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Summary: Descriptions are long...
Review: Read 2 pages 233-234 "A Difficult Conversations Checklist". In a simplistic view, these two pages are all you need from this book out of some 250 pages.... If you need to clarify and know more, read the subsequent section "A Road Map to Difficult Conversations" p235-248. This section resembles table of contents. Skim through this section and read sections that you don't understand. Very similar to Getting to Yes book in writing style. Some readers may get annoyed by overdescriptions and examples of the material.
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Summary: Life Changing!
Review: Get ready to do some serious emotional growing if you buy this book. The format makes it easy to read and understand the concepts AND put them into action. Although I've recognized my own poor communication skills in the past, I never had a method to break those patterns. Now I do and I already notice a huge difference in the way I speak to others and how they respond- conversations about touchy subjects are becoming more intimate (a deeper connection with others) and more effective.This book is for you if you're tired of: going on the defense or triggering others to be defensive, not being heard, feeling lousy after an argument, worrying about your identity (are you a good, competent, lovable person), and not being able to express yourself or not inviting others to express themselves. Many blessings to you along your path!
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Summary: I highly recommend it
Review: Buying this book is one of the best things I've done for myself in a long time. Within days of reading it I was having much more meaningful and productive conversations with my husband, co-workers, friends and family. I am a trained mediator and negotiator and still found the information in this book to go above and beyond my training. Although successful in negotiating for my company, I had a hard time standing up for my self on issues of a more personal nature - this book solved that problem almost immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Decent
Review: Decent book. Good refresher on dealing with others. But too touchy-feely for me.
Rating:
Summary: very highly recommended
Review: When I first picked up this book, I wasn't very optimistic about its content. I've got a rather solid background in conflict resolution and communication, have even taught courses in listening and small group communication. I assumed the book would be more of the same -- here's where you should nod, here's how you reflect, etc. I was pleased to find that I had misjudged the authors. Reading this book and truly incorporating its advice and philosophies can be a life-changing experience. The content here goes beyond technique and finds firm ground (surprisingly) in speaking about inner issues that arise during difficult conversations -- and it manages to do so without coming off as didactic or flakey. In fact, I would have to say that this is the first "self-help" book that didn't make me a little squirmy and rebellious -- I soaked up the information and found myself relying on the content in real life on a daily basis, and right away. I also have found myself evangelizing the book to a great extent, and have recommended it to friends I know who are having difficulty with family members, bosses, their children their neighbors -- as well as to a number of my clients who have expressed difficulty in managing up and/or down. There's something of value for just about anyone here -- even if you are already well-versed in communication and negotiation skills.
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Summary: mirror of your stress experiences
Review: This book is like a mirror which displays your soul. You can carefully reconstruct past quarrel and learn more about yourself. Just when I bought this book I had a problem with a colleague, applying the messages of the book I was straight away to the core of the problem.
After reading this book I state that nothing will change about problems you will have in the future, but you are probably better equipped to deal with them and realise that it is not a shame to feel frustrated about the absolutely normal friction in a human life. And you will have a better sense of situations which will have to go wrong, and that it is not your fault, and there is no need to blame yourself that the world is not perfect.
There is just no perfect solution to end a relationship, something has to go hot, but - and that makes the difference - you can learn beyond which border it is just a hopeless attack on your soul without any contribution to a solution which doesn't exist.
Rating:
Summary: Difficult Conversations
Review: Reading this book has changed the way I look at my conversations and relationships. It opened my eyes to becoming more effective with co-workers, family and friends. I have recommended this book to everyone that I have talked to that wants to make their home or work relationships better. This is a must for everyone's bookshelf.
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Summary: They are a fact of life, learn how to deal with them
Review: There's nothing like the difficult conversation that has to be done. You may have to tell a friend something that you know will hurt them deeply, you may have to tell the boss that you are quitting after many years of a friendly working environment, you may have to break off a relationship or who knows what else. Difficult conversations are a part of life and often a staple part of life with a teenager. That is where this book comes in. The authors discuss the structure of these conversations and how you can get to the heart of the matter with compassion and clarity so that each party gets through it as a team or with a minimum of emotional pain. It also examines why they are difficult conversations. In short it teaches how to examine situations in terms of how each person perceived what happened, how each person feels about the situation or is likely to feel when they are confronted, and the identity issues that are involved when discussing the subject. A fine book that will help many people learn how to deal with a difficult conversation, but should be augmented by "Words that Hurt; Words the Heal" or a similar text.
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Summary: A verbal awakening
Review: I have made a living based on the words and the ways they flow from my mind to mouth. I was certain "I" knew how to have a conversation. BOOM! I have rarely had a book open my eyes so wide. If everyone will read and apply the simple rules and understandings layed out between these pages, a whole new world. Unfortunately those of us that have read this will just have to suffer through those that have not.
Rating:
Summary: Great Stuff
Review: This is a great book - As a clinical psychologist, I find it helps couples get to the heart (which is what matters) quickly and efficiently. It is a primer for communications and quite useful in a therapeutic setting. I recommend it often.
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