Rating: 
Summary: Better Outcomes for Difficult Conversations
Review: "Delivering a difficult message is like throwing a hand grenade." For that matter, receiving a difficult message is like catching one.This book deals with the essential dilemma of communicating about unpleasant issues. The Harvard Negotiation Project's Doug Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen create an analytical framework by pointing out that each difficult conversation has three components: the factual narrative (least important), or the "What Happened?" Conversation, the Feelings Conversation, and the Identity Conversation. How each person perceives the Three Conversations will affect the course of the conversation. Insight after insight about how to turn a difficult conversation into a Learning Conversation unfold in this very solid book. I liked this book so much I bought a personal copy (now battered) after reading our public library's copy. Anyone who deals with clients, customers, friends or family can benefit from the structures in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A keeper!
Review: This book was highly useful. It really explained what causes conflict in relationships and how to talk to the people in your life about important issues in a way that is respectful and will likely preserve the relationships. The material on "The Three Conversations". as well as some of the specific techniques suggested, were particularly useful. I noticed a change in my ability to handle stressful issues immediately. The only thing that kept the book from getting 5 stars is that I did find the latter part of the book simplistic, particularly the material on listening. Again, this would be a terrific book to put on a syllabus for a communications class.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, therefore practical
Review: This is the most thought-out negotiation book I could ever think of. The authers led me to the comprehensive understanding of all elements of negotiation so that their guidance will absolutely work. This book changed me to enjoy engaging in emotionally charged difficult negotiation. Now I can be so much creative while improving my integrity and then feeling so good about myself. Yes, this is what most people already gave up on long time ago, but the structured approach in this book brought me to true joy in the most challenging negotiation. //
Rating:
Summary: It's About Life...
Review: Life is all about relationships, and this book is about life. Whether at work or at home, all of us come across difficult conversations - they're inevitable. When we get stuck, it's refreshing to know that there's a way out. That's what makes Difficult Conversations so special. Heen, Stone, and Patton share insights on how to get past arguments of right versus wrong, blame versus defend, and other obstacles to effectively dealing with our differences. The framework is simple and elegant, while at the same time explored with remarkable depth and breadth. There's a wonderful story about a student and his Aikido master. Watching his teacher demonstrate a technique, the student said, "Master - what amazes me is that you never lose your balance". The master replied, "You are wrong. I always lose my balance. The secret is that I regain my balance faster." Difficult Conversations has done exactly that for me. I've discovered ways to regain my balance when it comes to difficult conversations, faster. My copy is tattered and highlighted more than any of the recent books I've read. I found that it got even better with each chapter. The last half of the book was especially good. When it all came together at the end (the last chapter is excellent), I closed the book, thought about what I had just read, and began reading it all over again. Why not have more of a good thing? Like going for seconds.
Rating:
Summary: Practical, wise and gentle
Review: This is an excellent book. By dropping your ego at page one, you can gain insight into what makes conversations so difficult, especially with those closest to you. Some amazon.com reviewers have missed the point of this book when they write that the authors suggest giving up your "side" of a difficult conversation in order to be more open to the other person. What the authors are really saying is that difficult conversations remain that way precisely because no one begins the process of dropping judgemental behavior, and truly finding the truth behind the difficulty. This is a skillfull book that if read thoroughly and applied in life, will positively affect the results of your most difficult conversations.
Rating:
Summary: Dealing With Tough Talk
Review: This book proposes an interesting "framework" to approach difficult subjects and one that will work most of the time with most people. Obviously some people are just unable to reason rationally, but most people are able to if approached in the proper manner. I would highly recommend this book to people who are not in the business of teaching interpersonal skills. Those who are in the business will not be hurt by the authors skillful illustration of many difficult conversations and the way in which they recommend that the converations take place. However, as far as the basic message of the book, people in this business should already have that message; but people not in the business of mediation or negotiation have these 'difficult conversations' without a plan usually, and this book helps people to develop one, and therefore, not meet the subject with avoidance.
Rating: 
Summary: Offers useful truths
Review: This book taught me a few things and gently reminded me of a few others. I had hoped that reading this book would make me better able to navigate difficult conversations. Instead, I found myself merely able to regain my composure faster *after* a difficult conversation. This benefit is valuable, but is not what I sought.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Being a lawyer, perhaps this all seemed self-evident to me, but there was little in this book that was new or innovative, either in the techniques or the way to think about them. I felt like I wasted money on this book.
Rating:
Summary: ...and three hours later I knew I had my answer!
Review: Wow...what a book! I found myself in a bookstore one day--slightly depressed, and wondering if their might not be some other book that I hadn't read that might help me out of the pits I was finding myself in. I already had a cache of some dozen books on interpersonal communication but was feeling not satisfied with what I had found. I walked over to the 'self-help' section, stuck my hands in and pulled out, 'Difficult Conversations...' I found myself a comfortable chair and three hours later I knew I had my answer. No, I didn't read all of it, merely scanned it but it was enough. That was a number of weeks ago and I'm now on the sixth time through! I've high-lighted and/or underlined virtually every page in the book. Then, I purchased several copies for some family members AND today picked up a hardback edition for my ever growing library. My life has changed and I have a new lease on life. Thanks to the writers of this wonderful book. Now I want them to create a workbook so that we can start support-groups and help others. This is a book that should be taught in the schools and churches to be sure. You will not waste your money on this one folks . . . trust me!
Rating:
Summary: Greate book for managers
Review: This book not only help me to deal with difficult conversations. It also allows me to help other people in handling this kind of issues. It offers practical and step by step instructions on what to do and what to say. The only thing I wish it had is a template.
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