Author: Charles Duhigg

In “Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection,” Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg explains what a “supercommunicator” is, and why we might want to refine our communication style to become more like one.

“Conversation is the communal air we breathe. All day long, we talk to our families, friends, strangers, coworkers, and sometimes pets,” Duhigg — author of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better” — writes in the book, which was published earlier this year.

But, he adds, not all forms of communication — or types of conversations — are equal. Why does communication sometimes fail to, well, communicate?

The book offers many practical insights into the science and art of effective communication, focusing on how people can improve their ability to connect with others and within themselves.

It highlights strategies that great (or “super”) communicators use to build stronger relationships. It discusses different types of conversations, offering practical tips on how to engage in meaningful dialogue, avoid miscommunication, and align with others’ perspectives.

Duhigg emphasizes that anyone can become a “supercommunicator” by learning how communication functions and by applying certain techniques in everyday interactions, whether personal or professional.

He also examines how communication can help shape and restructure relationships, careers and entire societies, offering specific examples alongside scientific research, common sense insights, and practical advice.

Once you reach a certain level of awareness, Duhigg suggests, one can master the art of meaningful conversation, leading to deeper connections.

Perhaps the most compelling reason why this book is a must-read comes from the author himself. “Supercommunicators aren’t born with special abilities — but they have thought harder about how conversations unfold, why they succeed or fail, the nearly infinite number of choices that each dialogue offers that can bring us closer together or push us apart,” he writes. “When we learn to recognize those opportunities, we begin to speak and hear in new ways.”

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” published in 1948, is a short story set in a small and seemingly typical community that performs an annual lottery ritual.

The townspeople seem to be in a celebratory mood as they congregate, although conflict underpins their relationships.

Every household draws slips of paper to reveal a “winner” who is subsequently stoned to death by the community.

This startling ending exposes the negative aspects of conformity and tradition, therefore challenging readers to consider society’s standards and the nature of human aggression.

The narrative exposes the possibility of violence in daily life and questions mindless loyalty to traditions. Examining Jackson’s book offers a strong reflection on the dehumanizing nature of society’s rituals and the perils of unquestioned compliance.

Emphasizing how common people can engage in violence when mindlessly following tradition, the story’s modest environment contrasts strongly with its terrible ending.

The lottery shows how societies can preserve cruel behaviors in the guise of tradition by symbolizing arbitrary justice and the scapegoating system seen in many civilizations.

Jackson’s use of foreshadowing — through minute cues and the villagers’ nervous behavior — creates a sense of approaching catastrophe that culminates in the startling turnabout.

This study of human nature and social complexity challenges readers to explore the moral implications of their own views and deeds.

Jackson gained popularity with her short stories and books that regularly explore darker corners of human nature.

Her investigation of the nuances of gender roles, identity and the supernatural changed the psychological horror subgenre.

Among her best-known works is “The Haunting of Hill House,” which was adapted into a Netflix series.