Reviews (58)

Brilliant and Funny
This book hit the nail on the head for me. It helped me extricate myself from a life time of having to deal with my mother's emotional blackmail, PLUS confront my own maladaptive patterns that were equally bad. Uncannily enough, I had saved photocopies of a pile of letters I had sent to a long-term past boyfriend with whom I had a dysfunctional relationship. I went through all of those letters and underlined all my blackmailing tricks and named which category they belonged to. What a revelation and how wonderfully freeing. I then prayed that God would give me the courage to overcome these ways and replace it with courage and insight to be honest. Wow! I've never looked back ... only to consult the book every now and again for a booster! And to re-read those letters for a laugh.
I loved this book - It really helped!
I was fortunate to find a great book that explains how people displace negative feelings onto others - and how to respond to that.This is a great resource - thanks!

This can be a life-saving book!
If you think you might be a victim of a parent or loved one who is using emotional blackmail to manipulate you and keep you from growing or changing, then this book is for you.
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Subjects:  1. Control (Psychology)    2. General    3. Human behavior    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Manipulative behavior    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (12)

READ ALL ABOUT IT**** THE REAL STORY
The truth of the matter is:
Victim Mentality
This is a snippet of an essay by Dr. Robert Westermeyer, an outstanding addiction counselor...
good book a little longer to get
An excellent book for those who are continuing recovery! We already have the scattered bits and pieces of information, now what do we do with them and how do we integrate them into our lives and become the people we were born to be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Codependency    2. Family life    3. Neurology - General    4. Popular works    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Self-care, Health    8. Substance abuse    9. Self-Help / Substance Abuse    10. Separation & divorce   

Reviews (4)

A must read for teens, adults and parents!
Dr. Grandin has taken her knowledge, expertise and sensitivity one step further in Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. She offers many ideas for those affected by or those working with these individuals. This area is filled with people of talent who are underemployed. An example of one of the suggestions offered - an individual who is interested in cartoons and spends their days drawing - all day - being encouraged to go to a museum of cartooning, learning about different kinds of cartoons, the history of cartoons which expands their interest - meeting others with the same interest. It is not enough to have a talent or the intellectual ability to understand complex things. Without work, Dr. Grandin explains, her life would not have had order, content or meaning. She covers many different kinds of jobs that people on the autism spectrum can accommodate to and ones that would be more difficult for them. The book is well thought out and because Dr. Grandin is herself on the spectrum and spends so much of her time speaking to others at her many presentations she has analyzed a great deal of what works and what does not. This book is an absolute must read! I run a large group for parents, professionals and individuals and it is one of my first recommendations. This book gives concrete suggestions and hope.

As a parent of an Asperger teen, this book was confirming and enlightening
As a parent of a teenager with Aspergers, alot of Ms. Gradin's recommendations confirmed what I already thought: sell the skills not the personality, go into areas where your interests/fixations lie and consider working as a consultant in your area of expertise.Finding recommendations I already thought of didn't make me feel like those parts of the book were a waste.On the contrary, it is nice to have affirmation from an outside source, particularly one intimately knowledgable of autism.
Ways to use special interests for people with ASD/AS!
I have read all three of Temple Grandin's books. Each offers a different look at what it is like to experience Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In "Developing Talents" Grandin provides the readers with insight into how parents and educators can assist people with High Functioning Autism/Asperger Syndrome (HFA/AS)achieve success. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Career/Job    3. Careers - General    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Learning Disabilities    6. Psychology    7. Vocational    8. Advice on careers & achieving success    9. Coping with disability   

Reviews (666)

Real life example.
My nephew is 21, a college senior, and last week his mother yelled at him because he keeps getting a certain ringtone on his cellphone.She yelled because that ringtone is reserved for the girls he no longer wants to see, but who keep calling him constantly anyway.His mom yelled because she thought he should be honest with them, but he "just couldn't be that mean." He preferred to tell them he was too busy and then just stop calling.And you know what?Very few of them take the hint.They need this book -- stat.If you keep calling, texting and emailing a guy and he never answers or is "too busy," he's not busy, or scared, or confused about his feelings - he's just not that into you.Believe me, Behrendt is onto something.When my nephew wants to date a girl, nothing stops him from seeing her.It's that simple.

Saved me from relationship hell
Admit it or not,this book speaks the truth.We just need reminding not to settle.Practical, funny, witty and every woman's must-read!

