Creating Conversations: Improvisation in Everyday Discourse

by R. Keith Sawyer

Conversation is one of those everyday, commonsense abilities that we can all do without thinking. But paradoxically, understanding how conversation works is one of the most difficult problems for scientists - for example, even after decades of research, computers are still miserable conversationalists. This text explores this how can conversation be so difficult, and at the same time come to us so naturally. The answer to the paradox is found in the creativity of everyday conversation. The author, a psychologist and an expert in the sciences of creativity of everyday conversation, shows that the same basic creativity - improvisational creativity - is found in conversation, jazz, children's play, and theatre.

Genres: Business, Communication, Psychology, Personal Development, Nonfiction

261 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read some really outstanding books this year, but this one might well take first place. If you are at all interested in language, how people interact, or improvisation, and the connections between the three, do NOT miss this one.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never seen a book quite like this and feel like I've found buried treasure since this book is no longer in print.

This fascinating analysis creates a extended comparison between our everyday conversations and our creative play and learning as young children using improv comedy as its metaphor. It's eye opening to see our own social skills through a new set of lenses. Already it makes me think of my interactions with others and about emotional/social intelligence in general in a completely different light.

An older book at this point (published in 2001) making some now outdated references to the internet, the facts and idea contained inside and points of contrast to other cultures are just as interesting today.