The Power of Empathy : A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-Understanding and Lasting Love [Paperback]

Arthur P. Ciaramicoli (Author), Katherine Ketcham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2001

Empathy, an innate human capacity that gives us the ability to understand the unique experiences of another person, is the most overlooked component of relationships. By allowing us to connect with one another on a meaningful and fulfilling level, it "can help and heal us all. This excellent book shows you how" (Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Connect). Using a practical and inspiring plan for making empathy a vital part of your everyday life, discover:

• Why empathy is crucial to finding love
• How to be an empathic listener
• How empathy can improve sex and create lasting intimacy
• How empathy differs from sympathy
• 10 steps to avoiding the pitfalls of negative empathy
• How empathy can help rebuild a relationship and restore confidence, trust, and faith

Prescriptive and provocative, The Power of Empathy shows us how we can transform our lives-and the lives of those we love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an engaging work that is part guidebook and part heartfelt meditation, Ciaramicoli, a practicing psychologist who rejects the pervasive medical practice of labeling and medicating human anguish, contends that it is empathy--not fear, not sympathy, not drugs--that holds the key to mental health. Arguing that the "capacity to understand and respond to the unique experiences of another" is not only ubiquitous in relationships but is actually "an innate force, part of our biological inheritance" that is necessary for survival, he ponders empathy's many faces (including its "dark side") in the first half of the book. In the second half, he describes, and coaches readers on practicing the eight expressions of empathy: honesty, humility, acceptance, tolerance, gratitude, faith, hope and forgiveness. Inspired, in part, by his brother's suicide 26 years ago (which he believes was caused partly by a failure of empathy), Ciaramicoli vigorously examines empathy's place in an astonishing array of everyday situations--in sexual intimacy and friendly banter, in the natural world and the arena of sales and advertising--as a force of evil and a force of good. In the end, Ciaramicoli's meticulous exploration of the "invisible connections" of true empathy illuminates how the reader can use this long-misunderstood social skill to live a more safe and fulfilled life. Agent, Jane Dystel. 10-city author tour. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Lucid, wise, and compassionate. -- Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine and Healing Words

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452282284
• ISBN-13: 978-0452282285
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Benchmark Guide on Empathy!, February 24, 2001

By 

Mike Sivilli (Bayonne, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Empathy: A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-understanding, and Lasting Love in Your Life (Hardcover)

The Power of Empathy is a marvelous and comforting book about a topic that many people experience on a day-to-day basis, yet unaware that they are doing so. In others, empathy is an aspect of human nature that actually needs to be developed, whether from scratch or through enhancement. Whichever category you belong to, Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli's book will help bring you to a point of understanding the concept of empathy, which, in turn will help you help yourself and others. I found myself constantly nodding my head as I read, reacting to stories and explanations in the book of things that I seemingly experienced in my own life in one way or another. It is fascinating to see how empathy is an ongoing part of our lives, yet most of us remain non-cognizant to it, however satisfied that a result was achieved. But it is important to comprehend the means for reaching our goals of understanding, feeling, and sympathizing. The Power of Empathy is the benchmark tool for guiding one in accomplishing this. Dr. Ciaramicoli's personal love, understanding, and empathy are poured out in these pages, as he sensitively yet passionately supplies the readers with the wisdom and knowledge needed for developing love, understanding, and empathy for ourselves and others.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long awaited relationship book, April 5, 2000

By 

Dianne W. (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Empathy: A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-understanding, and Lasting Love in Your Life (Hardcover)

I have been looking for a relationship book that is easy to read with unique insights that can easily be put into practice. This book is it! Far above any other relationship book on the market. I couldn't put it down once I started reading. Dr. Ciaramicoli has a sure hit!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom read it here!, April 10, 2000

By 

Tim Goggins (Milford, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Empathy: A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-understanding, and Lasting Love in Your Life (Hardcover)

Would you like to deepen and improve your relationships with others? Are you unable to unravel important failed relationships? Do you want to understand how you can and why you should? Dr. Ciaramacoli's Power of Empathy provides these answers, in a deeply personal and straight-foward way. He cearly presents how we can all live better lives. Wisdom is presented here as it was in Tuesdays With Morrie. Great work!