The Art of Playful Indifference directly from the author.
Learn the theory behind The Art of Playful Indifference in a series of online lectures by James Smith.
Presented on video and supported by diagrams, the lectures offer a clear and structured alternative to reading, ideal for those who prefer to learn by watching.
The complete six-hour series is available to stream for just £25, about the cost of an audiobook but with the added benefit of visuals.
**Available in March 2026**
Synopsis
The Art of Playful Indifference: How to be yourself and communicate with confidence, clarity, and wit.
This is not another manual of tricks for the socially anxious.
The argument is simple but counterintuitive. The more you try to be liked, the less likeable you become. Scripts and techniques, far from helping, pull you out of the moment and replace genuine connection with self-conscious performance.
Instead, the book (and online lectures), explore what effortlessly engaging and charismatic people do. Their charm does not come from rehearsed lines but from a state of ease. This ‘Playful Indifference’ frees up confidence, verbal agility and, at the higher ends of the spectrum, comedic improvisation.
Blending theory with diagrams and practical guidance, the author shows how to drop self-editing, rediscover spontaneity and approach social life with the ease and playfulness that lie at the heart of comedy. The result is not only sharper social skills but a more authentic and engaging way of being with others.