I waffled back and forth on this book. The prologue was little better than a buttering up of the reader as Jefferson Fisher worked to impress us with all his followers on social media, and the size of his email list. Showing that you have the credentials to speak on a subject is a normal part of an advice book, but this just felt like bragging instead of information on his relevance to the field of conversation he tackled in the book.

But, Fisher has a bunch of good stuff to say about dealing with conversations. His best writing is about how you're in control of your responses in a conversation. No one makes you yell, or be mean, you choose to do that. Sometimes you choose it because you're trying to be mean, and other times you choose it because you're bad at self-control.

Instead take a deep breath, do a body scan, release your tension, breath out as your first word, then communicate in a way that builds connection with those you're speaking with.

Then Fisher spends a bunch of time telling readers how to be assertive and confident. Yes all of his advice would work for me, but I'm a middle aged white dude, I can get away with lots and be viewed as a leader. He never acknowledges the fact that women using these tactics are viewed as bitchy or catty or just plain mean. He never acknowledges that people of colour will be doubted far more often and have many of the same stereotypes applied to their "assertive" behaviour.

This is a maybe read book. It's got some good advice, and it's a fast read, in fact you can skim long chunks of this book because it's repeating the same things it already said. If you want some advice on how to control your responses the section on saying your words with control is very good.

This is clearly a book to advertise his services, and there is even a workbook, but if you take it for what it is, you'll learn something.