He was never extensively schooled in science but he loved it, pursued it, made a new kind of career out of having scientists explain their secrets to him on film.
In a way it is out of this experience that this opportunity to explain communication came to him: how do we know the other side in a conversation actually understands what we are saying? One can imagine the numerous ways we would want to verify the other side 'got the message' in the way we meant them to. Alda uses the example of a doctor explaining a terminal diagnosis to a patient, getting no reaction, and then querying the patient: Why didn't you ask more questions? The patient hadn't understood what the doctor was saying...hadn't known he had just said 'get your affairs in order.'
Alda explains that the skill to notice how much the other in a conversation is comprehending is a learned skill. We can improve. He suggests that one way to do this is through improvisation exercises that require one to mirror (exactly reproduce in real time) the movements of another. One must watch, empathize, involve oneself deeply in the other's experience in order to do this. Mimicking doesn't mean one feels all the things the other does, but one gets closer to their experience.
That seems to be about it. There are lots of stories, etc. but he is more interested in his results than I am. Reminds us that advancement in these fields is painfully slow. I'm glad he is doing what interests him. I listened to the audio, produced by Penguin Random House and read by the author. He was able to put his emphases in where he wanted them, and was able to convey his interest in the subject to us, but I grew weary before the end, at the end of one lab experiment he'd designed (with neuroscientists) and financed, thinking...oh, yes, I remember those science experiments that never seemed to go anywhere. But, as he says, even the negative of a result tells us something...
In a way it is out of this experience that this opportunity to explain communication came to him: how do we know the other side in a conversation actually understands what we are saying? One can imagine the numerous ways we would want to verify the other side 'got the message' in the way we meant them to. Alda uses the example of a doctor explaining a terminal diagnosis to a patient, getting no reaction, and then querying the patient: Why didn't you ask more questions? The patient hadn't understood what the doctor was saying...hadn't known he had just said 'get your affairs in order.'
Alda explains that the skill to notice how much the other in a conversation is comprehending is a learned skill. We can improve. He suggests that one way to do this is through improvisation exercises that require one to mirror (exactly reproduce in real time) the movements of another. One must watch, empathize, involve oneself deeply in the other's experience in order to do this. Mimicking doesn't mean one feels all the things the other does, but one gets closer to their experience.
That seems to be about it. There are lots of stories, etc. but he is more interested in his results than I am. Reminds us that advancement in these fields is painfully slow. I'm glad he is doing what interests him. I listened to the audio, produced by Penguin Random House and read by the author. He was able to put his emphases in where he wanted them, and was able to convey his interest in the subject to us, but I grew weary before the end, at the end of one lab experiment he'd designed (with neuroscientists) and financed, thinking...oh, yes, I remember those science experiments that never seemed to go anywhere. But, as he says, even the negative of a result tells us something...
January 26, 2018
Alan Alda is a joy to listen to and he's a good writer. This book, despite its fun title, is a serious tome-focused on getting across how important it is to communicate clearly and effectively. Examples are cited, and exercises and games are detailed to help you do exactly that.
Focusing on the other person in a conversation, (not just waiting for your turn to speak), and noting their facial expressions and body language are key. According to Alda, if you are not willing to be changed by a person/conversation then you are NOT really open and listening.
It turns out that empathy is really important in effective communication. One of the exercises in this book mentions watching a person's face during a conversation and specifically noting and NAMING, (silently), the emotions you see on their face. This will sometimes tell you what they are going to say or do next. It tells you if they're understanding what you're saying, or if instead they are bored or confused. At times and with practice, it will sometimes seem to people that you can read minds, but what you're really doing is truly LISTENING.
Because Alan Alda has such a warm, comfortable style I learned a lot from what in less capable hands could have been a very boring book. It also might be due to the fact that Alda is an extremely effective communicator. I have already started to put some of these games and exercises into practice and I believe they have already helped me in certain areas of my life. If you are open, (read: WILLING TO BE CHANGED), then I highly recommend this book!
*I borrowed this audiobook from my awesome public library. Libraries RULE!*
Focusing on the other person in a conversation, (not just waiting for your turn to speak), and noting their facial expressions and body language are key. According to Alda, if you are not willing to be changed by a person/conversation then you are NOT really open and listening.
It turns out that empathy is really important in effective communication. One of the exercises in this book mentions watching a person's face during a conversation and specifically noting and NAMING, (silently), the emotions you see on their face. This will sometimes tell you what they are going to say or do next. It tells you if they're understanding what you're saying, or if instead they are bored or confused. At times and with practice, it will sometimes seem to people that you can read minds, but what you're really doing is truly LISTENING.
