Customer Reviews

Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me?: A Guide to Handling Bullies (Education for Peace)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book tells about bullies and victims and teaches how to be neither one. It explains how bullies may become that way because they are bullied or are hurt inside. It helped me to look at bullies in a different way and made me feel sorry for them. The book also talks about different types of bullies and how some bullying is seen as "successful". Victims are sometimes attacked by bullies because they act like "poor me" and the bullies see that as a sign of weakness. The books tells how not to act like a victim and to not BE a victim. I really liked the role-playing and questions that helped me think of ways to avoid a fight. I also liked the stories. This book was very informative and fun to read. I learned a lot of things that will help me to become the best person I can be. Thank you, Dr. T!

This book was based on solving a conflict nonviolently. It helps victims defend themselves from the bully nonviolently; physically and verbally. It helps bullies recognize that they are bullying and to stop. And it teaches you how to help somebody you know, to stop bullying. It teaches you how to recognize your feelings and to help control yourself. It helps you to control the bully or victim inside of you. I liked this book because it taught me that without even trying, you can bully. It's made me see the bully and victim inside of me, and in a way I've been nicer and have not "bullied" people as much as I have been in the past. My mother has also seen a very big difference since I've read this book. It has helped me a lot. I don't think that there was anything I didn't like about this book. I think it had some very moral values. I would recommend this book to anyone. Now I want to read the others.

Caitlin (Age 15)

I felt this book was excellent in laying out clear specific techniques that one could use to help them creatively deal with bullies and bullying. Getting out of a bully situation is so hard for so many people and this book makes it easy to see how one can do it. It took away the feeling of helplessness, and empowered me with skills I could use all of the time. I was intrigued by each of the techniques, like the trickery technique. I realized this is something that all of nature does for survival. Just like the moth that makes itself look like a leaf so as not to be eaten. Brilliant! But not only does this book gives you tools to defeat bullying, it also explores the root of bullying and conflict so that it can be prevented before it starts. Often, we may not realize how each of us may bully at times, because of our conditioning. This book showed me how to look at that conditioned behavior and to be aware of it. The problem is not just being bullied, but bullying. And this book does an excellent job of dealing with both. I suggest any parent buying this book for their child whether they are bullied or not.

In response to what two individuals are saying about myself and my books I would like to share with you what many others have said to balance out their unsubstantiated claims.

* WHY IS EVERYBODY ALWAYS PICKING ON ME?? won the Silver Medal at the Amereican Book Sellers Convention

* WHY IS EVERYBODY ALWAYS PICKING ON ME cited by the Omega New Age Directory as one of the Ten Best Books of 1991, for its "atmosphere of universal benevolence and practical application"

*Dr. Webster Doyle winner of the Martial Arts Industry Association Distinguished Service Award

*"The books of Dr. Webster-Doyle are the first attempt I have seen to explain to young people and adults the concept of martial arts as a peaceful, nonviolent 'way of life' and to give students the tools to accomplish this goal." - Linda Lee Cadwell

* Endorsed by:

* National PTA

* Scouting Magazine - Boy and Girl Scouts or America

* NEA - National Education Association

* Sports Illustrated for Kids

* Mothering Magazine - to name only a few

* Awarded the Robert Burns Medal for literature by Austria's Albert Schweitzer Society, for "outstanding merits in the field of peace-promotion"

* Selected by the International Association of Educators for World Peace for their Central American peace education project in Panama and El Salvador

* Acclaimed at the Soviet Peace Fund Conference in Moscow and published in Russia by Moscow's Library of Foreign Literature and Magistr Publications

* On permanent display at the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity in Samarkind, Uzbekistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States.

* "Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us? explores the roots of prejudice. I don't think I've seen another book like it. How wonderful if this book could be used in social studies classrooms! I have learned where prejudice begins, how it is created, how it is perpetuated, and how it can be resolved. This book looks at stereotypes, bigotry, discrimination, scapegoating, racism, and more. It is a wonderfully comprehensive manual for young people and adults alike on understanding our conditioning and the root of prejudice." American Pride Through Education

*"Webster-Doyle's insight is that by recognizing, understanding, and accepting our violent tendencies, we can avoid acting them out. These new books . . . are good for teachers and parents of elementary school children who need appropriate language and activities to help children deal with their feelings and the violence-provoking parts of the environment. To this reviewer, they are realistic and practical." --Young Children - Magazine of the National Association for the Education of Young Children

* "The book excels at impelling children to understand how conflict works within themselves. Tug of War offers engaging exercises that enhance a child's ability to understand the world. These exercises inspire self-observation, and the drawings of award-winning illustrator Rod Cameron enliven the book." Forum ¬- Newsletter of Educators for Social Responsibility

