>>531390346
it's 90% faking it, you don't have to care about their interests but caring about what makes them interested helps. you don't have to make friends with everyone but it's easier if you can at least be friendly. pretending is the grease that makes social interaction go smoothly.
if you have to read the carnegie book or think of it like playing the fucking morrowind NPC feelings wheel minigame with everyone you come across, so be it, either way you can and should grind it like any other skill before you become an actual boomer