(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Do you ever walk into a party where you hardly know anyone and immediately wonder, “Who am I supposed to talk to?”, and then, ”What do I say?” If so, The Art of Mingling is the book for you.
This practical guide is packed with advice for navigating social situations, especially for those of us who aren’t naturally comfortable mingling. Author Jeanne Martinet covers everything from choosing someone to approach, coming up with conversation starters, and just as important, gracefully escaping a conversation when you’ve become stuck with someone. She even explains how to recover after saying the “wrong” thing. What do you do if you want to later connect with someone you’ve just met? She addresses that also.
I especially enjoyed the specific examples of what to talk about, whether you’re mingling for friendship, romance, business, or simply to have a good time. There are also useful tips for handling awkward situations, such as forgetting someone’s name, or not knowing anything about a news story everyone else seems familiar with. One unexpected tip that really stuck with me was the danger of sitting down when almost everyone else is standing. I had never thought about it before, but now I’m aware!
Personally, I didn’t care for the last section of the book, explaining the subject matter in terms of Taoism. However, it may appeal to some.
The updated edition also addresses our increasingly digital world and offers advice on mingling with people who have opposing political views while maintaining your own principles.
Overall, The Art of Mingling is an easy-to-digest, practical book filled with concrete examples that can make socializing feel a little less intimidating, and maybe even enjoyable.