How To Appear Wise: Illustrations that teach us how to rock small talk in any situation

From ordering wine to taunting classic car owners, a recent lighthearted article by Mr Porter teaches us how to appear wise in any situation, using six scenarios as examples – and all beautifully illustrated by Vincent Mahé.

In the 'handy cheat sheet', you'll learn how to impress in a first class restaurant when ordering fine wine or when musing over artworks in a prestigious gallery. You'll even get tips on successfully handling board meetings or becoming great company at a classic dinner party. Whatever the situation, Mahé perfectly illustrates each one with his usual quirky style.

As the article reads: "There are few things worse than the sensation, mid-conversation, of a trapdoor opening beneath your feet as you’re suddenly confronted with the murky waters of your own ignorance. Yes, in this digital world, we should be better informed than ever, such is the speed and ease with which we can access information. But it’s often difficult to know, out of all those crucially important things you ingest via Buzzfeed and Reddit, which bits of cognitive flotsam will keep you afloat in that most terrifying of environments, real life... With this in mind, we’ve put together the following guide to appearing intelligent, cultured, well-educated and captivatingly opinionated, even if you might not – currently – feel like any of those things."

Paris-based illustrator Mahé first came to our attention when he sent us details of his new book, 750 Years in Paris – offering a visual journey of his home city's architectural history and beauty. A somewhat humble creative, Mahé is fast becoming one of the most recognised illustrators to come out of France. Recent clients include the New York Times, The New Yorker and XXI Magazine. Discover more of his wonderfully bold and deliciously colourful work over on Behance.

How to appear wise... at an art gallery

How to appear wise... at an art gallery

How to appear wise... at a classic car show

How to appear wise... at a classic car show

How to appear wise... at a dinner party

How to appear wise... at a dinner party

How to appear wise... at a board meeting

How to appear wise... at a board meeting

How to appear wise... ordering wine at a restaurant

How to appear wise... ordering wine at a restaurant

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