The Law of the Garbage Truck: How to Respond to People Who Dump on You, and How to Stop Dumping on Others [Hardcover]

David J. Pollay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2010

Twenty years ago, while riding in the back of a New York City taxicab, syndicated columnist and business consultant David J. Pollay had an awakening-and he converted the lesson he learned that day into a life philosophy: By letting other people's “garbage”-their negativity-simply “pass by,” and not dumping garbage on others, you can become happier and more successful, both personally and professionally. Since David published the “Law“ in his newspaper column three years ago, more than 1,000 blogs have posted it, millions more have read it, and organizations worldwide have adopted it. And the numbers keep growing. Translated into nearly 50 languages, people from more than 100 countries have taken David's “No Garbage Trucks! Pledge.” All over the world people remember the focusing metaphor of the garbage truck for what can be achieved in life by not staking success and happiness on the behavior of others. Powerful and easily understood, The Law of the Garbage Truck will guide and inspire readers everywhere, every day.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

We've heard them called toxic people, but Pollay, syndicated columnist, blogger, and speaker, has labeled all the negative people in our lives, whether family, friends, or colleagues, "dumpers," and offers a fresh self-help guide to deal with them all. Pollay differentiates dumping from venting, which he describes as leaving people burdened by your problems, rather than helping them to understand them. Pollay structures his effort around eight "commitments," all beginning with "do" and including "Avoid Becoming Someone Else's Garbage Truck," "Let Your Own Garbage Trucks Pass You By," and "Declare Your Life a No-Garbage Trucks! Zone." A troika of mid-book quizzes help readers discern their GAL, or Garbage Accepting Load, and where they fall on the "Accepter" and "Dumper" scale, and "action guide" prompts end chapters (he urges readers to keep a pen in hand). Also included is research from experts in biology, neurology, and other sciences, and case studies of people who have put his philosophies into practice. Though the ease with which he believes his advice might be implemented can sound naive, he deserves kudos for taking a relatively nascent metaphor and expanding upon it admirably. (Oct.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for David J. Pollay and The Law of the Garbage Truck

The message will stay with you for decades to come.
—Tom Rath, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Full Is Your Bucket? and best-sellers Strengthsfinder 2.0 and Wellbeing

 

The Law of the Garbage Truck is smart, fun, and powerful.
—Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project

 

David J. Pollay …addresses the question on the forefront of everyone's mind:  "It's hard enough managing my own happiness, but how do I deal with the negative people in my life?" This compelling and practical volume provides the best answer I've seen yet.
—Barbara L. Fredrickson, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and author of Positivity

 

This book will immediately and profoundly change the way you interact with the world … I recommend it highly.
—Keith Ferrazzi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who’s Got Your Back and Never Eat Alone

 

David J. Pollay effortlessly distills the science of well-being into a simple, memorable formula for achieving a life lived authentically and happily.
—Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness

 

The Law of the Garbage Truck is a profound, practical, and personal book that shows how to keep the garbage in our lives at bay so we can enjoy inner peace and happiness.
—Jerry Jampolsky M.D., founder of the International Center for Attitudinal Healing, and author of fifteen best selling books, including Love is Letting Go of Fear

The Law of the Garbage Truck … gives us the motivation to stay on track, achieve our goals, and—best of all—be happy!
—Nido R. Qubein, President of High Point University and Chairman of Great Harvest Bread Company

 

There’s a simple reason why David J. Pollay’s “No Garbage Trucks! Pledge has been translated into 48 languages, and people from more than 100 countries have taken it”: It works! Start living a better life now!
—Nick Morgan, President of Public Words, and author of Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma

 

Follow Pollay’s powerful recommendations … and you’ll develop positive habits of happiness.
—Ed Diener, Joseph R. Smiley Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois, coauthor (with Robert Biswas-Diener) of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth

 

One of the best books I’ve read in years … you'll want everyone you care about to read The Law of the Garbage Truck. 
—Yakov Smirnoff, America’s Funniest Russian Comedian, and Professor at Missouri State University

 

As a Yahoo!, David was a one man “No Garbage Zone” of positive attitude and good business results. This honest and generous book will show you how to be one too.
—Tim Sanders, former Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo! and author of Love Is the Killer App: How To Win Business and Influence Friends

 

This enjoyable, fast-moving book shows you how to forget about past events you cannot change, and focus on creating an unlimited future for yourself.
 —Brian Tracy, author, 55 books/38 languages

 

Like a great coach, David J. Pollay offers a powerful game plan for success in life and sports.
—Jeff Conine, Major League Baseball All-Star and two-time World Series winner

 

How you interact with the world is a choice. You can get dumped on (and do some dumping). Or you can enjoy life. It’s your decision and David J. Pollay will show you how to make it.
—David Meerman Scott, best-selling author of The New Rules of Marketing & PR

 

A MUST READ for business leaders today. I have handed out copies of The Law of the Garbage Truck to my colleagues and team members.
—Frank Sui, Partner, Deloitte Consulting LLP

