Small talk has been a pain point for me for years, but it sank to new lows at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was at the playground one day, sweating in a K-95 while pushing my maskless ...

Want to stay current with Arthur’s writing? Sign up to get an email every time a new column comes out. As a rule, I avoid social and professional dinners. Not because I’m anti-social or don’t like ...

You’re standing in line at the supermarket or drugstore when a stranger speaks up. “Hello, how are you?” the stranger greets you. “Good, and you?” might be your response. Your conversation partner ...

Spending hours at the playground is a rite of passage and an almost-daily ritual for many parents … as is making awkward conversation with others who are in the same boat. But fast-talking mamas ...

Learning how to get better at small talk might not seem like much of a conversational superpower. Arguably everyone’s least favorite part of socializing, surface-level chitchat can be awkward, ...

In a world where our digital devices have become extensions of ourselves, it’s no surprise that we often immerse ourselves in screens rather than engage with the world and people around us. From ...