Eye opening stuff
This book was very useful and eye opening. In a very honest, fun and frank way, Greg explains there are no mixed messages and that men are not complicated, but terrified to tell a woman directly "you are not the one". It is very useful so that women don't waste time making excuses for these men and move on to find the one guy who is really into them. I would also recommend reading "How to create a Magical Relationship" from Ariel and Shya Kane, which is a very simple and direct guide to have satisfying, honest, fun and magical relationships. The Kanes' approach is gentle and full of wisdom and gives a fresh take on a world that keeps wanting to divide men from women.It also really explains how to keep relationships alive and fully in-love, which is absolutely the next step after he is totally into you!!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. General    5. Interpersonal Relations    6. Love & Romance    7. Love / Sex / Marriage    8. Man-woman relationships    9. Men    10. Psychology    11. Rejection (Psychology)    12. Topic - Relationships    13. Family & Relationships / Love & Romance   

Editorial Review

"What is 'effectiveness' in a family?" asks author Steven R. Covey. He promptly answers with four words: "a beautiful family culture." Building this culture is the primary theme of Covey's parenting guide, a manual based on concepts introduced in his blockbuster, Read more

Reviews (43)

Life Changing
Some of this is just common sense. But some of this was life changing for my family.
Old concepts repackaged and regurgitated
All Covey is saying in his longwinded book, basically, is this: Listen to the people you love. Put the family first in all your decisions. Blah blah blah and something about synergy.
Well Packaged, Well Presented, Needful Message
I listened to the Audio CD version of this book.The presentation was well organized.With breaks built in for thought, action and reflection.
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Subjects:  1. Communication in the family    2. Family    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Family Relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. Parent and child    8. Reference    9. Marriage, family & other relationships   

Reviews (111)

NOT Manipulative
I'm a recently divorced 50-something-year-old woman. I only vaguely remember what dating is all about/like, and felt I needed a 'brush-up course' before tackling the now (increasingly frightening) dating world. I chose "Men are Like Fish..." because it was a cute title, and I was intrigued by the fact that it is written from a MAN's perspective. Being manipulative, coy, or false in any way does not figure in to Mr. Nakamura's advice. This refreshingly honest book advises leading with your brain, but following with your heart - advice that I have given my daughter - but had forgotten for myself. I'm sending this book to my daughter ASAP, as it's really about being happy and sharing that appropriately and safely with interesting men.

If someone is giving you the keys to the kingdom, why would you refuse?
I loved this book and Mr. Nakamoto is really giving us women the keys to the kingdom.Men Are Like Fish should not be overlooked.It is filled with many "cheat sheets" that you can use to quickly check the pulse of your current relationship (or of the current man in your life).If, after having compared the relationship to Mr. N's key points, you still think your man is worth spending more time with, then you can give a little slack on the line but you'd probably want to check back in a week or two to check the temperature of the waters.If the waters haven't changed, then you have your answer and you should jump ship as fast as you can or you're headed for the falls.I see no problem with having this book around, it can also be used to measure your other relationships.Many of the items on his lists, you may already know in your heart; but, wouldn't it help to have it handy to remind you what's really important to consider when you want the relationship to last a long time?If you can put up with the constant references and metaphors to fishing, this book is very easy to read.(I can't seem to get into the other guy's book, He's Just Not Into You.)Buy Men Are Like Fish, you won't regret it.It's worth the tiny investment.It's your happiness that's at stake here after all.

YUK
This is the worst book on the subject that I have read.It is not written well - or even easy to read for that matter and with advice like have good skin, have a pleasant voice and don't have an opinion that is contradictory to your date's, Nakamoto's book is shallow and unhelpful. Other books on the subject like He's Just Not That Into You are much more realistic, empowering and helpful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dating (Social customs)    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Love & Romance    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Man-woman relationships    8. Mate selection    9. Men    10. Psychology   

Reviews (336)

Great Book
This book makes you realize things that are obvious but women don't see.I loved this book and recommended it to my girlfriends.The great part is that it changed me and the way I think when it comes to men.Loved it.

