Dr. Alison Wood Brooks: Why Conversations Fail

By: Ellis, Margaret

In a world where communication is constant yet understanding is increasingly rare, Dr. Alison Wood Brooks: Why Conversations Fail offers a compelling and deeply insightful exploration into the hidden forces that undermine human dialogue. Written under the pen name Margaret Ellis, this book draws on behavioral science, psychology, and real-world observation to explain why even well-intentioned conversations so often end in confusion, conflict, or silence. Rather than treating miscommunication as a personal flaw or social accident, the book reveals it as a predictable outcome of how the human mind processes words, emotions, expectations, and social cues.At the heart of this work is the idea that conversations do not fail because people lack intelligence or sincerity, but because they unknowingly operate under faulty assumptions. Readers are guided through the subtle psychological mechanisms that distort meaning, including overconfidence in being understood, emotional interference, mismatched goals, poor timing, and the illusion of shared understanding. The book explains how tone, pauses, silence, and nonverbal signals often communicate more than words themselves, and how these elements are frequently misread, especially in high-stakes or emotionally charged interactions.
The book also addresses modern communication challenges, including digital conversations where messages lack facial expression, vocal nuance, and immediate feedback. It demonstrates why text-based communication is particularly vulnerable to misunderstanding and provides clear, practical strategies for reducing conflict and increasing clarity in professional emails, personal messages, and online discussions. Throughout the narrative, research-backed insights are translated into practical guidance that readers can apply immediately in their careers, relationships, and daily interactions.
Designed for professionals, leaders, students, and anyone seeking stronger personal connections, this book bridges academic insight with everyday relevance. It empowers readers to recognize conversational breakdowns as they happen, recover from misunderstandings, and design conversations that foster trust, cooperation, and emotional safety. By shifting the focus from talking more to communicating better, Dr. Alison Wood Brooks: Why Conversations Fail transforms conversation from a source of frustration into a powerful tool for influence, understanding, and connection.
This book is an essential read for anyone who wants their words to land as intended and their conversations to lead to clarity rather than confusion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GCPQ47BJ
• ISBN13: 9798241190635
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"