The Secret to Engaging Dinner Conversations
Dinners are often a jumble of people gathering under the same roof for refreshing drinks and delicious homemade food. Because of this, conversations can be nothing more than an awkward explanation of what everyone does for their living. You can do better! Instead, start like this.
According to Daniel Menaker, author of Good Conversation , it’s best to direct the conversation to “third things.” This means that the conversation is not about you, not about them, but about some other third topic. So try to get away from questions like “What do you do for a living?” or “How do you know such and such?” and bring up a challenging topic that won’t be too controversial.
Okay, what are some good examples of these “third things”? In their book, Branch Is Hell: How to Save the World by Hosting a Dinner Party , authors Rico Galliano and Brendan Francis Newman offer three themes that seem to always be relevant: science stories, suitcases (new words made up of other, real words ), and unusual art exhibits. These topics are rarely offensive or too controversial, but they still get everyone to share their thoughts. So, when people start gathering at your next dinner party, pulling out the latest scientific study that everyone is talking about, or talking about the zedonk being a zebra mixed with a donkey, or mentioning the time you went to the Ice Cream Museum … Another secret to great conversation at a dinner party? More wine. To your health!