Fixable The art of the interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin | from ReThinking with Adam Grant
20 snips
Dec 22, 2025 
Andrew Ross Sorkin, a renowned business journalist and author, shares his insights on the art of interviewing. He discusses the tennis-match dynamic of conversations, where the host must engage the guest while prioritizing the audience. Sorkin elaborates on managing difficult interviewees like Elon Musk and the importance of preparation in uncovering critical truths. He reflects on the psychology of powerful figures and the lessons drawn from his book about the 1929 stock market crash, emphasizing the need for humility and balanced regulation.
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Conversation As A Tennis Rally
- Great conversations are like long tennis rallies where both sides return the ball.
- Andrew Ross Sorkin says you want exchanges that test and reveal the other person's capacity to respond.
Prepare By Mapping Speed Bumps
- Prepare by finding the interview's speed bumps and put yourself in the guest's shoes.
- Read critical quotes aloud and label tough questions to make guests more comfortable answering.
Use The Four Walls Technique
- Use ordered questions to progressively corner evasive answers when needed.
- Build the conversation so earlier answers make it harder for guests to dodge tougher follow-ups.