A review by alvinhutchinson
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty: How to Cope--Using the Skills of Systematic Assertive Therapy by Manuel J. Smith

3.0

The best part was a sort of Bill of Rights that everyone has. People who are afraid to say, "no" sometimes forget they have the right to do so, to change their minds, to decide without offering an explanation or justification, etc. The remainder of the book emphasized 3-4 techniques in assertive communication. Among them was the broken record whereby a person simply repeats their desire without getting caught up in negotiation or explanation. The bulk of the text is sample dialogs which illustrate these several techniques. I found them interesting but not compelling. The only thing I got out of this book was the reassurance that many, many people in this world have the same tendencies I do and I find comfort in that.

The book was highly recommended by a Reddit post and because life is a game of expectations, that's probably why I was mildly disappointed. Still, it wasn't a waste of time.