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Verbal Judo, Updated Edition cover art

Verbal Judo, Updated Edition

Written by: George J. Thompson PhD, Jerry B. Jenkins, Lee Fjelstad - foreword, Pam Thompson - foreword
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
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Publisher's Summary

When you react, the event controls you. When you respond, you're in control.

Verbal Judo is the classic guide to the martial art of the mind and mouth that can help you defuse confrontations and generate cooperation, whether you're talking to a boss, a spouse, or even a teenager. For more than a generation, Dr. George J. Thompson's essential handbook has taught people how to communicate more confidently and persuasively in any situation. Verbal Judo shows you how to listen and speak more effectively, engage others through empathy (the most powerful word in the English language), avoid the most common conversational disasters, and use proven strategies to successfully express your point of view - and take the lead in most disputes.

This updated edition includes a new foreword and a chapter featuring Dr. Thompson's five universal truths of human interaction:

  • People feel the need to be respected
  • People would rather be asked than be told
  • People have a desire to know why
  • People prefer to have options over threats
  • People want to have second chances

Stop being frustrated and misunderstood. Stop finding yourself on the losing end of an argument. With Verbal Judo you'll be able to have your say - and say what you mean.

©2010 George J. Thompson (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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What listeners say about Verbal Judo, Updated Edition

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  • HK
  • 2022-10-27

Great Book

If i could go around suggesting books, this would be one of my top picks.

Engaging and memorable. Unlike a lot of other personal development books, this one doesn't over repeat and has so much wisdom and info neatly packed into each chapter.

The narrator fit the job perfectly too.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Useful and Entertaining

Great use of personal storys. Lots of great ideas, explained well and in plain language but not dumbed down. Will have to listen again in the future. Entertaining to listen to and voice feels natural and fits the written voice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Dan
  • 2018-02-20

Excellent framework for communication

Read it before, great to refresh knowledge.
Great for working with the public, and dealing with all sorts of conflict.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good stories that put situations in context.

Lots of good excellent content, lots of material, it makes me want to buy the hard copy.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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good stuff

it was good lots of great principles too practice I enjoyed it as much as I could

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A staple in my library from now on!

Every manager, supervisor or project manager should read this book. it will change the way you deal with difficult people and situations. it also has the power to change your interpersonal relationships with family and friends.

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A well balanced cultural approach

Saw that someone said this book was racist. It was far from. It was a good book which teaches you how to treat people with respect.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Lots of filler

If you skip the first hour (1/6th) of the book it’s will save you a lot of time. If you want to save even more time just read the chapter titles.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book.

Over the past year since I first read this book, I find myself continually recommending this book... a lot. At the very least you’ll pause before entering a conflict of any size. You might not always make the best choice, but the book will equip you many different methods to increase the chance to have a ‘calm’ negotiation, and many different ways de-escalate and diffuse a conflict. #Audible1

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A great read if you ever deal with people.

The title came highly recommended by numerous podcasts in the health care space. upon listening, I realized I probably already do half of the things mentioned but now I have a name to call these strategies by and talk about them to others with.

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