Dealing with Difficult People [Paperback]

Charles J. Keating (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1984

Theoretical and practical exploration of the causes and contexts of conflicts between people as well as solutions for handling them.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press; P edition (May 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080912596X
• ISBN-13: 978-0809125968
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Gem!, October 18, 2005

By 

John P Bernat (Kingsport, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dealing with Difficult People (Paperback)

This book was written over twenty years ago, and was quite popular for a time. I guess it "fell off the radar" for a while.

I was having some trouble working with people at my job, and a colleague recommended this book to me. It's still in print and available, thank goodness.

It offers straight, simple, down-to-earth advice about how people are as "difficult" as we might choose to define them. It is, knowingly or not, a great foundation and framework for an organization's diversity strategy. People are simply different. If we observe and respect these differences, and adjust our expectations accordingly, suddenly managing interpersonal conflict becomes easy.

Have a lot of fun using some of the practical suggestions in this great little book. Highly recommended...

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wading through sand, May 13, 2006

By 

Tania McCartney "Ecrivaine" (Beijing, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dealing with Difficult People (Paperback)

Hmm. Perhaps I was not in the correct mind set to read this. Perhaps I have read too many of this genre before and I am all maxed out - but the first half was a laborious read. Nothing snappy, notable, interesting or magnetic about the writing style, that's for sure. And instructive books DON'T have to be boring in writing style.

Some of the pscychology-based concepts were interesting, but there was nothing here that hooked me, drew me in, educated or inspired me. No "aha" moments - not a one.

And when I got to the part where Mr Keating ascribes difficult childhood behaviour to the parent, well, I'm sorry... this is when I had to put it down, and I'm afraid I haven't picked it up again. I was looking for enlightenment in a psychological sense, not subective opinion on parenting issues. Monsieur Spock, he is Not.

Overall, this was just average to me. I'll try it again in a year, but I do have a feeling that the spine of this book is going to remain pristine.

8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Advice, June 17, 2004

By 

kksox "ICU-RN" (East Longmeadow, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dealing with Difficult People (Paperback)

I bought this book because I work with a really controlling, direspectful, condescending girl. The book gave examples of behavior types, good advice for dealing with difficult bosses, really does what all the other books do and has you take a look at yourself and your behavior too. It gives good end of section summaries, "what to do and what not to do"'s. I would write some of these things down, and I am trying to formulate a little list of things I can use in the hypnosis class I am taking. BUT, when it came right down to dealing with my toxic co-worker, I found that there are a few other books that hit the nail right on the head a little better then this one did. I guess I got the benefit of taking a look at my manager's behavior in the process, and helped me see a little bit of her stylings and ways to deal with them. She is the kind of boss who is very receptive to your wants, makes lots of promises, and never delivers. She is more focused on being everyone's friend then getting down to business. Hope this helps.