 

I want every principal, teacher, and parent to read The Law of the Garbage Truck. This brilliant book shows us how to give our best to our children every day, and to each other.
 —Tammy Ferguson, North Area Director of School Accountability, Palm Beach County School District

 

The universality of this spiritual message goes beyond all borders and unites all of us in a single mission to be kind and compassionate to all people.
—Reverend Linda Mobley, Cason United Methodist Church of Delray Beach

 

In reading The Law of the Garbage Truck, I was reminded of the teachings of the Dalai Lama. Many of David J. Pollay’s insightful observations and helpful recommendations are rooted in the time honored principles of Buddhism.
—Dale Smith, Head of School, Pine Crest School

 

David J. Pollay has written a superb and deeply spiritual book. The Law of the Garbage Truck instructs us to cleanse our spirits . . . and invites us to pursue a deep introspection in a way that inspires us to want to make more of our lives.
—Rabbi Daniel Levin, Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

 

David J. Pollay’s The Law of the Garbage Truck stands out from the hundreds of how-to-live-your-life books: It is backed by the best current research on happiness and well-being . . . readers who seriously commit to these principles will find their lives, their work, and their relationships enriched.
—Raymond D. Fowler, former President of the American Psychological Association

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (October 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402776640
• ISBN-13: 978-1402776649
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I will not be a garbage truck...and neither should you. September 21, 2010

By LuPot2

Format:Hardcover

I heard about David J. Pollay from a friend of mine. I had been mired in a miasma of personal issues and had become a very negative person who would burst into tears with little to no encouragement. I would pour out my personal woes; money issues, loneliness, anger towards the last person who broke my heart, and petty injustices that I felt were intended by everyone around me. I would drive fast, listen to loud music, and ignore the positives in my life. I was self destructive. I was hateful. I was a Garbage Truck.

I opened an advanced copy of this book, lent to me by my dear friend, and started to read. I realized that Pollay's examples of Garbage Trucks (people who spread negative emotions to others) closely resembled my own life. He uses personal, real life examples to express the benefits of allowing yourself to ignore Garbage Trucks and to not be one yourself, and backs each anecdote up with facts from a number of well researched psychological studies. The questions phrased at the end of each chapter allow the reader to express the negatives in their lives and to use the principles taught in the chapter prior to start the process of healing and letting it pass them by. The Law of the Garbage Truck is part anger management, part self help, and all love. It's about making choices to share the positive emotions and experiences in life, and to leave the garbage at the curb.

Empowerment is the name of Pollay's game, and his desire is to change the world, one positive person at a time. I reached an epiphany at the end of the book. I realized that what I had for years called "being honest" and "wearing my heart on my sleeve" had really been a way for me to unload and vent my problems to others, allowing them to pick up the load for me so I could have momentary relief until the next negative moment in my life occurred, and the cycle would begin again. I stopped getting upset when the driver behind me sped around me and cut me off. I realized that forgiveness and acceptance were far better tools than anger and vengeance. David J. Pollay is a fantastic writer, who uses wit and just plain facts to get across this potent message. I recommend that everyone read this book...for the betterment of themselves, and our society/world as a whole. We've been waiting for this voice for years...it's time we listened.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this book September 22, 2010

By MerB

Format:Hardcover

The Law of the Garbage Truck has given me the tools to live a happier, more productive life. I no longer allow negative people and situations to derail my success. I'm also able to recognize, and then stop myself from dumping negativity on those around me.

Unlike other self-help type books, Pollay relates to the reader through real life situations and stories. Then he supports it with research. The information was valuable, but I also truly enjoyed reading the book.

The book addresses everyday life circumstances everyone encounters at work, home and school. But Pollay also bravely delves into difficult subjects such as how to deal with a bully (kids and adults) and deeply negative situations such as loss and long term illness. The further I read into the book, the more people I thought of whom would benefit from reading it.

I cannot say enough about the valuable lessons inside the pages of The Law of the Garbage Truck. Pick up a copy. You'll be glad you did.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Better Way to Live September 23, 2010

By Christi

Format:Hardcover

The Law of the Garbage Truck is more than just a book about how to respond to others. It is a catalyst for thinking outside of the box. The Law of the Garbage Truck challenges its readers to rise above life's garbage and to courageously choose to be positive even when that choice doesn't make sense.

This is a book that helps the reader improve all relationships: coworkers, spouse, family, students, and administrators. As a teacher, I have used the Law of the Garbage Truck in the classroom. It is a wonderful tool.

I was surprised by the powerful insight that flowed through the book. I felt compelled to revisit and act upon what I had been taught since childhood: love, forgive, and give. The personal testimonies touched me and challenged me as a teacher, a parent, coworker, spouse, and friend. The message of The Law of the Garbage Truck permeates all levels of life's relationships. It is a modern day parable of how we should live. Join many others who have used this tool to unlock a world that is better than the one left behind.