Because Alan Alda has such a warm, comfortable style I learned a lot from what in less capable hands could have been a very boring book. It also might be due to the fact that Alda is an extremely effective communicator. I have already started to put some of these games and exercises into practice and I believe they have already helped me in certain areas of my life. If you are open, (read: WILLING TO BE CHANGED), then I highly recommend this book!
*I borrowed this audiobook from my awesome public library. Libraries RULE!*
March 12, 2024
We know him for his TV fame.
MASH, or even West Wing might come to mind.
He did not go to school to learn about science, but he was fascinated by it.
So in later life, he pursued it, made a new kind of career out of having scientists explain their secrets to him on film.
This book doesn't really break any new ground, but reinforces my beliefs that good communication is based in empathy, that the Improv idea of "yes, and" makes most human interactions better, that emotion is the key to memory, and that storytelling is the key to emotion and memory.
If you enjoyed the humor that Alan Alda displayed on screen, you may enjoy it here on the page. I recommend it highly.
MASH, or even West Wing might come to mind.
He did not go to school to learn about science, but he was fascinated by it.
So in later life, he pursued it, made a new kind of career out of having scientists explain their secrets to him on film.
This book doesn't really break any new ground, but reinforces my beliefs that good communication is based in empathy, that the Improv idea of "yes, and" makes most human interactions better, that emotion is the key to memory, and that storytelling is the key to emotion and memory.
If you enjoyed the humor that Alan Alda displayed on screen, you may enjoy it here on the page. I recommend it highly.
June 28, 2017
The greatest science communication failure of recent history occurred during breaking news coverage of the Higgs boson particle discovery. At least, that’s my opinion. This particle, claimed to be the active ingredient in objects having mass, is a huge deal. Yet, look at this gibberish news outlets threw at me as the leading quotation for the achievement.
“We have observed a new boson with a mass of 125.3 plus or minus 0.6 GeV at 4.9 standard deviations.”
No offense to Dr. Joe Incandela, who made the above technical statement to a room full of scientists. Following his words, the gathering bubbled over with applause, even tears in at least one case. But the jargon was lost on me. That day I refused to be impressed as a matter of principle. Science had failed to explain itself.
Such disconnects between scientists and the public comprise the impetus for Alan Alda’s latest book: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating. Known to many for his acting career, Alda has dedicated much of his time to promoting better science communication. Far from being a mere on-camera spokesman, Alda works as a Visiting Professor at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.
Using personal examples, as well as research, Alda makes the case for empathy as essential to good communication. He couples this with insights regarding the Theory of Mind. Think of empathy as the emotional connection, and Theory of Mind as the rational component. Empathy, according to Alda, is a skill which can be developed and refined.
Not surprisingly, Alda advocates cultivating empathy through theatrical improv (a serious performance method, not merely a game-driven attempt to get laughs). Anyone who has taken an acting class with improv as a component, myself included, will find this to be self-evident. The same practiced skills which help actors connect onstage can help scientists connect with the public. As Alda relates, this extends to medical doctors, business leaders, hopeful lovers, and parents mentoring children.
If I Understood You… stays on task via short chapters and focused, conversational prose. It wraps up in a tidy 200 pages. There is also an audio version, read by Alda, which I’ll safely assume is highly enjoyable. The result is a book calculated to be accessible, informative and thought-provoking.
Odd then that this book sometimes struggled to hold my interest. If I Understood You… is full of nuggets: nuggets of wisdom, hindsight, and profound experience. Any chapter by itself can be a delight, and many were for me. Yet, perhaps because of the testimonial nature, perhaps because of the copious repetition of its premise, the book sometimes felt like an after-dinner conversation growing tiresome. In no way am I panning it. However, I do suggest readers avoid devouring the book quickly (which I did so I could post my review asap).
Given its levelheaded blend of entertainment with educational discourse, If I Understood You… disqualifies itself from being Alda’s most fun book yet. It may however prove his most important, given the toxic level of animosity in current public discussion. Therefore, I highly recommend reading it. Come for the theory, but stay for the moments of sublime understanding.
“We have observed a new boson with a mass of 125.3 plus or minus 0.6 GeV at 4.9 standard deviations.”
No offense to Dr. Joe Incandela, who made the above technical statement to a room full of scientists. Following his words, the gathering bubbled over with applause, even tears in at least one case. But the jargon was lost on me. That day I refused to be impressed as a matter of principle. Science had failed to explain itself.
Such disconnects between scientists and the public comprise the impetus for Alan Alda’s latest book: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating. Known to many for his acting career, Alda has dedicated much of his time to promoting better science communication. Far from being a mere on-camera spokesman, Alda works as a Visiting Professor at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.
Using personal examples, as well as research, Alda makes the case for empathy as essential to good communication. He couples this with insights regarding the Theory of Mind. Think of empathy as the emotional connection, and Theory of Mind as the rational component. Empathy, according to Alda, is a skill which can be developed and refined.
