Let's Talk About Hard Things
- Downloads：8943
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-07-17 07:51:10
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Anna Sale
- ISBN：1501190245
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
From the host of the popular WNYC podcast Death， Sex， & Money， Let’s Talk About Hard Things is “like a good conversation with a friend” （The New Yorker） and an invitation to discuss the tough topics that all of us encounter。 “You will laugh， cry， nod in recognition， and by the end， feel like no topic is off-limits when it comes to creating meaningful connection” （Lori Gottlieb， author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone）。
Anna Sale wants you to have that conversation。 You know the one。 The one that you’ve been avoiding or putting off， maybe for years。 The one that you’ve thought “they’ll never understand” or “do I really want to bring that up？” or “it’s not going to go well， so why even try？”
Sale is the founder and host of WNYC’s popular， award-winning podcast Death， Sex， & Money， or as the New York Times dubbed her， “a therapist at happy hour。” She and her guests have direct and thought-provoking conversations， discussing topics that most of us are too squeamish， polite， or nervous to bring up。 But Sale argues that we all experience these hard things， and by not talking to one another， we cut ourselves off， leading us to feel isolated and disconnected from the people who can help us most。
In Let’s Talk About Hard Things， Sale uses the best of what she’s learned from her podcast to reveal that when we have the courage to talk about hard things， we learn about ourselves， others， and the world that we make together。 Diving into five of the most fraught conversation topics—death， sex， money， family， and identity—she moves between memoir， fascinating snapshots of a variety of Americans opening up about their lives， and expert opinions to show why having tough conversations is important and how to do them in a thoughtful and generous way。 She uncovers that listening may be the most important part of a tough conversation， that the end goal should be understanding without the pressure of reconciliation， and that there are some things that words can’t fix （and why that’s actually okay）。
Touching， personal， and inspiring， Let's Talk About Hard Things is a profound meditation on why communication can connect us instead of divide us and how we can all do it better。
Anna Sale wants you to have that conversation。 You know the one。 The one that you’ve been avoiding or putting off， maybe for years。 The one that you’ve thought “they’ll never understand” or “do I really want to bring that up？” or “it’s not going to go well， so why even try？”
Sale is the founder and host of WNYC’s popular， award-winning podcast Death， Sex， & Money， or as the New York Times dubbed her， “a therapist at happy hour。” She and her guests have direct and thought-provoking conversations， discussing topics that most of us are too squeamish， polite， or nervous to bring up。 But Sale argues that we all experience these hard things， and by not talking to one another， we cut ourselves off， leading us to feel isolated and disconnected from the people who can help us most。
In Let’s Talk About Hard Things， Sale uses the best of what she’s learned from her podcast to reveal that when we have the courage to talk about hard things， we learn about ourselves， others， and the world that we make together。 Diving into five of the most fraught conversation topics—death， sex， money， family， and identity—she moves between memoir， fascinating snapshots of a variety of Americans opening up about their lives， and expert opinions to show why having tough conversations is important and how to do them in a thoughtful and generous way。 She uncovers that listening may be the most important part of a tough conversation， that the end goal should be understanding without the pressure of reconciliation， and that there are some things that words can’t fix （and why that’s actually okay）。
Touching， personal， and inspiring， Let's Talk About Hard Things is a profound meditation on why communication can connect us instead of divide us and how we can all do it better。
Reviews
Verónica Fleitas Solich
，
A simple and sincere approach to life experiences that can become foundations to analyze and internalize our behavior and reactions in similar situations to those narrated and shared by the author。It's interesting but deep down I think it lacks a bit of sustenance to be a book。 A simple and sincere approach to life experiences that can become foundations to analyze and internalize our behavior and reactions in similar situations to those narrated and shared by the author。It's interesting but deep down I think it lacks a bit of sustenance to be a book。 。。。more
Arathi Nobles
，
Let’s talk about hard books to read。Disjointed and not particularly interesting。 Struck me as her personal book of healing from her divorce interwoven with random and not particularly great anecdotes。
Kate
，
I'm a fan of Anna Sale's NPR show Death， Sex and Money， and when another NPR program， All of It， named Sale's book as their June pick for their Get Lit Bookclub I was eager to read it。 I opted to listen， which was great because it's read by Sale herself， which in a way made it feel like I was listening to a really long episode of her show。It is a quick read/listen， broken up into 5 chapters where Sale interviews several people from various backgrounds and experiences with the topics of: Death， S I'm a fan of Anna Sale's NPR show Death， Sex and Money， and when another NPR program， All of It， named Sale's book as their June pick for their Get Lit Bookclub I was eager to read it。 I opted to listen， which was great because it's read by Sale herself， which in a way made it feel like I was listening to a really long episode of her show。It is a quick read/listen， broken up into 5 chapters where Sale interviews several people from various backgrounds and experiences with the topics of: Death， Sex， Money， Family and Identity。 I enjoyed listening to real people explain their individual experiences and it definitely made me reflect on my own take on all five topics。 It helped me to realize that there are some hard things I need to talk about with family and friends， and I'm hoping that when the time is right to have those conversations， I'll remember a lot of what I read here to help get me through。I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Death， Sex and Money， and/or to anyone who is interested in learning more about how to dive into the idea of talking about the things we find most difficult。 。。。more
Leeah
，
I really liked this！ Lots to think about， lots of tidbits to try。 And， yes， you’ll sob like a baby at least once so don’t read it on a crowded plane。
Shawna
，
Thoughtful， thought-provoking and very well-written。 I really appreciated the author's willingness to be vulnerable and share her personal stories。 Love her podcast， love the book！ Thoughtful， thought-provoking and very well-written。 I really appreciated the author's willingness to be vulnerable and share her personal stories。 Love her podcast， love the book！ 。。。more
