Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change

Rating:
Summary: An Empowering Text
Review: 'Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change' is the ideal gift for anyone who lacks confidence. I read the book and greatly enjoyed it, but as I have charisma, potency and a well-developed sense of 'self', it was not immediately applicable to my situation. So I called David Caruso and told him he should buy it. A month later he sent me this email:

'Schwarz, thanks for tipping me off. What a book! I only wish it had been around when I was in senior high. Being a slow learner, every day was toture. I was bullied, laughed at, locked in the toilet, glued to my chair, buried in the longjump pit and even mooned. And it was always by the same teacher. But since reading Sharon Anthony Bower's wonderful words, I can now assert myself. For instance, last week I went back to the bookshop and asked for a new copy because the one I'd been sold was stained. The woman behind the counter inspected the stains, looked at me and said, "Hey, I remember you from high school. The dumb kid who couldn't even read alphabet soup. Everyone! Look who it is... 'Cabbage' Caruso." Laughing hysterically as she superglued the book to the top of my head, she then said, "Get out of here, you pathetic little creep!" Recalling Sharon Bower's advice about 'controlling your time', I replied, "Okay, I'm going now." Schwarz, you have no idea how good I feel about myself. I'll see you at the Golden Globe Awards. They've put me behind the giant pillar in the back row, but that's fine. At least I'm INSIDE the theater this year. Regards, David.'

'Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change' will give those 'jellyback muscles' a real workout.

Rating:
Summary: Helped me in my job
Review: Being assertive was never easy for me, either I was too assertive or not assertive enough. By implementing some of the changes offered in this book, I have been able to stand my ground at work without seeming confrontational. The book has also helped me determine who is with me or against me. I found this book in the suggested reading section of Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey.

Rating:
Summary: Vote for this review, dammit!!
Review: I'm practising being assertive.

If you feel I've been successful, show it by voting "Yes" in the box below this review.

If not, then kindly keep your opinion to yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but...
Review: in many ways it's interchangeable with alot of other books on the topic of assertiveness out there. It's worth reading, certainly, I just wouldn't pay full price for it. The DESC model, and the quiz at the beginning to help the reader determine how assertive s/he currently is are great. The material on self esteem and stress were boring to me; I'd seen it before with other sources. Chapters 4 and 5 were the best; they got into the exercises/activities and the DESC model. The remaining chapters weren't as strong. The book started to drag at that point. That said, I do like that the author gave the reader alot of opportunity for practice; the exercises themselves are good. I just wish that there'd been more actual content and information. She could've done a supplemental workbook to include all the extra exercises.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This is a very good book. Unlike other books in this category which dish out a lot of advice, this book gives practical step-by-step instructions that can be easily implemented in real life. The authors have used some innovative techniques from the fields of acting and theatre into assertiveness training. Reading and rereading this book often will definitely help everybody to improve their own lives as well as the lives of people whom they interact with.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This is a very good book. Unlike other books in this category which dish out a lot of advice, this book gives practical step-by-step instructions that can be easily implemented in real life. The authors have used some innovative techniques from the fields of acting and theatre into assertiveness training. Reading and rereading this book often will definitely help everybody to improve their own lives as well as the lives of people whom they interact with.

Rating:
Summary: I WAS HOMELESS AND HUNGRY FOR 7 YEARS!!!
Review: Using the techniques of this book, I no longer am. I haven't
been for five years. And my family has not been homeless or
hungry for five years. We live in a beautiful apartment with
a pool and cable TV (one channel showing the front gate so that
homeless people won't bother US). HA! According to Joseph Wolpe
(pronounced WOOL-PEE), the father of Behavior Therapy, the point
of these books is to inhibit fear around people through Affection
or Anger just as relaxation is used to inhibit fear of bugs,
heights, or crowds in systematic desensitization (psychotherapy
through reciprocal inhibition). This particular text is the
favorite of the greatest researcher on depression of this or the last century (Dr. Martin Seligman, author of "Learned Optimism").
While homeless, I would use it in a free-floating style of going
nuts and then de-fusing my rage through positive action. This positive action. In this book. Strangely, while writing this review, I got a call from a bill collector. I am still hot.
I broke up her manipulative skills by just saying, "Go to the next step. I have no money right now. Cut off the big toe on
my right foot. Or whatever your next step is. Just do it. I
have no money right now. Goodbye." Voice was kept at a firm
range without any rage. I have been slipping back into the people-pleasing modality style. Don't do it. But the book
and save your life, your money, your sanity. Thank You.