Not surprisingly, Alda advocates cultivating empathy through theatrical improv (a serious performance method, not merely a game-driven attempt to get laughs). Anyone who has taken an acting class with improv as a component, myself included, will find this to be self-evident. The same practiced skills which help actors connect onstage can help scientists connect with the public. As Alda relates, this extends to medical doctors, business leaders, hopeful lovers, and parents mentoring children.
If I Understood You… stays on task via short chapters and focused, conversational prose. It wraps up in a tidy 200 pages. There is also an audio version, read by Alda, which I’ll safely assume is highly enjoyable. The result is a book calculated to be accessible, informative and thought-provoking.
Odd then that this book sometimes struggled to hold my interest. If I Understood You… is full of nuggets: nuggets of wisdom, hindsight, and profound experience. Any chapter by itself can be a delight, and many were for me. Yet, perhaps because of the testimonial nature, perhaps because of the copious repetition of its premise, the book sometimes felt like an after-dinner conversation growing tiresome. In no way am I panning it. However, I do suggest readers avoid devouring the book quickly (which I did so I could post my review asap).
Given its levelheaded blend of entertainment with educational discourse, If I Understood You… disqualifies itself from being Alda’s most fun book yet. It may however prove his most important, given the toxic level of animosity in current public discussion. Therefore, I highly recommend reading it. Come for the theory, but stay for the moments of sublime understanding.
October 1, 2017
I know Alan Alda for his acting career, especially in the tv series “Mash” (one of my favorites), but this is the first time I read one of his books. The subject is certainly interesting, especially in modern society where communication plays a leading role.
An aspect I didn’t know about the actor is his scientific curiosity, which led in hosting a tv show called "Scientific American Frontiers" for many years and to organize communication courses in all kinds of disciplines.
In this book Alda claims his ideas on a communication based on empathy by exploiting his experience as an actor. He illustrates the importance of convey an idea using body language, as well as words, but also paying attention to the reactions of the audience.
In the various chapters, he explains his ideas and anecdotes that have led him to conceive them and the many steps are being taken to help people transmit their knowledge more efficiently, without causing boredom or confusion. Such a procedure can be addressed to anyone in this condition: professors with students, speakers with an audience, doctors on patients.
Alan Alda is a wonderful storyteller and we learn what he teaches us by listening to facts he has witnessed, events he has organized, or experiments made by scientists in a totally autonomous way that have led to the same results.
Reading the various experiments carried out by Alda and other people to achieve such a result (scientists or other scholars), we often wonder whether it is really possible to reach the level described by the author. I believe that many concepts are correct and can be easily applied in everyday life.
A book that I recommend to everyone and cannot leave them indifferent. After all, though it doesn’t convince all, it can push us to know more and this is already a good start.
A quote that stuck with me:
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better (Samuel Becket)
An aspect I didn’t know about the actor is his scientific curiosity, which led in hosting a tv show called "Scientific American Frontiers" for many years and to organize communication courses in all kinds of disciplines.
In this book Alda claims his ideas on a communication based on empathy by exploiting his experience as an actor. He illustrates the importance of convey an idea using body language, as well as words, but also paying attention to the reactions of the audience.
In the various chapters, he explains his ideas and anecdotes that have led him to conceive them and the many steps are being taken to help people transmit their knowledge more efficiently, without causing boredom or confusion. Such a procedure can be addressed to anyone in this condition: professors with students, speakers with an audience, doctors on patients.
Alan Alda is a wonderful storyteller and we learn what he teaches us by listening to facts he has witnessed, events he has organized, or experiments made by scientists in a totally autonomous way that have led to the same results.
Reading the various experiments carried out by Alda and other people to achieve such a result (scientists or other scholars), we often wonder whether it is really possible to reach the level described by the author. I believe that many concepts are correct and can be easily applied in everyday life.
A book that I recommend to everyone and cannot leave them indifferent. After all, though it doesn’t convince all, it can push us to know more and this is already a good start.
A quote that stuck with me:
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better (Samuel Becket)
July 10, 2022
4 Stars for If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? (audiobook) By Alan Alda read by the author.
This was a happy surprise. I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Alan Alda has a lot of interesting insight into communication. This is a topic that he has really investigated. But what I think I liked best was all the ways the author mentions how he has communicated poorly in the past.
This was a happy surprise. I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Alan Alda has a lot of interesting insight into communication. This is a topic that he has really investigated. But what I think I liked best was all the ways the author mentions how he has communicated poorly in the past.
June 12, 2017
As a scientist and author concerned about how we communicate with the general public, I was eager to read this book by revered actor Alan Alda. The book reiterates and expands on a lecture I saw him give a few days ago. Between the two I learned a lot about improving communication. Alda mixes anecdotes and stories from his own experience, both as an actor (M*A*S*H, West Wing, movies, etc.) and his lifelong interest in science that led to him hosting Scientific American Frontiers for 11 years. Recently he helped establish the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where many of the techniques discussed in the book were developed and are currently used to teach communication skills to scientists.