Grace Mitchell
，
Maybe overly formulaic but still a worthy read！！
Guinevere Mare
，
（Audiobook）
Lisa
，
Very good book - reflecting on having hard conversations。
Kristen
，
Anna Sale is an amazing interviewer- both intellectual and socially intelligent。 I learn so much from her podcast and this book is a wonderful extension。 At times， though， it does read a bit like an NPR’y advice book。 And- I missed her adorable laugh。
Heather
，
As a long time listener of Anna Sale's podcast Death， Sex & Money， I was very excited to listen to this audiobook。 Her voice is so soothing and engaging。 The book is divided into five sections: Death， Sex， Money， Family， and Identity。 She does a thoughtful， intense deep dive into all these topics。 The stories and advice will stay with you。 As a long time listener of Anna Sale's podcast Death， Sex & Money， I was very excited to listen to this audiobook。 Her voice is so soothing and engaging。 The book is divided into five sections: Death， Sex， Money， Family， and Identity。 She does a thoughtful， intense deep dive into all these topics。 The stories and advice will stay with you。 。。。more
Tiffany Jackman
，
I usually don’t read books like this but I found this book really insightful。 I appreciated the different perspectives presented on all the “hard” topics and found myself relating to at least one persona in each chapter。 Even if I didn’t relate， each perspective was fleshed out enough that I understood where they were coming from。 It is truly an “invitation” to have conversations about the things that make us uncomfortable。
Emily Mayer
，
I’m a huge fan of Anna Sale’s “Death， Sex and Money” podcast， and was hoping this would read similar to her episodes。 While portions of the book had notes from interviews that were close to that of the podcast， this book was a little too “how-to” for my taste。
Scott Schneider
，
I sort of expected a self-help book but this book is more about why hard conversations and conversations in general are helpful。 Many good examples and good stories。 Very thoughtful。
Beth
，
I like that this is instructive as well as exemplary。
Anna Smith
，
This book said nothing new or insightful， honestly I was disappointed in it。
Katrina Rigsbee
，
This was such a comfort。 A beautiful collection of difficult topics。
Kelly
，
A nice little gloss on death， money， sex， family， and identity。 There isn't exactly a lot that's new here， but having it in one place is cool。 A nice little gloss on death， money， sex， family， and identity。 There isn't exactly a lot that's new here， but having it in one place is cool。 。。。more
Angie
，
I enjoy Sale's podcast Death， Sex， Money， so was eager to pick up this book about how to have the hard--but vital--conversations with the people in our lives about death， sex， money， identity， and family。 This is less of a how-to guide and more of a persuasive argument to stop avoiding these complicated subjects， and how having these conversations can bring about greater self-awareness and connection。 Sale intersperses her own autobiographical conversations as well as interviews and anecdotes fr I enjoy Sale's podcast Death， Sex， Money， so was eager to pick up this book about how to have the hard--but vital--conversations with the people in our lives about death， sex， money， identity， and family。 This is less of a how-to guide and more of a persuasive argument to stop avoiding these complicated subjects， and how having these conversations can bring about greater self-awareness and connection。 Sale intersperses her own autobiographical conversations as well as interviews and anecdotes from others about the conversations in their own lives。 。。。more
Gwendalyn
，
4。5I love the podcast and now the book。 Some repeats from the show but not an issue。 Conversations are hard but being vulnerable， doing the work can make relationships better。
Allison
，
I liked this pretty well， though it’s a bit uneven in quality。 I’m not sure the nuanced podcast concept of Death， Sex & Money quite translates to book format， especially when so much is gained from hearing the stories themselves。 Even so， I think the “death” section is the strongest and has some gems。
Sakinatul Aminah
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 From this book I can learn from someone's experience to be used as a life lesson From this book I can learn from someone's experience to be used as a life lesson 。。。more
Meredith
，
I enjoyed Anna's writing style very much， and think the concept she communicates is a very good one--that people should get comfortable talking about difficult topics。 My main critique is that I was expecting to come away with concrete advice for how to discuss hard things gracefully--those nuggets are definitely there， but I think the stories she uses to illustrate her points are sort of more memorable and so the lessons get a little lost。 I enjoyed Anna's writing style very much， and think the concept she communicates is a very good one--that people should get comfortable talking about difficult topics。 My main critique is that I was expecting to come away with concrete advice for how to discuss hard things gracefully--those nuggets are definitely there， but I think the stories she uses to illustrate her points are sort of more memorable and so the lessons get a little lost。 。。。more
Jovanna Ayala
，
I learned quite a bit about difficult conversations and I enjoyed the book very much。
Jameil
，
I really enjoyed this book。 I especially found the section on identity appropriate for the kinds of conversations around the rights of trans people， immigrants and BIPOC to be treated like human beings that are happening constantly today。 I would have liked a section about friendships as that’s what I picked it up for but still a good read。
Amma
，
I really enjoyed this read。 So many brave and honest stories。 Favorite section/chapter was 'Identity' with the conversations about 'Death' coming in a close second。 I really enjoyed this read。 So many brave and honest stories。 Favorite section/chapter was 'Identity' with the conversations about 'Death' coming in a close second。 。。。more
Philipp Renner
，
Rather boring read unfortunately。 No really interesting or novel ideas。
Amanda Hilde
，
This book had a great overview on how to handle the toughest aspects of life， essentially the transition points。 I read it mainly for the section on death and grief。 I definitely will be reading many of the works she references and I will check out her podcast at some time。
Blaire Malkin
，
A fast read in which I could clearly hear Anna’s voice。 It was interesting to learn from her experience about what works in how to listen and to how to discuss difficult topics。 Knowing so many of the people in the book definitely added to the reading experience。
Kathy Jackson
，
I really like the identify area of the book。 I think I can use some of this with students。
Sandy
，