Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Nervousness, Speak-Up, and Speak Out in Any Social or Business S ituation [Paperback]

Don Gabor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 1997

s much about "speaking in public" as it is about "public speaking, " Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy can help even the most shy person speak up and speak out in any business or social situation.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If 75 percent of all adults consider themselves to be shy in one or more social or business situations, this is the book that can help. Gabor shares techniques he has used in conversation workshops since 1980. The examples and exercises are intended to help victims of shyness build confidence while overcoming nervousness and fear of rejection or even potential hostility. The book is divided into three useful sections. Part one, "Kicking the Shyness Habit," explains how to change the way one talks to oneself, share interests, and display a sense of humor. Part two, "Speaking in Social Situations," discusses small talk, mingling at parties, hosting a get-together, making toasts, developing phone relationships, and avoiding "toxic conversations." Part three, "Speaking in Business Situations," suggests how to survive interviews, give a speech, negotiate, network, conduct meetings, and deal with difficult clients. It even recommends ways to make new business contacts on airplanes. This is a straightforward, practical guide for people who wants to learn to flex their communication muscles. Patricia Hassler

From the Inside Flap

s much about "speaking in public" as it is about "public speaking, " Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy can help even the most shy person speak up and speak out in any business or social situation.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (January 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517886774
• ISBN-13: 978-0517886779
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Education & Reference > Etiquette > Conversation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unrealistic approach to overcoming shyness., June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Nervousness, Speak-Up, and Speak Out in Any Social or Business S ituation (Paperback)

I was extremely disappointed in this book. More than half of it applies to interviews and business situations, and the section on social situations is extremely short and only took about a half an hour to read. I found that the language and situations used were very unrealistic to the point of being phony. Overall I found this book to be very unhelpful and I would suggest to people looking for help on this subject matter to look elsewhere. I think the author should try updating his ideas and try to apply them to more modern situations.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, August 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Nervousness, Speak-Up, and Speak Out in Any Social or Business S ituation (Paperback)

I was eagerly looking forward to this book, but am very disappointed by it. I just received it today, and though admittedly I haven't had time to read it fully, I have skimmed the topics and several dozen pages, and I'm not even going to bother reading it. This book would seem to be useless to anyone but a yuppie business executive holding million-dollar meetings and having power lunches. And obtaining such a position would seem to me to require a reasonably outgoing, aggressive personality, not the painfully shy person to which this book is allegedly directed. Oh, there's also sections on how to meet with difficult clients, and how to become a master salesman. All topics of great interest to a painfully shy person (I'm being sarcastic, of course). If you want a book by this author, buy his other book, How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends. It's much better, and has lots of halfway amusing cartoons. Gabor has completely missed the mark with Talking With Confidence For the Painfully Shy. Avoid it.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Seems out of touch with the painfully shy, December 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Nervousness, Speak-Up, and Speak Out in Any Social or Business S ituation (Paperback)

The book has a few tips for what to say in various situations. Maybe they would be useful (or at least good for a laugh) for a person who doesn't have shyness problems. But the book doesn't address anything at all about overcoming the problem of shyness. Shy people experience pain and sometimes even panic in social situations. Simply telling them to "have a positive attitude" doesn't solve the problem - we need to know how!

So I'm still looking for a good book on the subject.