W03 - Recommendation: "The Methods of Communication"

Last week I read Tuo Buhua’s "Methods of Communication." As a book about communication, it is written in a plain, fluent style and is especially easy to read. Its hallmark is that it derives from practice and returns to practice, which makes it well suited as foundational training material. Below I briefly outline the book’s main framework; if interested you can buy it or borrow my copy.

For popular nonfiction to sell well, it needs to combine "impact + practical relevance."

Start with a provocative viewpoint to offer fresh insight and spark reading interest. For example, communication is an "infinite game" whose ultimate purpose is to weave more constructive relationships into your web of life, nourishing that web so it continues to grow. The biggest problem in communication is that people assume communication has already happened.

Next comes methodology. I mainly reviewed this section, sketched the overall narrative framework, and distilled many communication techniques and guiding principles.

Structured listening. Communication is not about talking eloquently; it’s about listening. Listening requires attention to what is heard: information can pass from one ear to the other and the listener may retain only half of it — what matters is what that retained half consists of.

Listen for words and tone. The biggest variable in communication is the person. The book breaks communicators down into basic types and categories. Comparing people to different animals makes the profiles easy to recall.

Active responses. By analyzing complex communication situations, this section reduces responses to two tactics: emotional acceptance and affirming replies. These are especially useful in awkward, unmanageable, or even potentially hostile interactions.

Three core communication principles — openness, goal-orientedness, and constructiveness. These foundational principles apply across all scenarios and are explained in detail in the book. I believe these three address the most critical problems in communication: how to make others want to talk to you, what to talk about, and what benefits come from the conversation.

Finally, the book presents extensive case analyses of real-world scenarios. It can serve as a communication handbook to consult as needed. For example, it offers practical workplace guidance on icebreakers, coaching, handling performance conversations, and the value of considering multiple perspectives.