Customer Reviews

The Coward's Guide to Conflict: Empowering Solutions for Those Who Would Rather Run Than Fight

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have always hated conflict. Although I have read other good books on conflict, none of them were helpful in overcoming the fear of confrontation. What I like about the "Coward's Guide" is that it helped me get to the root of my fear of conflict and gave me ideas on how to decrease it. I will say that it is not a book that you can just glance at and put aside. I had to put in the effort to do the exercises in order to really "feel" what the author was teaching. However, the pay off was worth it.

One of the most important things that I learned is that there are a lot of costs that come with avoiding conflict. The author helped me see that good things can come from healthy conflict like greater intimacy and respect.

This is a fine, short guide to managing conflict. Author Tim Ursiny particularly addresses those of you who are "conflict cowards," people who do not like conflict...and who does, outside of a few well-compensated litigaters? Ursiny himself is a confessed hater of conflict. He has hated it ever since he was a child and now, even though he's an executive coach and a fairly beefy guy, he still hates it. He is also a psychologist, and his style and approach have much in common with the work of other pop psychology writers, although this guide is more useful than most. Ursiny keeps the reading light by providing ample anecdotes and he invites readers to participate through several self-examination questionnaires. He provides some clearly written, easily accessible explanations of how conflicts occur and how to manage them. In fact, he defines conflict, its consequences and even its benefits so broadly that almost anyone fits the book's target audience. You got a problem with that? We doesn't and warmly recommend this entertaining, refreshing book, which - we agree - has something for almost everyone who'd rather duck than fight.

Ursiny uses examples to illustrate his points so well - one example looked like it came right out of my work environment - as if he was a fly on the wall! No one likes to face conflict and we are all pretty good at avoidance. This book helps one understand conflict and, most inmportantly, how to face and resolve it in an honest, respectful and EFFECTIVE way. FIVE STARS!!!!!

There's nothing Dr. Ursiny has left out of this easy to read and follow book. Since more than 80% of all people are non-confrontational this guide helps everyone understand others and prepares them for any difficult conversation. As a business coach I have used and recommended the book to all of my clients who struggle with getting their point across and being heard in a contentious/confrontational situation.
The book is complete and is a guide deserving to be utilized by everyone.
Great Job!!

I have a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution so I am always looking for more material. This book was suggested and so I bought a used copy.
The good : The author does offer a work book style to allow the reader to progress at their own pace and in the latter part of the book, there is a very interesting section on truth telling (admitting the truth abut how you react to something) and it is worth the price of the book.

The bad : The author has too many "convenient fit the exact circumstance" anecdotes. As I read it, I had a difficult time believing the accuracy of the stories. It seemed that too much was contrived.

I have passed this book on to others specifically for the section on truth telling, and without telling them about the other "stories", many have also remarked that much of the anecdotes seemed contrived. We called it editorial license. ;-)

I'm not certain that you need all the background to get to the truth telling section, but I do recommend checking this out a library to see how you react tot he words and actions of others.

Even though I don't really feel that afraid of conflict, I found this book very practical and helpful. The tone is light and friendly and extremely practical. I really like the sections on the causes of conflict and the step by step techniques for dealing with conflict. I also like the mix of personal and business stories. I'm recommending this book to all of my friends who care about having great relationships.

The Coward's Guide to Conflict is a great tool for every day life in the workplace and at home. Utilizing everyday people and situations Dr. Ursiny explains why we behave in the manner that we do and then gives tools to help change those behaviors to lead to more positive results and a better understanding of ourselves and others. It takes the fear out of conflict. It should be in every household and office.

Dr. Ursiny gives a fresh look at how to deal with the conflict in our lives. The material is engaging and enjoyable to read and the short stories get the point across well. Even for those who don't shy away from conflict, this book offers great guidelines for handling conflict in the most constructive way. A definite must read!

I did not care for this book. I was hoping for substantive concepts based on research and facts. It has too much fluff and ideas that work only when the sun is shining. Survivor Personality has more useful concepts than this book.

This is the best book on dealing with your fears of conflict every written. Dr. Ursiny speaks in a language that is easy to understand and easy to internalize. Rarely has a book make such a strong impact on the way that I live my life. I will recommend it to everyone.