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Talking to 'Crazy'

How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life
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( 2,112 ratings, 255 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Talking to 'Crazy' by Mark Goulston provides insightful strategies for effectively dealing with irrational and difficult people, particularly in business settings. The book combines practical advice and real-life examples to teach readers how to manage emotional turbulence and communicate more effectively. With techniques rooted in psychology, it aims to improve both personal and professional interactions by fostering understanding and empathy.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are looking to enhance your communication skills and navigate challenging conversations in the workplace or in personal interactions. It's ideal for those interested in learning techniques to empathise and connect with people who exhibit difficult or irrational behaviour, offering practical advice for smoother, more effective dialogues.

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What can you do with a boss who bullies, a spouse who yells, or a friend who frequently bursts into tears? In his breakthrough new book Talking to Crazy, psychiatrist Mark Goulston says the key to handling irrational people and turning threats into allies is to learn to lean into the crazy---to empathize with it!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

No matter how hard you try to reason with irrational people, it never works. So how do you talk to someone who just won't listen You can't win by ignoring the insanity, and you can't argue it away. However, you can stop it cold.

Top-ranked psychiatrist and communication expert Mark Goulston shows you just how to do so in this life-changing book for everyone trapped in maddening personal or professional relationships.

Goulston unlocks the mysteries of the irrational mind, and explains how faulty thinking patterns develop. His keen insights are matched by a set of counterintuitive strategies proven to defuse crazy behavior, along with scripts, examples, and exercises that teach you how to use them.Β 

In Talking to β€œCrazy”, you will learn:

  • Why people act the way they doΒ 
  • How instinctive responses can exacerbate the situation, and what to do insteadΒ 
  • When to confront a problem and when to walk awayΒ 
  • How to activate the Sanity Cycle, which quickly transforms you from threat to allyΒ 
  • How to use 14 simple yet effective communication techniques, including assertive submission flattery, the kiss-off, and more

You can't reason with unreasonable people, but you can reach them. Talking to β€œCrazy” shows you just how easy it is to do it.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mark Goulston's Talking to Crazy offers insights into dealing with irrational and difficult people by understanding their defence mechanisms, thereby making personal and work life less stressful. The book provides practical advice, often described as counter-intuitive yet effective, for diffusing conflicts and improving communication with challenging individuals. Praised for its common-sense approaches and humour, this guide is considered essential for anyone navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, making it a notable addition to business and self-help literature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780814439296

Publisher: HarperCollins Focus

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 July 2018

Country: United States

Imprint: Amacom

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Marshall Goldsmith
  • Foreword by Marshall Goldsmith

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 299g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Mark Goulston is a business adviser, consultant, coach, speaker, and psychiatrist. The author of Get Out of Your Own Way and other popular books, he blogs for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, and Psychology Today; co-hosts a weekly radio show; and is featured frequently in major media, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Newsweek, Time, CNN, Fox News, and the TODAY show.

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