52 pages • 1 hour read
Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al SwitzlerCrucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What techniques do the authors use to portray emotions?
The authors explore the concept of “safety” in the context of crucial conversations. Does this book take into account gendered power imbalances when exploring “safety”? Write an essay with an argument in the affirmative or negative.
The authors frequently use the word “mutual,” for example, “Mutual Purpose.” What is the significance of this word in the book?
How does this book use and subvert the conventions of the self-help genre?
Author Al Switzler gave a talk on crucial conversations for the Crucial Learning Speakers Bureau. Compare this speech with the book. How do his rhetorical strategies differ when speaking and writing on the topic?
How does the book represent authority figures or superiors in the workplace?
The authors often write down dialogue to show readers examples of crucial conversations. How do they convey nonverbal communication and body language?
How do the authors represent cultural differences in terms of their impact on crucial conversations?
Compare Crucial Conversations to a book in the business subgenre of nonfiction. To what extent does Crucial Conversations fit into this subgenre?
How does this book represent the differences and overlaps between the personal and the professional?