The first of two parts includes eleven chapters and primarily focuses on laying the groundwork for communication. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and "theory of mind." The ten chapters in the second part delve more deeply into the scientific studies conducted to investigate the skill sets being taught.
Much of the training incorporates the concept of improvisation, or Improv. This is a technique often used by actors (and more famously by comedians) to entertain without a script. In this case, the technique is used to help scientists and others to learn how to "read" the person they are trying to communicate with. Games such as "the mirror exercise" help participants learn empathy, a mutual understanding of the person you're speaking to.
There is much more to the book than one might expect from an actor. Alda has taken his goal of helping scientists communicate seriously, proposing and participating in studies to determine the best methods for teaching others. He provides a strong scientific basis from the studies he describes and has worked with or interviewed professors and practitioners of these methods.
Based on my own experience (it's part of the reason I left a scientific consulting career to pursue writing and expanding public knowledge of science and history), the book is both scientifically robust and entertaining to read. While the focus is on helping scientists to better communicate, the lessons imparted will also be useful for all of us who wish to be better understood by - and to better understand - our fellow members of the public. Alan Alda should be commended for his contributions in this much needed area.
The first of two parts includes eleven chapters and primarily focuses on laying the groundwork for communication. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and "theory of mind." The ten chapters in the second part delve more deeply into the scientific studies conducted to investigate the skill sets being taught.
Much of the training incorporates the concept of improvisation, or Improv. This is a technique often used by actors (and more famously by comedians) to entertain without a script. In this case, the technique is used to help scientists and others to learn how to "read" the person they are trying to communicate with. Games such as "the mirror exercise" help participants learn empathy, a mutual understanding of the person you're speaking to.
There is much more to the book than one might expect from an actor. Alda has taken his goal of helping scientists communicate seriously, proposing and participating in studies to determine the best methods for teaching others. He provides a strong scientific basis from the studies he describes and has worked with or interviewed professors and practitioners of these methods.
Based on my own experience (it's part of the reason I left a scientific consulting career to pursue writing and expanding public knowledge of science and history), the book is both scientifically robust and entertaining to read. While the focus is on helping scientists to better communicate, the lessons imparted will also be useful for all of us who wish to be better understood by - and to better understand - our fellow members of the public. Alan Alda should be commended for his contributions in this much needed area.
April 30, 2022
Let me just say at the start that I have a strong positive bias when in comes Mr. Alan Alda and the reasons are: 1) Like myself, he comes from the Bronx. 2)He graduated from Fordham University and I applied there and was rejected. I imagine the admissions' people at the university are still laughing at my application some forty years later. 3)Mr. Alda's first name is actually 'Alphonso,' which is the first name of a very special uncle of mine who we referred to as Uncle Al. 4) Like myself, from an early age he read the magazine "Scientific American," and until this day it is the only magazine I subscribed to for over a ten year period; even though I doubt I understood more than one or two articles from each issue. 5) he started the 'Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University and is a Visiting professor at the university. Stony Brook University is where I graduated from. 6) He was on one of my favorite T.V. shows of all time M*A*S*H.
Putting all that aside, Mr. Alda's 'If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating,' is a humorous, educational, enlighten book on the importance of communication and the ability to possess EMPATHY not only in the field of acting but more importantly in the fields of medicine, science, and relationships. In short, it is a guide that helps people communicate and relate to one another more effectively. It teaches people, through improvisation training, how to read people in just a few seconds, and with that understanding how to relate to that person in a way that both of you are on the same wavelength.
If you tell a friend that you are looking for a new doctor and if he would recommend his doctor and he says, "Oh he's great, but he has terrible bed side manners." Right there a red sign should flash before your eyes. Having good bed side manners and being able to describe a problem to a patient in a simple, empathetic, easy to understand manner can clear up any miscommunications the patient might have and alleviate stress and avoid a disaster.
The book is full with stories like the above one, and Mr. Alda describes in an easy to understand ways how we can avoid these situations, and avoid making the same mistakes.
I loved this book.
Putting all that aside, Mr. Alda's 'If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating,' is a humorous, educational, enlighten book on the importance of communication and the ability to possess EMPATHY not only in the field of acting but more importantly in the fields of medicine, science, and relationships. In short, it is a guide that helps people communicate and relate to one another more effectively. It teaches people, through improvisation training, how to read people in just a few seconds, and with that understanding how to relate to that person in a way that both of you are on the same wavelength.