Great Book
This is a great book for women who have just broken up with someone or who are having a hard time meeting decent men. It's also a great book for women who are doormats when they meet and date men...they give him too much too soon, before he even earned it. I would recommend it only for these women (when I read the book years ago, I was in a relationship where I was definately a doormat, and it really helped me raise my self-esteem and change the relationship for the better). This book will help make unhealthy relationships healthier.
Some good advice, but goes a little too far
I think the main premise of this book is wonderful: a woman should not make her whole life about the man she is dating.It also gives helpful insight into why a man doesn't appreciate a woman who gives him everything.However, to go as far as the author advises would push many men away.After a period of time, a relationship should be a 50-50 partnership, and the author doesn't recognize this.What woman wants to play these "hard-to-get" games for the rest of her life?I don't! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dating (Social customs)    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Life skills guides    6. Love & Romance    7. Love / Sex / Marriage    8. Mate selection    9. Self-esteem in women    10. Single women    11. Marriage & relationships   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (49)

Different Approach to Relationships
I used to think that if I just found the "perfect" way to do relationships, I would never get hurt or have my heart broken.
True Love
C. S. Lewis is a great thinker and whatever he writes, he writes well. This book compares and contrasts the four kinds of love that one can personally experience and personally manifest towards others. It can definitely improve your love life!
Amazing analysis of loves
I was not especially expecting to be engrossed by a book about four greek words, but I was wrong.This was one of the better books that I have ever read.Lewis overviews each of the four types of love:storge (affection), phileo (friendship), eros (romantic love), and agape (charity or God-love).Each discussion was extremely insightful, especially the friendship one.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Interpersonal Relationships    4. Christianity - Literature    5. Inspirational - General    6. Interpersonal Relations    7. Love    8. Love (Theology)    9. Religion    10. Religion - Classic Works    11. Religious aspects    12. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    13. Religion / Christianity   

Reviews (26)

Best on communication ever
This book is the best on communication I have ever read!It has a thorough understanding of the problems of communication and provides a most practical approach to enhancing it.

If you are ready to giveup on your marriage, READ THIS FIRST!
Quite seriously, this book is amazing.Attend a workshop if you can or take a class that examples the ideas.
A Good Book
Its been a little while since I read this book, but I recommend it to all that might benefit from it. Being a psychologist, I may have a bit better insight into relationships than most, but alas, my own marriage did come to an untimely ending.Nevertheless, I'd encourage all couples (both members) to give this book a read...who knows, it just might save your marriage (no guarantees though)...
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Subjects:  1. Communication    2. Interpersonal communication    3. Interpersonal relations    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Marriage    6. Psychology    7. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy    9. Psychotherapy   

Editorial Review

As a follow-up to his bestselling book Read more

Reviews (88)

I Read a Lot of Relationship Books, and this is a Top 5-er
I absolutely recommend this book. It has helped so much. The philosophy that you can change the dynamic of your relationship only by changing your behavior which will thereby change your partners responses, is the best way to go. Take responsibility that something in your behavior is affecting the relationship. Yes, of course something in your partners behavior is affecting it, too. But most people don't take responsibility for their end. It's easier to see other people's flaws than our own. That's where the genius of this book comes in. Once you are willing to take responsibility, RELATIONSHIP RESCUE gives you the tools to evaluate, become aware, and exchange your unconstructive behavior for constructive.
It can do what it says if you let it....
Dr. Phil's self-congratulatultory writing style aside, the actual nuts and bolts of this book are exceptionally insightful and helpful.It will force you into a phase of honest appraisal of you and your partner.It's not a "quick fix", nor should it be.It requires that you actually read it and do the exercises within to find it's reward.But personally, I think it may very well be one of the best self-help type of books out there. I also purchased the accompanying"Workbook" but think you can buy yourself a ruled notebook to the same effect.

Every couple should read this book
I bought this book after being dumped. Not with the idea of getting back together with my ex, but to really understand what went wrong, or more accurately what I did wrong. This book helped me. Not only his myths about relationships helped me to understand what real relationships are about. But also the different attitudes we ( men and women) can have or behave that destroys a good relationship. I could find myself in several ones. And also what positive attitudes you should have in a relationship, is something you should write down and stick on your fridge's door. So a great book even if your single and you wondered what went wrong. I wished I knew these things before my relationship. We all think, I guess, that love is easy and as long that we love one and other things will work out, but they don't. If you don't know what your doing wrong, how can you know how to fix it? This book helps a lot here. It makes you understand that you too should learn what relationships are and how they work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Interpersonal Relations    3. Love & Romance    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Marital psychotherapy    6. Marriage    7. Marriage counseling    8. Personal Growth - General    9. Popular works    10. Self-Help    11. Family & Relationships / Interpersonal Relations   

Reviews (7)

From a parent!
This book is what I've been looking for: a book that teaches you HOW to teach social skills and organization skills for kids that just don't pick it up from interactions in everyday life. It's made a big difference in our everyday family and school life for my 2 ADHD/LD kids. My thanks to Rick Lavoie!

