"From the time I first read this book in manuscript form, I knew that Sharon
was onto something extraordinary. Taking the War Out of Our Words
delivers every bit of its title’s promise, giving us simple, powerful tools for
breaking the cycle of defensive speech. This is truly a paradigm-shifting
book. We’re used to thinking that learning to communicate more effectively
has to be a struggle. With this model profound changes can happen so
quickly. It has not only helped me in my professional life and in my
marriage, but in parenting a toddler as well!"
—Caroline Pincus, manuscript consultant and former senior editor at
HarperCollins
Using Powerful Non-Defensive Communication, I feel like a camera body
that has just been given a new set of lenses. A set of lenses with no distortion.
No matter what I'm viewing, the images that come out of me are true.
—Jesse di Franco
A message that should be spread across the nation. So simple, I don’t know
why no one has discovered it before.
—Rob Merlo, engineer
The seeds of peace have been planted. I believe that if all children could learn
non-defensive communication at an early age, we would have a different
world.
—Linda Bennett, Thurston Middle School, Springfield Oregon
I have been able to test this method with the most difficult person in my life.
To my absolute amazement I was able to diffuse the anger and aggression in
an instant. I am actually able to speak without compromising my integrity or
becoming entrapped in power struggle. I am able to stay true to myself
without a need for masking my feelings in order to remained protected. I
believe this book may be preventing many years of unnecessary, damaging
stress to my life. I will return to it repeatedly as a resource.
—Tifanie Hayden
For centuries, Aristotle’s model for communication has been taught in
Western culture as the art of winning arguments. Powerful Non-Defensive
Communication replaces this traditional model with one that gives each
person the ability to communicate effectively without engaging in power
struggle.
—Dr. Martin Jacobi, Chair, English Department, Clemson University