Talking to 'Crazy' bookcover

Talking to 'Crazy'

How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life
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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.

In Talking to "Crazy", you will learn:

  • Why people act the way they do
  • How instinctive responses can exacerbate the situation, and what to do instead
  • When to confront a problem and when to walk away
  • How to activate the Sanity Cycle, which quickly transforms you from threat to ally
  • 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 "Crazy" shows you just how easy it is to do it.

Product Details

PublisherAmacom
Publish DateJuly 10, 2018
Pages272
LanguageEnglish
TypeBook iconPaperback / softback
EAN/UPC9780814439296
Dimensions8.9 X 5.9 X 0.8 inches | 0.7 pounds

About the Author

Mark Goulston, MD, FAPA is a board-certified psychiatrist, fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, former assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA NPI, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer. He is the creator of Theory Y Executive Coaching--which he provides to CEOs, presidents, founders, and entrepreneurs--and is a TEDx and international keynote speaker. He is the creator and developer of Surgical Empathy, a process to help people recover and heal from PTSD, prevent suicide in teenagers and young adults, and help organizations overcome implicit bias. Dr. Goulston is the author or principal author of seven prior books, including Why Cope When you Can Heal: How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD, PTSD for Dummies, Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior, Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone, Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In, and Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life. He hosts the My Wakeup Call podcast, where he speaks with influencers about their purpose in life and the wakeup calls that led them there. He also is the co-creator and moderator of the multi-honored documentary Stay Alive: An Intimate Conversation About Suicide Prevention.

He appears frequently as a human psychology and behavior subject-area expert across all media, including news outlets ABC, NBC, CBS, and BBC News, as well as CNN, Today, Oprah, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Westwood One.

Reviews

"You've met the bully, the manipulator, the victim, the know-it-all, the backstabber. Dealing with these personalities can drive you crazy--unless you employ Goulston's methods for dealing with them." --Jim Pawlak, Biz Books


..".can help our work and personal life be less stressful, more productive and possibly save someone from doing something violent to themselves or others." --School Administrator


..".explains why people act in unreasonable ways, giving insight in to the brain's natural defense mechanisms and how to recognize an irrational person's modus operandi." --Industrial Engineer Magazine


..".most conflicts in the workplace simply involve very difficult people who can make life miserable. Talking to Crazy offers much-needed guidance for those seeking a solution to these all-too-common conflicts." --Soundview


..".we all deal with irrational people and situations. Talking to Crazy contains valuable insights into these types of interactions...an important addition to anyone's library." --Banking Exchange


Online MBA's 25 Best Business Books

"[Goulston's]ideas are a bit counter-intuitive but they really do shift the dynamic and help people diffuse and disarm the irrational person leading to more positive outcomes." -- Online MBA


Earphones Award Winner from Audiofile Magazine


2016 Audie Award Finalist in Business/Educational


Audiobook Review: "In this entertaining audiobook, author Mark Goulston has compiled decades of his experiences as a psychiatrist to show how even a layperson can communicate successfully with the irrational people in his or her life." --Audiofile Magazine


"By giving readers the words and theories, Goulston elevates a good book into a great one." --Success Magazine


"Common-sense advice and humor offered by Goulston...sheds light on mental health issues that are not discussed (but definitely experienced) in everyday life, especially in the workplace." --Small Business Trends


"Everyone's heard the expression 'you can't talk to crazy.' Goulston has discovered a way to communicate with them." -Lindsey Novak, At Work national columnist


"Finally! The book that helps you deal with irrational, impossible people." --Oprah's Book Club 2.0


"Guidebook to dealing with the impossible people that cross your path. His suggestions can be put to work immediately. I know because I did. And they work." --Skip Prichard's Leadership Insights


"How can you survive all the cranks and impossible people that you daily have to deal with? Goulston describes their antics and how to deal with them in this delightful self-help book." --San Francisco Book Review


"I strongly recommend that you buy this book...you will find it infinitely useful, no matter what profession or life situation you are in." --PCB007


"My only regret about this book is that I did not read it sooner, when it would have been very helpful in dealing with some 'crazy' situations." --Vancouver Business Journal


"Psychiatrist and power-blogger Mark Goulston presents the gift of his latest book to anyone who has ever dealt with bullies, whiners, manipulators, or screamers. Oh, wait, that's all of us." --Associations Now


"Reading Talking to Crazy will enrich your life. It is a book of practical wisdom." --Parking Today


"Sometimes you read a book that is not only utterly riveting but also gives you useful tips for dealing with difficult situations in your own life." --Steemit


"Talking to Crazy is a captivating, accessible guide to the many forms of 'everyday crazy' we face at work and in our personal lives." --TD Magazine


"This is a great book for managers who know that some situations--a negative review, the announcement of organizational change--can bring out the crazy in anyone." --Inc.com

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