* Fighting the Invisible Enemy and Tug of War recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection as "fine contributions to materials for children"; both books also chosen by the British Commonwealth Collection - A Selection of Books and Journals on Nonviolence and Social Change

*"Every publication from the pen of this author should make a significant contribution to peace within and without. Highly recommended!" -- New Age Publishers and Retailers Alliance Trade Journal

*Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? -- cited by the Omega New Age Directory as one of the Ten Best Books, for its "atmosphere of universal benevolence and practical application"

* Dr. Lawrence Shapiro of the Center for Applied Psychology described Dr. Webster-Doyle as an "eloquent leader of the movement to combine principles of education, psychology, and the martial arts to teach young people to resolve conflict peacefully."

* Selected by the National PTA as a recommended resource for parents.

*"We use his books and thoroughly endorse the usefulness of his methods which have high potential in schools." - Stewart W. Twemlow, M.D. Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis, Menninger Clinic

* Endorsed by Scouting Magazine and Sports Illustrated for Kids

* Endorsed by Mothering Magazine

* Nine time Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing - in six consecutive years

* One Encounter-One Chance won a Silver Medal at the American Book Sellers Convention

*Selected by the American Booksellers Association for its resource listing of "Children's Books About Peace"

*"These topics are excellent and highly relevant."

--Dr. Charles Mercieca, Executive Vice President

International Association of Educators for World Peace

NGO, United Nations (ECOSOC), UNICEF & UNESCO

*"Helps young people deal with conflict and violence by describing practical skills for peace." --Holistic Education Review

*"I realize Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? urgency for every child and adult . . . My daughter couldn't stop reading it!"

--Marina Dubrovskaya, Assistant Director

Dept. of Sociology, Lenin Library, Moscow, Russia

* "Your book (Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me?) has really helped me ignore the bullies and in a way stop bullying others." - 4th grader

* Presented the National Conference on Peacemaking & Conflict Resolution

*"The materials were very helpful to the facilitators who conducted the workshop on bullying strategies." - New Jersey State Bar Foundation

* Endorsed by the New York City Board of Education

...To name only a few

There are a number of good suggestions in this book, however, I found it very long and involved (almost like a reworking of a master's thesis), reducing its usefulness for younger children (and I mean under age 13 or so). I also did not like the political overtones (pacifism as a personal and especially a national policy has limited usefulness, in my opinion). I also did not like the artwork--it seemed like the result of "art therapy," and ultimately did not serve to help empower or inculcate a more positive outlook in the "target audience," again in my opinion.

Dr. Webster-Doyle's short stories at the beginning of each chapter were interesting and helpful, but I would have appreciated more direct advice on dealing with bullies. His definition of bullies and why they do what they do, provided me insight into some of these behaviors, but I felt that for a book subtitled,"A Guide to Handling Bullies", there was too much information FOR bullies and not enough for victims.

I have had GREAT! success with this book. In fact, the success was actually documented in a case study with several children. If you are any kind of teacher at all, you will find this book useful. I think it gives children a number of options to manage conflict. I also think if we taught our children more from this author's books and programs, we would all be more peaceful people and actually be able to live with each other, (there's a concept)no matter how different we are! It is not a passive response...it is a SMART response!

I first met the Author in the late 1980's. I have since employed much of his work within the many programs I have done.

Dr. Webster-Doyle has enormous experience as both a psychologist (with background in Youth related work), and as a experienced Martial Artist.

Psychologists might not fully understand the synergy with martial arts, and many (most, I'm sorry to say) martial artists do not fully comprehend the many ways Body & Spirit are driven by Mind. I have used this material in many public & Private Programs, from NYC Bd of ED programming to Community Non-Profit Organization & Commercial Martial Arts Programs. I recommend it highly.

GM Ticali ,

Old Lion Karate Academy

Martial LIFE Arts Assoc.

Terrance Webster-Doyle's books are a great help for teaching youth the art of non-violence which is, essentially, the essence of Martial Arts. Anyone who criticizes this basic premise just doesn't get it. Terrence Webster-Doyle does, that is why he is a respected educator and Master worldwide.

Not a useful book at all.

Author blames the victim for acting like one, and suggests impractical, useless advice such as walking away (hard to do when someone is pinning you down and beating the you-know-what out of you) telling a teacher or other adult (most will do little or nothing) offering to tutor the bully in math, etc.

He also expresses too much sympathy for the bully who feels inferior, etc.

Widens the definition of bullying so much he trivializes it. For example, claims that TV commercials are a form of bullying because they try to persuade you to buy something. HUGE difference between that and someone beating you, spitting on you, calling you names etc.

He also "tries" to help bullies basically by telling them to be nice, cooperative with others etc. which is naive and useless.