If you tell a friend that you are looking for a new doctor and if he would recommend his doctor and he says, "Oh he's great, but he has terrible bed side manners." Right there a red sign should flash before your eyes. Having good bed side manners and being able to describe a problem to a patient in a simple, empathetic, easy to understand manner can clear up any miscommunications the patient might have and alleviate stress and avoid a disaster.
The book is full with stories like the above one, and Mr. Alda describes in an easy to understand ways how we can avoid these situations, and avoid making the same mistakes.
I loved this book.
January 21, 2021
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book! Alan Alda is funny and has a great storytelling style. He's dedicated to learning and helping improve communication styles, especially in science.
In this book he draws from his own experience, as well as recent research and experiments he's been a part of. The book is well written and informative. I listened to the audiobook (read by the author) and highly recommend it.
In this book he draws from his own experience, as well as recent research and experiments he's been a part of. The book is well written and informative. I listened to the audiobook (read by the author) and highly recommend it.
October 20, 2022
I have had this book on my to-read list for about 4 years, and honestly I thought that it was going to be a humorous memoir (because I don't generally read blurbs, and sometimes don't even bother reading subtitles. Like this one.).
While there were aspects of humorous memoir in here, this was far more about the subtitle than memoir. This book delves into communication, and how to use empathy to come at communication from a position of the listener or receiver of your communication. IE: Don't talk AT someone, talk TO them, and their level of knowledge and engagement.
I did NOT know that Alan Alda was into science and education the way he is. Honestly, I didn't know much about Alan Alda at all, apparently, so it was fun to learn about him, and through him, while listening to his book. It was a little bit redundant and repetitive at times, but it was the kind of book that builds on previous points, so it makes sense for it to be like that, up to a certain point. After that I don't think it's super necessary to keep hammering home the lesson, but hey, at least we won't misunderstand him!
Definitely recommend, and if you can, get the audio. His reading was delightful!
While there were aspects of humorous memoir in here, this was far more about the subtitle than memoir. This book delves into communication, and how to use empathy to come at communication from a position of the listener or receiver of your communication. IE: Don't talk AT someone, talk TO them, and their level of knowledge and engagement.
I did NOT know that Alan Alda was into science and education the way he is. Honestly, I didn't know much about Alan Alda at all, apparently, so it was fun to learn about him, and through him, while listening to his book. It was a little bit redundant and repetitive at times, but it was the kind of book that builds on previous points, so it makes sense for it to be like that, up to a certain point. After that I don't think it's super necessary to keep hammering home the lesson, but hey, at least we won't misunderstand him!
Definitely recommend, and if you can, get the audio. His reading was delightful!
May 7, 2018
I don't normally pick up books like this since I find that they tend to be too narrowly focused and rely too much on the author's fame to sell the book. Not that I knew who the author was before picking this one up. The title was also very off-putting, but I needed a short filler book and seeing as I don't consider myself the best of communicators, I thought I'd at least learn something. That wasn't the case though. I've pretty much heard all the good advice before and the new things the author brought up aren't actually very practical since improv classes aren't exactly around every corner.
I did the audiobook version of this which was narrated by the author. I actually enjoyed the narration quite a bit, especially since quite a lot of the content was told from a personal perspective. Every chapter had at least one personal anecdote which made the otherwise dry content a lot more engaging and relatable. You can tell that the author cares about the topic in the way he got excited by the various revelations he described. I also enjoyed the light humour in the writing which was sold very well by the author doing the narration.
However, the reason this is getting only 2 stars is that it really didn't have enough practical advice the average person can put into practice. There's a lot of discussion about groups of people that could benefit from improving their communication skills, but apart from the repetitive mentions of improv classes, the main advice was basically 'active listening' and 'have empathy'. Despite being quite short, the repetitive use of the core ideas made it feel longer than it was. Even so, as I'm writing this a couple of days after I finished the book, I've already forgotten most of the content. I guess I got what I expected though and feel justified in my discrimination of these types of books. As you've probably guessed, this isn't a book I'd be recommending to anyone except maybe people who have serious communication issues.
I did the audiobook version of this which was narrated by the author. I actually enjoyed the narration quite a bit, especially since quite a lot of the content was told from a personal perspective. Every chapter had at least one personal anecdote which made the otherwise dry content a lot more engaging and relatable. You can tell that the author cares about the topic in the way he got excited by the various revelations he described. I also enjoyed the light humour in the writing which was sold very well by the author doing the narration.
However, the reason this is getting only 2 stars is that it really didn't have enough practical advice the average person can put into practice. There's a lot of discussion about groups of people that could benefit from improving their communication skills, but apart from the repetitive mentions of improv classes, the main advice was basically 'active listening' and 'have empathy'. Despite being quite short, the repetitive use of the core ideas made it feel longer than it was. Even so, as I'm writing this a couple of days after I finished the book, I've already forgotten most of the content. I guess I got what I expected though and feel justified in my discrimination of these types of books. As you've probably guessed, this isn't a book I'd be recommending to anyone except maybe people who have serious communication issues.
