Asserting Yourself-Updated Edition: A Practical Guide for Positive Change

by Sharon Anthony Bower and Gordon H. Bower

Book Overview

The classic best-selling step-by-step program for becoming more assertive. Utilizing a number of techniques from behavior-change psychology, speech, communications, and acting, the authors Sharon and Gordon Bower outline an effective assertiveness program to help people improve their self-esteem, articulate their opinions, and develop meaningful relationships. Exercises and examples throughout-including the celebrated DESC scripts (describe, express,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738209716
• ISBN13: 9780738209715
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great Item

Item was as described and arrived in a reasonable time frame. Will and have shopped with this seller again. Thank you for providing affordable books even to those overseas!!

An Empowering Text

'Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change' is the ideal gift for anyone who lacks confidence. I read the book and greatly enjoyed it, but as I have charisma, potency and a well-developed sense of 'self', it was not immediately applicable to my situation. So I called David Caruso and told him he should buy it. A month later he sent me this email: 'Schwarz, thanks for tipping me off. What a book! I only wish it had been around when I was in senior high. Being a slow learner, every day was toture. I was bullied, laughed at, locked in the toilet, glued to my chair, buried in the longjump pit and even mooned. And it was always by the same teacher. But since reading Sharon Anthony Bower's wonderful words, I can now assert myself. For instance, last week I went back to the bookshop and asked for a new copy because the one I'd been sold was stained. The woman behind the counter inspected the stains, looked at me and said, "Hey, I remember you from high school. The dumb kid who couldn't even read alphabet soup. Everyone! Look who it is... 'Cabbage' Caruso." Laughing hysterically as she superglued the book to the top of my head, she then said, "Get out of here, you pathetic little creep!" Recalling Sharon Bower's advice about 'controlling your time', I replied, "Okay, I'm going now." Schwarz, you have no idea how good I feel about myself. I'll see you at the Golden Globe Awards. They've put me behind the giant pillar in the back row, but that's fine. At least I'm INSIDE the theater this year. Regards, David.''Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change' will give those 'jellyback muscles' a real workout.

Excellent book

This is a very good book. Unlike other books in this category which dish out a lot of advice, this book gives practical step-by-step instructions that can be easily implemented in real life. The authors have used some innovative techniques from the fields of acting and theatre into assertiveness training. Reading and rereading this book often will definitely help everybody to improve their own lives as well as the lives of people whom they interact with.

I WAS HOMELESS AND HUNGRY FOR 7 YEARS!!!

Using the techniques of this book, I no longer am. I haven'tbeen for five years. And my family has not been homeless orhungry for five years. We live in a beautiful apartment witha pool and cable TV (one channel showing the front gate so thathomeless people won't bother US). HA! According to Joseph Wolpe(pronounced WOOL-PEE), the father of Behavior Therapy, the pointof these books is to inhibit fear around people through Affectionor Anger just as relaxation is used to inhibit fear of bugs,heights, or crowds in systematic desensitization (psychotherapythrough reciprocal inhibition). This particular text is thefavorite of the greatest researcher on depression of this or the last century (Dr. Martin Seligman, author of "Learned Optimism").While homeless, I would use it in a free-floating style of goingnuts and then de-fusing my rage through positive action. This positive action. In this book. Strangely, while writing this review, I got a call from a bill collector. I am still hot.I broke up her manipulative skills by just saying, "Go to the next step. I have no money right now. Cut off the big toe on my right foot. Or whatever your next step is. Just do it. Ihave no money right now. Goodbye." Voice was kept at a firmrange without any rage. I have been slipping back into the people-pleasing modality style. Don't do it. But the bookand save your life, your money, your sanity. Thank You.

Asserting Yourself

This book is extremely useful. I can truly say that it has changed the quality of my relationships in a profound way. The authors teach you how to solve problems with people in relationships ranging from strangers to friends to family. I found answers to problem situations that had frustrated me for years. It taught me how to stand up for myself and ask people to change their undesirable behavior in a way that they are willing to cooperate with. (Most of the time). I am amazed at how well their techniques work. This is not about how to control people. It is about how to control your self. There is an alternative to fighting or giving in. If you want to have happier relationships with people and feel much better about yourself, buy this book.