Offers advice on identifying the verbal bullies in one's life, determining the difference between abuse and "kidding around," turning negative comments to one's advantage, and delivering verbal defense appropriately and confidently

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

You're no idiot, of course! You know it's not wise to venture into a dark alley alone late at night, and you always tell your kids not to talk to strangers. But when it comes to preventing--and handling--an attack against yourself, your home, or your family, you feel closer to the Cowardly Lion than Braveheart. Don't buy a bulletproof vest just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Self-Defense is your best bet for maximum protection, short of hiring an NFL lineman as your bodyguard. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Why is it that some women expect men to "just know" what they want? Or, why is it that some men find it difficult to express their feelings, leaving the females in their lives confused? Here's the book that helps readers communicate their feelings and finally understand what the men and women in their personal lives, as well as in the workplace, are thinking and why they act the way they do. This fascinating book discusses the differences in the way the opposite sex communicates including body language and conversational styles and shows readers how they can overcome communication barriers and improve their relationships. Couples learn how to become sensitive to each other's emotions and figure out if their mate is "in the mood," having a bad day, and more.

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.

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.