March 5, 2018
Fun to read, really interesting research and practical usable exercises that could help anyone. Far better than anticipated.
March 25, 2021
Alan Alda did a yoeman’s job explaining science to ordinary folks as the host of PBS’ Scientific America Frontiers and this book is in the same vein as that much-missed TV series. This is not rigorous science reporting; instead, it is simply Alda’s anecdotal experiences teaching scientists, doctors and teachers how to communicate more effectively. Think of it like an extended TED talk: it’s meant to get you curious about the subject so you can go down various rabbit holes of your choosing. Follow your nose, see where it leads you.
For me, I came away from this with a greater appreciation of improv acting, particularly mirroring, which is something I’ve watched but never heard anyone explain before. Mirroring is when two people mimic each other’s movements and/or speech, to the point where they are almost perfectly in sync. I’d assumed it was a clever acting trick, but apparently it goes deeper than that, engaging parts of our brains we don’t use much, which is intriguing. The fact that non-actors can quickly become adept at this and find it beneficial to their work is really interesting.
That leads to a discussion of the differences between empathy and sympathy, a distinction I’d never pondered before. Bullies and other human monsters have plenty of empathy, the ability to understand your feelings, which is why they can so readily push your buttons, but they lack sympathy, which allows them to commiserate with you and share your emotions.
I think this is well worth your time because it opens up a fascinating new way to view others.
For me, I came away from this with a greater appreciation of improv acting, particularly mirroring, which is something I’ve watched but never heard anyone explain before. Mirroring is when two people mimic each other’s movements and/or speech, to the point where they are almost perfectly in sync. I’d assumed it was a clever acting trick, but apparently it goes deeper than that, engaging parts of our brains we don’t use much, which is intriguing. The fact that non-actors can quickly become adept at this and find it beneficial to their work is really interesting.
That leads to a discussion of the differences between empathy and sympathy, a distinction I’d never pondered before. Bullies and other human monsters have plenty of empathy, the ability to understand your feelings, which is why they can so readily push your buttons, but they lack sympathy, which allows them to commiserate with you and share your emotions.
I think this is well worth your time because it opens up a fascinating new way to view others.
August 9, 2017
Alan Alda has made my life better in two ways, now. The first was M*A*S*H, of course, that show that let me know that grownups could be rebellious too. The second is this book, which doesn't really break any new ground, but reinforces my beliefs that good communication is based in empathy, that the Improv idea of "yes, and" makes most human interactions better, that emotion is the key to memory, and that storytelling is the key to emotion and memory. Yes, and he tells a lot of fascinating, funny stories to help the reader understand and remember it all. Nice job, Mr. Alda.
October 13, 2017
I read this book for a book club and would not have picked it on my own. While it is not difficult to read, I found it difficult to figure out who the book's is for. While some of the stories are interesting, I can not imagine that I will use any of the obscure methods for improved communication in my daily life. As a book just about funny stories or life lessons it is a little thin. As a book on how to fix communication problems it is not specific enough on the how "'to do"s. Overall it is totally forgettable.
May 7, 2018
Sigh, this book was sort of interesting in the start. Sadly there is too little useable info, this results in what feels like lots of filler material which is quite boring.
This only gets 2 stars because it mirrors some of the content from a number of social engineering books so its not a complete waste. Oddly enough this is the kind of book that applies to me yet I felt like there was little for me to take away from the book.
I would find it hard to recommend this to anyone though.
This only gets 2 stars because it mirrors some of the content from a number of social engineering books so its not a complete waste. Oddly enough this is the kind of book that applies to me yet I felt like there was little for me to take away from the book.
I would find it hard to recommend this to anyone though.
February 2, 2018
Good book about the importance of good communication and how to improve at communicating with others. I’m familiar with some of the research that Alda referenced from other books. Alda seems to over-emphasize his own ideas and under-emphasize more researched strategies such as reading literary fiction (though he does mention it). He spends too much time making fun of “shakras” and not enough time explaining the research on the effectiveness of meditation and a simple explanation of say, breathe meditation. Still, it is definitely useful to read, and the more people that read it the better.
January 29, 2020
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in brain science or improving their empathy and communication skills. As someone who sometimes struggles with social cues I really appreciated the practical chapter on things you can try on your own, without an improv group, to improve skills at reading people's faces and therefore communication.
June 1, 2017
***I received my copy through Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.***
Alan Alda's hilarious psychology videos got me through high school AP Psych, so I thought this would be a good one. I was pleasantly surprised. Alda tells charming stories that encourage readers to practice responsive listening for change, and also his work helping Science connect with the rest of the world.
