Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5944 in Books
• Published on: 1996-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 148 pages

Customer Reviews

Very Helpful and Insightful
A great little book that in a light and clear way outlines the different kinds of manipulative people and the strategies that are most commonly used by the manipulators. It also gives steps and strategies of how to deal with manipulators.

Mr Simon outlines the flaws with classical psychological theories in regard to the issue of manipulative people and why we need to move on.

He writes: "...we have been pre-programmed to believe that people only exhibit problem behaviours when they're "troubled" inside or anxious about something. We've have also been taught that people aggress only when they're attacked in some way. So even when our gut tells us that somebody is attacking us and for no good reason, or merely trying to overpower us, we don't readily accept the notions. We usually start to wonder what's bothering the person so badly "underneath it all" that's making them act in such a disturbing way....We almost never think that the person is simply fighting to get something they want, to have their way with us, or gain the upper hand."

The book is full of examples to illustrate what is being explained and on top of it there is a chapter called "The manipulative child".
Working in a school with children I found this chapter most helpful and would recommend this book to any parent, though it is equally recommendable to anyone as we all face manipulative people in daily interactions.

So useful I keep referring back to it
This is a fairly short book, the edition I've got runs to just under 150 pages. but what a book! It very clearly goes through all the aspect of covert aggression, and how to deal with it. It is amazing how much simpler it is to deal with manipulation when you can instantly see what covert techniques are being used on you.

Most manipulations are so succesful purely because the victim isn't even aware of what is happening, he just feels that something isn't right but goes along with it anyway. The classic ones being the guilt trip and the pity trip - both are sure-fire indicators that you are being manipulated via your emotions. It also covers more obvious aspects of bullying behaviour and how to turn the situation around without being sucked into the dynamic.

A fantastic little book that can completely turn your life around. It is written in very clear language, very easy to understand and doesn't require you to have a degree in psychology to get the most out of it. I have to keep lending it out to my friends and family as it is so useful!

Everyday kung fu for dealing with the jerks life brings your way
Pithy and often funny, I have recommended this book to every one I know and bought extra copies for my kids when they went out into the work world. George Simon takes the bluster and obfustication of overbearing/weasely bosses, nasty neighbors, obnoxious coworkers and annoying relatives and boils it down to show you the simple psychological strategies being used to impose on your patience, good will, or even wallet.

Once you understand the rules and especially the *mindset* of these people, you are in a position to defend yourself with a minimum of energy expended. No in-depth analysis here, just the basic tools for dealing with difficult people and coming out, not necessarily "on top", but with workable solutions that most times leave everyone satisfied. Wished I'd had this for dealing with the in-laws the first fifteen years. Highly Recommended.