How to Cope With People Who Drive You Crazy

Rating:
Summary: Guides you to think and act more clearly and be direct .
Review: I must have read many 10's of self-help books during the past 20 years in an effort to sort out in my mind, how to interact with people in such a way that I do not compromise my own true feelings, whilst at the same time be fair with those same people.
I should explain that at various times in my life I have attended church (Protestant) partially in an effort to learn the 'Christian way' of working with people.
I constantly heard that you should show love, turn the other cheek and so on.

Well, I tried this way many times in and to be fair, it has had it's share of success in that people have reciprocated likewise. However, there are many people who look upon the attitude of showing Christian love as a weakness and I feared laughed behind my back. To add to the insult I despaired and felt angry that 'the Christian way' did not work consistently.
It was so refreshing to find Dr Hauck's book in my local lending library that I read it straight through in one sitting.
I had heard of 'assertiveness' previously, but it all seemed too complicated in that much thought had to be given before you replied during dialogue with others.
Whereas, with Paul Hauck's version, you sort your whole fairly simple philosophy beforehand and then act in accordance.
This book also showed me just how silly some of my thinking had been wrong over the years. For example, I totally feared being rejected. Dr Hauck put it quite simply that rejection was not the worst thing in the world to fear and life could still go on quite successfully.
He had me 'in the palm of his hand' by now and sure enough I changed my attitude to that advocated by the author with a close member of my family. Previously, I did everything in my power to stop a split between us and suffered by that person(s) thinking they could do what they liked and I would always be there. I disliked myself for allowing me to be treated that way.
Along came this book and I sorted myself out and changed my attitude and 'took on' this person(s) in a way that left my self-esteem intact.
I have to report that the person(s) has indeed rejected me, which is sad, but I can now see that it is not the absolute end of the world as I had previously thought.
If the person(s) concerned want to come back into my life sometime in the future, it will be on an understanding that it must be mutually beneficial and not just satisfactory for them. As Paul Hauck states they have been shown some 'tough love'.
I am so convinced that Dr Hauck has the best approach for human relationships as we understand them at this time that I went out and purchased 5 copies of his other titles.
One vitally important point is that this author does not use 100 words when 20 will do. I wish that I could meet this author face to face so that I could tell him that he has helped me 'grow up' in my dealings with others many years ahead than would have been the case I not visited my Library on that particular day.
Thank you Dr Hauck from the bottom of my heart.

Rating:
Summary: Develop a strategy to enable you deal with awkward people
Review: Life throws up many hurdles that must be overcome if we are to develop and mature as decent human beings. Of all the 'tests' that we must surmount, surely one of the most difficult is dealing with people who make our lives a misery.
We have all met them: the 'control freak', the 'spoilt brat', the 'pessimist' (loser)and so on.
'They' might be a work colleague, boss, brother, sister or parent for that matter. Whoever they are, it is likely that you cannot cannot easily get them out of your life.
By the same token, as you read through this excellant book by Dr Paul Hauck, you might just recognise yourself as having some of the characteristics mentioned above. If so, you will have no excuse in doing some self-improvement to make life happier for those you come into contact with.
The author makes it extremely plain that it is unlikely that the person with objectionable behaviour will change to someone more acceptable merely by you pointing out their faults to them. NO, he is quite definate in saying that in order for someone to change it is YOU who will have to change first.
He is critical of those of us who are too passive or tolerant in accepting extreme behaviour. He states quite rightly 'that you get the behaviour that you tolerate'. Another way of putting it is 'we must teach others how to treat us'.
On the other hand, he states that one option you have is to accept the obnoxious behaviour of these people.
Paul Hauck does not promise of guarantee satisfactory outcomes, quite the opposite, he states that those objectionable people quite often reject you, temporarily at least.
To some people this might seem like the end of the world, particuarly if the perpetrator is your spouse. The author writes truthfully that rejection by another is one of the most common fears humans have, but says that you will get used to it in time. To back this statement up he sites that life goes on after someone dies which in some respects is not unlike being rejected.

No, most of us have an unreal way of dealing with difficult people and nothing changes other than an increase in our frustration.
As an example, he quotes several biblical references about showing love in order to get people to like you. As a sometime church-goer myself I have tried the Christian way in dealing with difficult people and it has been nothing less than an unqualified failure. Not always, but too often.
After reading this book I now feel much happier within myself and no longer fear dealing with people whose attitudes cause much unhappiness.
This is a great book at such modest cost - buy it, study its contents and put it into practise. You won't be sorry.