Stephen Miller is a freelance writer and a contributing editor to The Wilson Quarterly. His essays on leading eighteenth-century writers have appeared in many magazines, including the Times Literary Supplement, Partisan Review, and Sewanee Review.

"'A charming (and alarming) history of conversation, as elegantly affable as the conversationalists Miller admires... And the measure of his book is that it makes one want to rush out and converse about it.' Michael Bywater, The Independent 'In its disarming fashion, Miller's book has some harsh things to say about the home of free speech.' Will Cohu, The Daily Telegraph 'A funny and trenchant study... The inclusions range from the Book of Job to blogs and chat rooms, with amusing digressions on everything from Spartan pederasty to Bill Clinton... Thankfully, this entertaining study will enliven many a dinner-party discussion.' Alexander Larman, New Statesman 'Miller takes us on a lightning ride through 2,500 years of attitudes towards the subject... This book is important in alerting us to the value of a kind of exchange too often dismissed as "having a chat".' Alain de Botton, The Times"

Stephen Miller is a freelance writer and a contributing editor to The Wilson Quarterly. His essays on leading eighteenth-century writers have appeared in many magazines, including the Times Literary Supplement, Partisan Review, and Sewanee Review.

"'A charming (and alarming) history of conversation, as elegantly affable as the conversationalists Miller admires... And the measure of his book is that it makes one want to rush out and converse about it.' Michael Bywater, The Independent 'In its disarming fashion, Miller's book has some harsh things to say about the home of free speech.' Will Cohu, The Daily Telegraph 'A funny and trenchant study... The inclusions range from the Book of Job to blogs and chat rooms, with amusing digressions on everything from Spartan pederasty to Bill Clinton... Thankfully, this entertaining study will enliven many a dinner-party discussion.' Alexander Larman, New Statesman 'Miller takes us on a lightning ride through 2,500 years of attitudes towards the subject... This book is important in alerting us to the value of a kind of exchange too often dismissed as "having a chat".' Alain de Botton, The Times"

Stephen Miller is a freelance writer and a contributing editor to The Wilson Quarterly. His essays on leading eighteenth-century writers have appeared in many magazines, including the Times Literary Supplement, Partisan Review, and Sewanee Review.

"'A charming (and alarming) history of conversation, as elegantly affable as the conversationalists Miller admires... And the measure of his book is that it makes one want to rush out and converse about it.' Michael Bywater, The Independent 'In its disarming fashion, Miller's book has some harsh things to say about the home of free speech.' Will Cohu, The Daily Telegraph 'A funny and trenchant study... The inclusions range from the Book of Job to blogs and chat rooms, with amusing digressions on everything from Spartan pederasty to Bill Clinton... Thankfully, this entertaining study will enliven many a dinner-party discussion.' Alexander Larman, New Statesman 'Miller takes us on a lightning ride through 2,500 years of attitudes towards the subject... This book is important in alerting us to the value of a kind of exchange too often dismissed as "having a chat".' Alain de Botton, The Times"