A visit from Professor Adler is always a treat. On this occasion-sparked by his latest book, How to Speak and How to Listen-he reminds us that real conversation doesn't come naturally. We have to work at speaking clearly and listening attentively just as we have to work at writing clearly and reading attentively. WFB: "What are the responsibilities of the speaker to attract that kind of attention? Should you be able, as a finished listener, to listen to dull people?" MA: "No, any more than you should be able to read well a bad book."