Communication [or lack thereof] is creating a serious PR problem for Science The Field and educated people. As a librarian/information scientist, I'm often the intermediary for this stuff, so I get it. Researchers often do a poor job educating the public, or reaching their intended audience when lobbying for scientific causes - mostly because they suck at explaining their work in an accessible way. This creates a major empathy gap for people who could use Scientific principles to create change. Alda's crusade to infuse more public speaking and performance in science has clearly done much good, especially for students like me. There's a wealth to be gained, if only we learn how to translate it for others.
Alan Alda's hilarious psychology videos got me through high school AP Psych, so I thought this would be a good one. I was pleasantly surprised. Alda tells charming stories that encourage readers to practice responsive listening for change, and also his work helping Science connect with the rest of the world.
Communication [or lack thereof] is creating a serious PR problem for Science The Field and educated people. As a librarian/information scientist, I'm often the intermediary for this stuff, so I get it. Researchers often do a poor job educating the public, or reaching their intended audience when lobbying for scientific causes - mostly because they suck at explaining their work in an accessible way. This creates a major empathy gap for people who could use Scientific principles to create change. Alda's crusade to infuse more public speaking and performance in science has clearly done much good, especially for students like me. There's a wealth to be gained, if only we learn how to translate it for others.
June 26, 2024
Alan Alda is a great narrator. Unfortunately, going into this book, I was expecting a lot more humor. Expectations aside, this book does a great job breaking down how and why we as people fail at communicating between one another, and provides ways to improve. It also demonstrates how better communication can help people in any scientific or mathematical field connect with others who have difficulty understanding those fields. Alda does a great job thoroughly explaining several concepts of communication. He doesn't use fancy jargon, but he also doesn't antagonize the reader by addressing you as if you were in kindergarten. It is clear, straight talk on the difficulties of communication and how to better understand one another.
March 30, 2020
As I was reading this I could easily read it all in Alan Alda’s voice. That’s how well he wrote it (and I guess his voice was more imprinted on my brain than I thought). He kept things interesting and relatable with a touch of humor. It felt like an enjoyable seminar I wish I could’ve attended in person. I’d recommend this book if your interests lie in teaching, science and public communications, or like me, you’re just an Alan Alda fan.
April 3, 2018
Heard about this on a podcast. Amusing and occasionally interesting, but not as instructive as I wanted. Apparently I need to join an improv class to become a better communicator... great. 🙄
September 20, 2017
Alan Alda will be presenting in the Twin Cities next week as part of the Pen Pals series, sponsored by the Friends of the Hennepin County Libraries. Learning of his appearance, doing some research about him, and reading this book has been a WHO KNEW? experience from beginning to end. First off, who knew Alda was a writer? I knew him as an actor, director, etc., but not as a writer. So I was surprised to find several books by and about Alda when I did a search at the public library. I decided to begin with his most recent publication, "If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communication."
Who knew that Alda hosted a television show called, "Scientific American Frontiers" from 1993 - 2005? Who knew of his intense fascination with science? Who knew that he founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science? Who knew? Who knew?
Here Alda explores how we can effectively communicate our ideas, zeroing in on scientists in particular. Being married to a scientist, and having spent a lot of time around scientists, I found the topic extremely interesting. However, there is much here that is applicable to all of us. I found his discussions of empathy and writing and literature and nonverbal communication particularly interesting, as these are all things I have taught. Alda's premises all make total sense, nothing totally earth shattering here really. The central question is whether or not he himself accomplishes the very thing he asks of scientists in the writing of this work of nonfiction. Does he effectively communicate his ideas? And if so, how? The answer is that, yes, he generally does communicate his ideas effectively - by not using jargon (loved the SCIgen discussion on pages 186-8!), by tuning into his improvisational training, by exhibiting empathy, by remembering his reader, etc. I am not a nonfiction reader, but I actually really enjoyed this book and look forward to hearing Alda talk more about it next week!
Who knew, Alan Alda? Who knew?
Who knew that Alda hosted a television show called, "Scientific American Frontiers" from 1993 - 2005? Who knew of his intense fascination with science? Who knew that he founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science? Who knew? Who knew?
Here Alda explores how we can effectively communicate our ideas, zeroing in on scientists in particular. Being married to a scientist, and having spent a lot of time around scientists, I found the topic extremely interesting. However, there is much here that is applicable to all of us. I found his discussions of empathy and writing and literature and nonverbal communication particularly interesting, as these are all things I have taught. Alda's premises all make total sense, nothing totally earth shattering here really. The central question is whether or not he himself accomplishes the very thing he asks of scientists in the writing of this work of nonfiction. Does he effectively communicate his ideas? And if so, how? The answer is that, yes, he generally does communicate his ideas effectively - by not using jargon (loved the SCIgen discussion on pages 186-8!), by tuning into his improvisational training, by exhibiting empathy, by remembering his reader, etc. I am not a nonfiction reader, but I actually really enjoyed this book and look forward to hearing Alda talk more about it next week!
