Summary

David uses a language instruction course regularly called Pimsleur which comes in handy on his travels. However, he is still often misunderstood, even at home in Sussex, not because of his American accent but because he deviates from the social script by asking questions and trying to start off-topic conversations with people like supermarket cashiers. Pimsleur has made David hyperaware of the most common phrases he hears in a day and he has begun writing them down. He imagines putting together an English language program for business travelers to the United States to help them navigate service culture and avoid upselling, which David hates. David's imaginary guide offers plenty of humorous and unconventional responses to challenge the stock phrases that we are all so used to hearing and saying to make polite but disinterested and disingenuous conversation with strangers. Instead...