Read this book!
Writing as someone who has lived with learning disabilities for nearly 50 years now, I cannot say strongly enough that I sincerely wish all of my teachers and parents had read this book.I will go a little further than that---I wish the pastoral counselor, psychologist, and psychiatrists that I have dealt with as an adult would read this book.
Good as far as it goes
This book provides what sound like good tips for helping a child struggling with social skills.Whether they work, I really can't say, as applying everything here would be the work of a lifetime.
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Subjects:  1. Children with Special Needs    2. Education Of Students With Learning Disabilities    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Family/Marriage    6. International Relations (Specific Aspects)    7. Interpersonal Relations    8. Learning Disabilities    9. Child care & upbringing    10. Coping with disability    11. Family & Relationships / General   

Reviews (33)

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!!
Women, it's very raw but you have to read this. You will be laughing so hard you cry! Need a stress reliever read this book!!!I can't wait to get her first 2.

Wonderful and heartelt
She did it again.. she made me sit up and take notice.. I loved it and I thought it was brave of her to open up. I am sending Belly Laughs and Baby Laughs to my best friend.. she can get her own Life Laughs!! I always feel that I am reading my own stories when I read her books.. I have a 4 year old and have been through a divorce.. God Bless You Jenny!

not as good as her 1st 2 books
this book was very disappointing. i LOVED her 1st two books. so when this book came out i was very excited. after reading it, i found it was rather dull and not very funny. there were very few parts that actually made me laugh, unlike her 1st two books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Actors    2. Biography    3. Humor    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Marriage    6. Parenting - Child Rearing    7. Parenting - Motherhood    8. Television personalities    9. Topic - Family    10. Topic - Relationships    11. United States    12. Family & Relationships / Marriage   

Reviews (48)

If you've ever had a Narcissist blow through your life, read this book.
I recently worked for a person with Narcissist Personality Disorder. It took me several months to figure out what was wrong with his behavior, but once I did, I saw that self-preservation was my only way out. Narcissists' behaviors are confusing, frustrating, depressive, and suck the life out of everyone near them. Compulsive liars with no conscience, they levy tremendous damage on anyone who refuses to give them what they want. Once you get away from a Narcissist, rebuilding your life is a challenge but can be done. This book is a good start to understanding where this personality disorder originates, and how you can cope and protect yourself from Narcissists.

Why it is NEVER about me!!
WOW!! Excellent book! I recommend this to anyone who has controlling, narcissist, manipulative parents or spouse. I personally have given this book to several women whose parents doted on the sons and ignored the girls...and girls dealing with the narcissistic spouse and/or boyfriend...It has changed my life and made me realize that I must stand up for myself and say "no more" to those who insist that I worship them and be their scapegoat!! It is a book that will make you say "Ohhh, now I understand..". It is what "Toxic Parents" was years ago!! A MUST READ!!

To the writer with a hammer, everything is a nail
I bought the book, actually two of them thinking it might provide some insight into the narcisstic personality.But I think the author tried too hard to write a whole book on something that perhaps a paragraph or a chapter might cover.At least I am unconvinced that she had a book full of information to impart.
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Subjects:  1. Applied Psychology    2. General    3. Interpersonal Relations    4. Mental Health    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (149)

It's really about Perspective
I remember the first time I encountered this book.I was a preadoptive parent and it was on the scant reading list my agency provided to look at before adoption.It scared the heck out of me.How could this happen?How could someone be so hurt and filled with anger at the events that had shaped their lives?I wanted to listen to the adoptees that said: this is not true, it's just anger and it didn't happen to me, there must be something wrong with her to have had this happen.I wanted to be a parent and hope for the happy rosy picture that says adoption is win win....a child gets a loving family and a family gets a child to love.
An absolute must-have!
"Twenty things" is one of those books that every adoptive parent needs to own and have read over and over again. Prescribed to us by our adoption agency, it is an informative and educational text that avoids the overly academic. It is a practical guide that provides real, down-to-earth advice and strategies relevant to understanding your (adoptive) child/ren. I thoroughly recommend this book, especially to those who are considering or are currently in the process of adoption. For those who have already adopted - this is a complete tool in better understanding how your child/ren is/are feeling and wanting from you.

