- The Art of Witty Banter: Be Clever, Quick, & Magnetic (2nd Edition) (How to be More Likable and Charismatic)

We all know when someone's witty or excels at banter. They're magnetic, socially suave, and they're popular. They can dish it out as well as they can take it. It makes them more interesting and less one dimensional. This book is excellent at providing frameworks for understanding wit and banter. This makes it much easier to provide witty replies on the fly. Instead of having to think of something on the spot, you can closely wait for someone to say something, and then immediately filter it through the frameworks you learned in this book and provide a witty reply. There's one HUGE caveat though (and everyone else is right)... some of these can make you look like a real A-hole. These work best with someone you're genuinely close with or comfortable around. Otherwise, you'll risk offending 80-90% of the people around you. .. especially if you often use sarcastic replies. If you do decide to use those, you better be self-deprecating as well so that you don't look like a bully. However, that caveat can be your greatest strength. Do you have a coworker or friend in your social group who's rude to you? It's easy to get emotionally flustered and not be able to think of a reply on the spot. However, this book arms you with the tools needed to easily deal with people like that. So the next time you encounter them, you'll be calm because not only are you prepared, but you'll be excited for the moment to put them in their place, making you come out on top. You'll have verbal daggers ready to launch at them, and it will be easy to employ - because the frameworks make it easy for you. There are plenty of examples provided as well. Think of this book as a guide to verbal jiu jitsu. You don't want to use it offensively. But it's a great tool to have in your social toolkit, and it will definitely arm you with a layer of self defense.

Most of the time conversation is an almost automatic act. We don’t think of the purpose and direction of the conversation. This book makes a stab at that meta approach - think about ‘conversational acts’. The author is clearly an amateur but he still has some decent points. At times the book sounds like it is written for someone on the spectrum who has to fake empathy and emotion, but other parts are more informative. I think the author would have benefited from doing more research on the topic. What I really liked were the summary chapters - books like this are often tediously long and filled with millions of anecdotes. After reading the first chapter I went to the summaries and they were all I needed and quite succinct. I may go back to one of the chapters, but kudos for that innovation! Keep writing! I wish I could!

I gave it 4 stars because there were some pieces of advice that didn't really resonate with me, but there were definitely some good tips to remember.

Helps explain conversation skills that are simple but extremely useful! Definitely worth the time to sit down and read. Has real world applicability.

This is the 3rd book I've read from the author. It's a very informative guide to explaining things we have already experienced in our everyday lives. Interactions with people are not equal, some are good and some are awkward and this book explains why and details how to get the chemistry going that sometimes happens naturally and sometimes does not. I bought the 9 pack of books from this author and am excited each time to start the next. Highly recommend

Meh. Not bad could have been a lot better. It is a fast read but it is less about about learning to be a witty banterer or clever ways to respond to peoples comments instead focusing on the fundamentals of how to start a basic conversation with someone without it sounding like small talk. I could see this useful to people trying to learn conversational English or for extreme introverts, but the title is very misleading. This book/The Author does have some thoughts but there is a lack of examples for the topics being discussed.

I have yet to come across a book that breaks down wit like we used to diagram sentences in the third grade...until now...and I loved it! (But listen, I am no longer a nerd!) Patrick has logically and intentionally organized this book to help those of us that cannot help themselves effectively move up the banter ladder without outside help. It starts with broad fundamentals and then moves into advanced, specific themes like sarcasm done right and employment of wit. I, in the spirit of self-improvement, took notes and plan to use the techniques daily. They really do work. Kevin breaks them down to help you exercise them easily too. I didn't feel as though this had a style of only one humorous person - like Ryan Reynolds. Both women and men could run these plays with successful results. Life can be a party if you make it one, and you can be the life of the party with these specific, explained and funny tips. I was not paid or promoted to post this review.

God I’m witty and clever now- thanks to this book.

Inspiring book

Very pleasurable to read and inspiration to spice up conversation with strangers and friends!

It was funny 😁

This book will give you some direct strategies you can apply right now on how to be a more strategic, effective, and extremely attractive conversationalist.

Fantastic! Easy to follow and perfect if you are looking to improv your conversations, rapport and connection with others! Sometimes we think people are either funny or not, charismatic and likeable or not, but this book really demystifies that and shows how you can learn to bring humour into interactions and become confident with simple mind shifts and practice!