The art of conversation can’t be spelled out in an easy how-to guide. There’s no sense planning out good conversations or trying to rehearse small talk for a night out with friends. Great conversations arise naturally. But it’s not a bad idea to think of some good table topics, interesting questions, and good conversation starters to kick off what might become a lively discussion if friends take interest. It’s always nice to have a few good conversation questions and discussion topics at the ready to help engage everyone in a fun chat.
Conversation Topics: Movies, Books, and Music
You can learn a lot about a person and their tastes by what films, literature, and musical artists they love most. Favorite movies, books, and music always make an interesting conversation topic for a group of friends. A simple way to start a conversation on art is to ask friends about their top five movies, books and albums, or, for a little twist, ask them what albums, books, and movies they’d bring with them to a deserted island. There are many interesting ways to start a conversation on this table topic. Try a few of these conversation questions about movies, books, and music:
- Which albums, films, and books are you ashamed to admit you love?
- What movies have you seen more than once in theaters?
- What’s the last album you listened to all the way through?
- What’s the one book you think everyone should be required to read?
- If you could do away with any movie sequel, or front the money to make a sequel that has yet to be made, what would it be?
- If you were teaching a class on music, film, and literature, what would be on your syllabus?
- If you could form a super group of musicians, past or present, which musicians would you choose?
- If you could resurrect one artist, who would it be and why?
- What is your favorite monologue from any novel, play, or film?
- Which character from films or literature would you most like as a husband or wife?
- If you could put several characters from different films or works of literature into one new film or novel, who would they be?
Conversation Topics: Biographies and Autobiographies
Among friends who already know each other well, basic biographical conversation questions make for a boring topic. But fun questions about hypothetical biographies and autobiographies can often be a great way into an interesting conversation. Start a conversation by asking friends how they would write their own autobiographies—what information they would include and omit, what details are most important, etc. Continue with these conversation questions about biographies:
- If you arranged information in your autobiography thematically, which events in your life would you group together?
- What would you like the full title of your biography to be?
- If you could or had to omit one very important event in your life from your biography, what would it be?
- If you had to write an autobiography in only six words, what would it be?
- Which author or filmmaker would you choose to write/direct your biography/biopic?
- What would the chapter titles be for the various epochs in your life (i.e., infancy, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, adulthood, old age)?
- If you had to choose one event in your biography to typify your life, what would it be?
Conversation Topics: Politics, History, and World Affairs
For heavier conversation, politics, history and world affairs make for excellent fodder. Sharing serious opinions on these great conversation topics is often the best way to get into a very serious conversation or debate. Conversations and questions about politics can be some of the most engaging, leading beyond mere small talk into genuinely intelligent and interesting conversations. Try some of these interesting questions to start a fun conversation on politics, history, and world affairs:
- If you could make one amendment to the laws of your country, what would it be?
- Who do you think most deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?
- If you could resurrect any deceased historical figure to aid in world affairs, who would it be?
- How would you design your perfect city?
- Which historical event would you have most liked to attend?
- If you could quit your job today and devote your life to a single cause, what would it be?
- Is it ethical for an affluent people to indulge in luxuries while other people starve?
Conversation Topics: Bear vs. Shark
For totally lighthearted small talk, try the old parlor game conversation starter called “Bear vs. Shark.” It’s a simple hypothetical: in an arena with water deep enough for a shark to swim around in, but shallow enough for a bear to walk through easily, which animal would win in a fight? Other match-ups can make for equally interesting conversation starters: Three Bull Elephants vs. a T-Rex, Tiger vs. Alligator, Giant Octopus vs. Giant Squid, etc.
The Art of Conversation and Further Question Ideas
These conversation starter questions are merely avenues into a great conversation. To keep a conversation interesting, be open to any table topics that might arise or stem from these topic ideas, and be ready to answer, honestly and engagingly, any of these same questions. Conversation starters are simply seeds from which a plant can grow.
The art of conversation is about enjoying oneself, finding something one can speak about comfortably and naturally. Often times too much preparation is a bad idea. Just start conversations on topics of interest and follow them along. One need only choose conversation starters that genuinely interest them, rather than reciting empty lines, and all social occasions can be fun.
Related Articles:
 |
