Barbara Walters’ best-selling book “Audition” has been a treat to read. What a remarkable life she’s lived and what a trail she’s blazed. I would so love to meet her, share a cup of tea, and express gratitude for the example she’s set and the contributions she’s made. I just might write a letter to her at “The View” to say exactly that.
And within her book, she mentions another book she wrote in 1970 called, “How to Talk with Practically Anybody about Practically Anything.” A used bookstore found the book and shipped it my way, and I’ve enjoyed every page. If you’ve ever wondered how to talk with celebrities, tycoons, royalty, politicians, and just about anybody, this book is for you. Even though this book was written in the 1970’s, its remarkable how timely and useful her tips deliver, even though times have changed so dramatically since then.
Since I’ve been doing a lot of research about bios and how to tell others’ stories, I enjoyed some of these great conversation starting questions. Barbara Walters writes:
- What is the last year has given you the most pleasure?
- What do you like and dislike about yourself?
- For what act or achievement would you most want to be remembered?
- What is your favorite book and why?
See if these questions help you get the magic that is behind your story.