He currently presents a daily daytime show on BBC 5 Live, and his unique interviewing style was recently recognised at the BBC Radio and Music Awards where he won Interview of the Year. It reads like an essay, or perhaps a dissertation in 277 pages: introducing the subject, taking the reader through the history of conversation, and then interviews with some 'conversation experts' including a police negotiator, politician in the Northern Ireland peace process, film maker, clinical psychologist and TV chat show host. From tracing the evolution of dialogue to discovering what lights up in the brain when we're enjoying a good discussion, Nihal speaks to the experts - from the board room to the criminal courts - to find why good conversation has eroded over time and how we can fix it. That being said, Arthanyake conducted some great interviews for the book and I enjoyed many of his/their insights into conversations and the psychology around the subject.

From tracing the evolution of dialogue to discovering what lights up in the brain when we’re enjoying a good discussion, Nihal speaks to conversational authorities including Lorraine Kelly, former president of Ireland Mary McAleese, Professor Tanya Byron, internationally bestselling author Johann Hari, Matthew Syed, and many more, to find out why good conversation has eroded over time and how we can fix it. It is entirely from the heart, an impassioned please for more meaningful conversation amid this era of online squabbling and all too easy animosity. Within the chapter “Conversations in Extremis” we are given insights into conversations with Paramilitaries, Neo-Nazis and Hostage Negotiation; where people with opposing views still find a way to communicate. The pandemic has exacerbated the trend towards fewer face-to-face interactions, while the growth of social media has led to heated arguments online. I enjoyed the fact that the author narrated the audiobook himself and it featured snippets of his interviews with some of the interesting people he talks to at work.Although the author brings out various valuable points on having better conversations with others, most are generic and easily accessible online.

To say I’m slightly addicted to listening to his voice through his Radio 5 Live show is downplaying it. A self-declared passion project which reminds a great radio presenter and his audience that we have two ears, should be curious and find common ground with enemies. In the post-covid world where you are more likely to converse over social media, Teams or chat apps we are losing the art of conversation, Nihal argues. I found the chapter on The Mechanics of Conversation fascinating; it highlighted how our stress response and the physiological markers change between different types of communication – nothing beats hearing a person’s voice when you communicate! Really enjoyed the writing style, but it felt like this was an autobiography packaged as something else.It’s a very personal anecdotal take on conversation, the basic principles are ones that have been repeated in various places so nothing really enlightening. a very impassioned defence of conversation as an art and one of the things that can save and retain our humanity in a world of GIFs and emojis and fifteen second digital dopamine hits. It’s a fascinating concept and one that maybe you have pondered when you are considering your communication with those around you, both personally and professionally. A book that involves some interesting information to glean about the art of talk, from some interesting people.

Ultimately, I dont think 'Let's Talk' delivers on this and feels more like a memoir of Nihal's radio career with the conversational advice being sparce and simple. It further invites me to look at how I communicate and learn from the people who fill my life which is no bad thing.

The only thing lacking for me was actual transcripts of the conversations, in raw form, before they are converted into the prose of the book. The overarching message for all these sub-chapters was to find someone willing to listen; find a common ground and slowly build trust. Which means not only can we become more effective communicators if we choose but that we should not let those who do not employ them off the hook when there is a better alternative.

You won’t get a textbook on how to have a better conversation, so if you are looking for a “how-to” guide, then I suggest you look elsewhere. In many ways this is not like any of the books I have read in the past, in the sense that this is not an easily read fiction book, or even an autobiography. Haven't got time to hang around and read great tips and advice on how to achieve your ideal work/life balance?

Throughout the book, we are shown the importance of a good conversationalist being driven by knowledge. First, the knowledge of who we are – the change in roles in a conversation based on the situation -, then understanding who we are talking to, and the confidence and comfort to challenge as well as defend your perspective with information. While effective dialogue is supposed to lead to greater fulfilment in our personal and professional lives, all the scientific evidence points towards us sharing fewer interactions than previous generations. Nihal has produced a fascinating, informative and nuanced look at the very nature and need for conversation. Host of Today in Focus the Guardian's flagship daily news podcast and one of the top ten most listened to podcasts in the UK.