If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating

Fans of the show MASH will enjoy just hearing actor and comedian Alda’s friendly, quirky voice. Of course, there’s humor here and there, but Alda’s intentions aren’t comic: his purpose is to help people learn to listen to each other and in turn to be better, clearer, and more empathic communicators. He shares his experiences teaching improvisation workshops at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in New York, where he and a variety of other researchers have explored how to improve communication in all aspects of life. He relays tips from these workshops, advising listeners to pay attention to body language, for example, and to hear what is actually spoken instead of thinking about what we are going to say or ask next. Alda’s charm, conversational style, and use of vocal cues will make the listener want to try the methods he describes. A Random House hardcover. (May)