Asking “how did you get into that?” turns small talk into something you’ll actually remember.

Most small talk stalls because the questions can be answered in three words. Asking how somebody ended up doing what they do invites a story instead, and stories come with detail, accidents, people and reasons, which is what makes a conversation worth remembering. It also hands them something they are glad to talk about, since very few people ever get asked.

Use that question once this week on somebody whose work or hobby you know nothing about. Stay quiet and let the answer run. Then follow up on whatever surprised you most.