Why Bother To Adopt??
As a mother of four adopted children, I found this book to be very disturbing. It came across as one woman's way of venting her anger and frustration of being adopted. She felt she was deceived and had never forgiven her parents, both adoptive and natural. (She says she was never really told she was adopted, she just found out)
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Subjects:  1. Adopted children    2. Adoptees    3. Adoption    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Family/Marriage    7. Advice on parenting    8. Family & Relationships / Adoption    9. Marriage, family & other relationships   

Editorial Review

An unexpected bestseller, this self-help book for women who want to hook a man seems to have struck a chord with desperate American women. Fein and Schneider, whose main credentials seem to be that they are married, lay out the rules to be followed for successfully snagging a dream hunk. And these rules are hard as cast-iron--Rule Five: Don't Call Him and Rarely Return His Calls. The idea is to return to pre-feminist mind games, exploiting the male hunting urge by playing hard to get. The result seems unliberating--Rule Seventeen: Let Him Take the Lead--but it seems to be capturing female minds. Rules Girls are eyeing the phone with steely resolve, and Rules seminars are springing up nationwide. Curious bachelors have been observed studying Read more

Reviews (509)

Great Book
I first read this book years ago, and tossed it aside, thinking it very silly. About a year later I picked it up again, and realized it was a good book that teaches a woman boundaries in dating. It gives advice like don't sit on the phone all day talking to a guy you just met, telling him private things that you later regret (good tip, and something lots of women do to try to quickly get close to a guy...instead the guy gets scared off or you are later embarassed to have revealed so much).
Attn "Too Nice Girl" , Before you buy, read this...
A friend of mine (A fellow "too nice" girl) reccommended this book to me after I went through a break up. In the begining, I hung onto every word.
Very good
This book changed my life - for the better.
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Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Love & Romance    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Self-Help    6. Family & Relationships / Love & Romance   

Reviews (15)

Showing Our True Colors
Mary Miscisin's book was outstanding! It was a fun and easy read, yet full of informative and interesting ideas about people and how and why they act the way they do.Having been an educator for many years, this is THE book I could have used long ago to better interact with my students and their parents. The book's content makes easy what Myers-Briggs tries to do.I would recommend it to anyone who has a desire to deal more effectively with children or adults.

Color Me Satisfied
Easy to read, full of wisdom.I never could figure out how to use Myers-Briggs.I can use this everyday with everyone I meet.Useful for all ages, both sexes.Entertaining presentation helps emphasize a language of Colors that is non-threatening, non-emotional, and constructively wonderful

Life-long Learning!
As an educator with 30 years experience in the classroom and in coaching, I wish I could have read Mary Miscisin's book 30 years ago!I would have been a much better teacher and coach because I would have had a much better understanding of my students and athletes and how to more effectively communicate with them based on their colors.I couldn't put the book down because I kept meeting past students as well as people I know now represented in Miscisin's creative and stimulating examples."Showing Our True Colors" was so challenging and packed with information, yet so simple to understand and implement.Every parent, teacher, and coach ought to read the book.It is a must for couples and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively.Where was this book when I needed it?Oh, yeah, I still do need it today.Thanks Mary! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Conflict Resolution    3. General    4. Inspiration & Personal Growth    5. Interpersonal Relations    6. New Age    7. Personal Growth - General    8. Psychology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Personality    10. Typology (Psychology)    11. Conflict management    12. Diversity in the workplace    13. Personality    14. Personality assessment   

Reviews (5)

Excellent Guide to Enriching Communication
I am still working through the book but it has been an excellent guide to improving communication skills at all levels.

Deep Wisdom Practically Explained and Applied
"Love Talk" is a very practical book that is also very deep. What a rare combination. Far too often we find deep books that are vague and impractical or how-to manuals that are shallow and unbiblical. "Love Talk," as the authors accurately label it, is "a deep yet simple plan full of new insights that will revolutionize communication in love relationships."
College student
I got this book because it was required for a class taught by Les & Leslie Parrott at Seattle Pacific University.The class and book are awesome!I'm not married, but I still learned a lot of practical tips for communicating with my future wife (hopefully) and even my friends and family!
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Subjects:  1. Christian Life    2. Christianity    3. Christianity - Christian Life - General    4. Christianity - Christian Life - Marriage    5. Interpersonal communication    6. Love    7. Love & Romance    8. Man-woman relationships    9. Marriage    10. Religion    11. Religion - Marriage & Family    12. Religious aspects    13. Social Institutions    14. Christian Interest    15. Marriage & relationships    16. Popular psychology    17. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (46)

ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED!!!
First, to diffuse some of the objections to this book you might come across: