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rbogue's review
5.0
With seven children in the house, a wife, and people I work with, it feels like I move from one crucial conversation to another. It feels like I move from one conversation that is important to my relationship with someone to the next one. Certainly I’m no stranger to looking for skills to improve my communication and relationship with others (See Boundaries, Beyond Boundaries, How to Be an Adult in Relationships, The Science of Trust, etc. ), however, I felt like Crucial Conversations would offer a different perspective. I felt like it might be a good capstone for some of my research on how to manage difficult conversations. It didn’t disappoint.
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Click here to read the full review
hallmira's review
5.0
A must for anyone who wants to build consensus about anything, in personal or business matters.
Clearly (and concisely) written, this book clearly spells out how to speak clearly but maintain relationships.
Clearly (and concisely) written, this book clearly spells out how to speak clearly but maintain relationships.
ggarofalo11's review
3.0
This book was recommended to me and it laid down some great foundations about why it's worth it to engage in these types of crucial conversations. It also had beneficial tips for both on a professional and a personal level. However, I wish instead of long hypothetical situations, there had been more concise bullet points of how to address specific emotional manipulations or escalations from the other side as you're attempting to find resolution. Overall, it was a great reminder to humanize the other person in conflict, address your own "stories" before starting the conversation and prioritizing the end goal in conflict to avoid getting trapped in unproductive debate.
itsellie's review
4.0
Things I liked
- This book was very to the point, I didn't feel like it was endlessly repetitive
- It shows you the importance of recognizing the flaws in your behavior. This book is not focused on manipulating people rather if focuses on having healthy conversations
- The book provides detailed examples illustrating the concepts discussed in it. This helps you understand how to apply these concepts into your own life.
- The chapter headings featured quotes at the bottom that tied into the chapters and they were a delight to connect
Things I didn't like
- The dialogue in the examples was very cheesy and quite stilted. It did not feel like an organic conversation. It did a great job illustrating the point but not in a very organic way.
- I wasn't a fan of the terminology. It felt quite ridiculous and I'd often have to really think to remember what certain concepts and ideas were called. I understand that the authors are trying to encourage a sort of language to approach dialogue but I was not a fan
Written June 17, 2020
Age: 17
- This book was very to the point, I didn't feel like it was endlessly repetitive
- It shows you the importance of recognizing the flaws in your behavior. This book is not focused on manipulating people rather if focuses on having healthy conversations
- The book provides detailed examples illustrating the concepts discussed in it. This helps you understand how to apply these concepts into your own life.
- The chapter headings featured quotes at the bottom that tied into the chapters and they were a delight to connect
Things I didn't like
- The dialogue in the examples was very cheesy and quite stilted. It did not feel like an organic conversation. It did a great job illustrating the point but not in a very organic way.
- I wasn't a fan of the terminology. It felt quite ridiculous and I'd often have to really think to remember what certain concepts and ideas were called. I understand that the authors are trying to encourage a sort of language to approach dialogue but I was not a fan
Written June 17, 2020
Age: 17
anvil's review
4.0
A good read worth while if you are looking to read this sort of thing. I liked the second book "Crucial Accountability" better there are definitely some food take aways from this book. Primarily context matters make sure you are able to have the conversations with an understanding of context, safety, and controlled emotion. At least that is what I took from it.
scottwasalreadytaken's review
3.0
Classic. Focused a bit heavy on family type conversations - could add some explicit focus on work conversations (though tons of what's in there is applicable).
juliannealkire's review
4.0
Really like this book! Definitely an going to have to practice & revisit the principles because MAN, I
can be bad at conflict lol
can be bad at conflict lol
joans's review
2.0
OK, one star might be a bit harsh, but I basically couldn't with this book. It's been recommended to me enough times that I decided that it was worth my time to get a first hand sense for what it's about.
If you can get past the gender/race politics that seem weirdly stuck in 1940 (or, maybe, if you share those politics), this book could have something to offer. I can imagine that there are people for whom the content about how to listen and ground conversations in shared experiences is revelatory and transformative. But, I strongly suspect there are better places* to get introduced to this material without the risk of damaging your living room in a fit of book throwing rage. It's full of awful gender tropes; it excuses sexual harassers, and pontificates about how victims of sexual harassment should empathize with their harassers and confront them in only the gentlest terms. Ugh.
* iirc, the first place I read about many of these ideas was in The Ethical Slut.
If you can get past the gender/race politics that seem weirdly stuck in 1940 (or, maybe, if you share those politics), this book could have something to offer. I can imagine that there are people for whom the content about how to listen and ground conversations in shared experiences is revelatory and transformative. But, I strongly suspect there are better places* to get introduced to this material without the risk of damaging your living room in a fit of book throwing rage. It's full of awful gender tropes; it excuses sexual harassers, and pontificates about how victims of sexual harassment should empathize with their harassers and confront them in only the gentlest terms. Ugh.
* iirc, the first place I read about many of these ideas was in The Ethical Slut.
iloveswedishchef's review
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I know a book can’t actually change my life, so I don’t know why I bought into the book’s own hype. While the book had a few notable points, the messages would have been just as impactful as an article, and it fails to take into consideration the social systems behind why some people behave the way they do (e.g. lack of confidence in women and minorities... we live in a white man world). I’m pretty sure a crucial conversation isn’t going to stop sexual harassment.