If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face? by Alan Alda Summary
Overview of If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face?
Emmy-winner Alan Alda reveals the science of connection in this game-changing guide. Can empathy be learned? Discover why improv techniques revolutionized doctor-patient outcomes at his Stony Brook University center. A Kirkus-praised masterclass in reading faces that's transformed scientific communication nationwide.
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Key takeaways
When a Dentist's Blade Taught an Actor Everything About Connection
Picture Alan Alda, the beloved face of M*A*S*H, sitting in a dentist's chair as the practitioner casually mentions "some tethering" before slicing into his mouth. Too intimidated to ask what that meant, Alda walked out with a severed maxillary labial frenum and a permanent droop where his trademark smile once lived. That botched procedure became his awakening: communication isn't about words-it's about whether the person across from you actually understands what you're saying. This painful lesson launched decades of exploration that would eventually make his work required reading in medical schools nationwide. What Alda discovered goes far beyond avoiding medical mishaps. It reveals something profound about how humans connect, why we so often fail to understand each other, and what we can do about it.
The Art of Actually Being There and the Mirror That Reveals Everything
The Neuroscience of Understanding and Reading What's Hidden
When Science Meets Storytelling and Improvisation Transforms Labs
The Unexpected Power of Yes And and Why Teams Really Work
Why Stories Stick When Facts Don't and How Narratives Couple Our Brains
The Dance You Can't Rehearse
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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