Alison Wood Brooks

Alison Wood Brooks is an American behavioural scientist and professor at Harvard Business School, and one of the leading researchers on the psychology of conversation. Her book Talk synthesises her renowned research — on how to ask questions, manage anxiety, persuade and connect — into an evidence-based Harvard Business Review-honoured manual for better human communication.

Brooks has studied the science of first impressions, small talk and interpersonal anxiety, and her findings have been featured worldwide. Her writing and teaching are popular at business schools and have helped launch the "science of conversation" as a practical discipline for professionals and everyone else.