Who knew, Alan Alda? Who knew?
September 10, 2018
Who knew that Alan Alda has been involved with teaching scientists and doctors to communicate with the rest of us since - well, at least since 2009, when he founded the Alda-Kavli Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook?
Not me. And I'm delighted that he has, and even more delighted that he wrote a book about his efforts.
As a teacher, coach, and consultant on topics of communication, conflict transformation, and empathy, I really appreciate Alda's insights as well as his tips and techniques, many of them learned through his days as an actor and in working with improvisation. I've happily adopted some of his ideas into my own work (with attribution, of course), and plan to explore the ideas of improv in the near future.
This is a fun AND informative look at what it means for all of us to communicate better - not just scientists or medical folk - and includes suprisingly easy and remarkably powerful experiments and practices that are helpful for anyone seeking to be a better, more empathetic communicator. Which, in this era of so much upheaval, really ought to be all of us
ALAN ALDA has earned international recognition as an actor, writer and director. He has won 7 Emmy Awards, has recieved three Tony nominations, is an inductee of the Television Hall of Fame, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Aviator. Alda played Hawkeye Pierce on the classic television series M*A*S*H, and his films include Crimes and Misdemeanors, Everyone Says I Love You, Manhattan Murder Mystery,and Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, and many more. Alda is an active member of the science community, having hosting the award winning series Scientific American Frontiers for eleven years and founding the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. Alda is the author of two bestselling books, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed- And Other Things I've Learned and Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself. Highly Recommend.
Not me. And I'm delighted that he has, and even more delighted that he wrote a book about his efforts.
As a teacher, coach, and consultant on topics of communication, conflict transformation, and empathy, I really appreciate Alda's insights as well as his tips and techniques, many of them learned through his days as an actor and in working with improvisation. I've happily adopted some of his ideas into my own work (with attribution, of course), and plan to explore the ideas of improv in the near future.
This is a fun AND informative look at what it means for all of us to communicate better - not just scientists or medical folk - and includes suprisingly easy and remarkably powerful experiments and practices that are helpful for anyone seeking to be a better, more empathetic communicator. Which, in this era of so much upheaval, really ought to be all of us
ALAN ALDA has earned international recognition as an actor, writer and director. He has won 7 Emmy Awards, has recieved three Tony nominations, is an inductee of the Television Hall of Fame, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Aviator. Alda played Hawkeye Pierce on the classic television series M*A*S*H, and his films include Crimes and Misdemeanors, Everyone Says I Love You, Manhattan Murder Mystery,and Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, and many more. Alda is an active member of the science community, having hosting the award winning series Scientific American Frontiers for eleven years and founding the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. Alda is the author of two bestselling books, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed- And Other Things I've Learned and Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself. Highly Recommend.
August 9, 2022
Alan Alda is best known for his acting career, particularly M*A*S*H. It is a disconnect to see he has written a book about communicating scientific and complex topics. But Alda has a strong interest in science and he has observed, applied, and taught techniques for improving communication. For example, he had a group of music students perform improv games like tossing an imaginary ball from person to person. The students had to watch closely how the person next to them is tossing the imaginary ball (what is the weight and size of the ball that the person is holding). The purpose of these exercises was to eventually get the students to feel more comfortable speaking in front of an audience to describe their pieces before each performance. Not only did Alda achieve that objective, the students also performed better after the improv games. Perhaps feeling more connected to people made the students also feel more connected to their performance.
February 3, 2020
This was truly a very interesting topic. I first became aware of this book when I heard Mr. Alda discussing it during a podcast interview.
While I really did enjoy the stories and concepts in the book, I think it would probably be a better TV series than a book. I think the things discussed in the book could possibly be understood better visually. But, by no means am I speaking poorly of the book. Do not be discouraged from reading it based on this review.
While I really did enjoy the stories and concepts in the book, I think it would probably be a better TV series than a book. I think the things discussed in the book could possibly be understood better visually. But, by no means am I speaking poorly of the book. Do not be discouraged from reading it based on this review.
August 23, 2017
Alan Alda isn't a scientist but does have an insatiable curiosity. I would have picked this book up for either the author or the content; the combination is perfect. Way more often than I'd be willing to acknowledge, I've watched a blank or questioning appearance appear upon the face of someone I was talking with. It soon becomes clear what I thought was a very cohesive and concise explanation flew through the ears of my companion without making a stop at the understanding part in the brain. What did I say? or What didn't I say? Alan teams with different people to try to understand the process.
I hope he does more of this type of investigation.
I hope he does more of this type of investigation.
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