Most of us are under verbal attack everyday and often don't realize it. In "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" you'll learn the skills you need to respond to all types of verbal attack

In this volume, the author extends her remarkable self-defense tactics against verbal abuse to the business world. Using fully dramatized scenarios that make effective business communications as exciting and suspenseful as a novel, she shows you how to quickly recognize verbal abuse ... gently defuse it ... and replace it with clear, courteous, effective communication.

For some employees, verbal abuse can be the everyday language of doing business. Defending yourself from these verbal abusers—calmly, professionally, and successfully—can be crucial to your on-the-job success. Nationally recognized linguistics expert and author Suzette Haden Elgin applies her acclaimed techniques for combating verbal attacks to common workplace situations. Powerful yet unthreatening, her proven strategies will help you recognize and defend yourself from verbal abuse—everything from casual obscenities and racist or sexist language to sarcasm, cutting jokes, and subtle put-downs. Richly illustrated with fully dramatizes scenarios and real-world examples, Dr. Elgin’s communication techniques will help you instantly take control of any verbal confrontation. You’ll also learn how to avoid “malpractice of the mouth” and sexual harassment; communicate sensitively and clearly with non-native English speakers; and project a strong, straightforward, and trustworthy image. You’ll find tips for handling sensitive issues via email and voice mail, advice on meeting the communication challenges that face home-based and virtual businesses, and plenty of “workouts” placed throughout the book to give you valuable opportunities to practice your new skills. The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work is your roadmap through the potentially career-threatening minefields of workplace communication.

Verbal Judo is the martial art of the mind and mouth that can show you how to be better prepared in every verbal encounter. Listen and speak more effectively, engage people through empathy (the most powerful word in the English language), avoid the most common conversational disasters, and use proven strategies that allow you to successfully communicate your point of view and take the upper hand in most disputes. Verbal Judo offers a creative look at conflict that will help you defuse confrontations and generate cooperation from your spouse, your boss, and even your teenager. As the author says, "when you react, the event controls you. When you respond, you’re in control." This new edition features a fresh new cover and a foreword demonstrating the legacy of Verbal Judo founder and author George Thompson, as well as a never-before-published final chapter presenting Thompson’s "Five Universal Truths" of human interaction.

In this book, the author shows you how her revolutionary system of language behavior can guide you to better health and help you overcome stress-building hostility and develop strong social support networks; defuse tension, minimize conflict, and increase peace of mind; replace harmful negative thinking with healthful positive thinking; perceive yourself as someone in control rather than as a victim. In addition, you'll discover several simple techniques to help you feel in control over painful symptoms. You'll also see why your body's natural painkillers are more effective than any pain pill could be.

From the author of The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense comes this new book on how to control language behavior advantageously and trigger positive responses from listeners.