Award-winning teacher Mary Lou Walker presents 10 clear rules to making conversation rewarding and fulfilling in this casual compendium of wit and wisdom. Positing that conversation groups, or colloquies, make the perfect social antidote in today’s culture of tweeting and texting, she infuses each step with valuable life-lessons to help develop character and likability while mastering the art of engaging with others through dialogue. Ideal for starting colloquies in the living room, classroom, or public library, her instructions include: “don’t steal the subject,” “probe, don’t pry,” “don’t take the bait,” and “think before you speak.” Through real-life examples, Mary Lou demonstrates how to “speak easy” with civility on all matters from high brow to low brow, with no topic off-limits.