Synopses & Reviews
An indispensable guide to understanding--and living or working with--people whose behavior leaves you frustrated and confused
We all have people in our lives who frustrate, annoy, or hurt us: workplace bullies, those who always claim to be right, or those with anxious or obsessive personalities. And most of us hurt others occasionally, too. Now, authors Dr. Helen McGrath, a clinical psychologist and professor, and Hazel Edwards, a professional writer, offer this highly readable, extremely practical guide to dealing with the difficult personalities we encounter every day--in others, and in ourselves.
Taking the American Psychiatric Association's widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as its starting point, Difficult Personalities helpfully outlines over a dozen different personality traits and types, detailing their common characteristics and underlying motivations. It also equips readers with numerous strategies for dealing with difficult behavior, including:
• Anger and conflict management
• Optimism and assertion training
• Rational and empathic thinking
• Reexamining your own personality.
Readers will also benefit from sections on making difficult decisions and maintaining romantic relationships. Perfect for anyone who has ever wished that other people came with a handbook, Difficult Personalities illuminates the personality differences that so often serve as barriers to cooperation in the workplace and harmony at home.
Review
“A no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative... Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Gets to the heart of the matter and offers a real plan for change and coping.”
—Library Journal
“Concise, well-organized advice that will help readers identify and deal more effectively with the troublesome people in their lives.”
—Albert Bernstein, PhD, author of Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry, Dinosaur Brains: Dealing with All Those Impossible People at Work, and Am I the Only Sane One Working Here?
“As a professional in the field of psychology, Im impressed with Difficult Personalities content and useful information. Its easy to read—both a good reference book and practical for anyone.”
—Martha Manning, PhD, author of Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface
"Comprehensive information delivered in a straightforward manner, this book is a must read for those who wish to better understand and deal with the difficult people in their lives."
—George K. Simon, Jr., PhD, author of In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
Review
"A no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative... Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates."
Publishers Weekly --Publishers Weekly
Review
"Gets to the heart of the matter and offers a real plan for change and coping."
Library Journal --Publishers Weekly
Review
"Concise, well-organized advice that will help readers identify and deal more effectively with the troublesome people in their lives."
Albert Bernstein, PhD, author of Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry, Dinosaur Brains: Dealing with All Those Impossible People at Work, and Am I the Only Sane One Working Here? --Library Journal
Review
"As a professional in the field of psychology, I'm impressed with
Difficult Personalities' content and useful information. It's easy to read both a good reference book and practical for anyone."
Martha Manning, PhD, author of Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface
Review
"Comprehensive information delivered in a straightforward manner, this book is a must read for those who wish to better understand and deal with the difficult people in their lives."
George K. Simon, Jr., PhD, author of In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
Review
What do you get when a clinical psychologist (McGrath) and an experienced author of adult and children's literature (Edwards) team up to write a handbook for dealing with troublesome people at work or in one's personal life? You get a no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative. As with many such manuals, it's not necessary to read cover to cover (especially when the book's only shortcoming is its slightly repetitive tips and strategies) but, rather, to read the chapter about whichever personality causes stress in your life, from the anxious to the passive-aggressive, bullies, and narcissists. Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates.
(Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
All of us have people in our lives who hurt, frustrate or annoy us. Think of those people who claim 'I'm always right ', workplace bullies, or the more extreme personality types who are compulsive and obsessive. Most of us occasionally hurt others, too. Four years in the writing, Difficult Personalities is a reassuring and approachable guide to help us deal with the difficult personalties we encounter each day as well as our own. It offers strategies such as anger and conflict management, empathy, optimism, assertion, and how to make decisions about difficult relationships. In addition to their own research, the authors have based their categorisation of personality types on the well-respected Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition. With this foundation they cover frustrating, confusing and damaging personalities, as well as the anxious and bossy types. They also identify the 'Successful Sociopaths'. These can be charming, often highly successful people who are serial liars with no conscience. They can lead serial lives, sexually and workwise, and 'con' everyone they come in contact with.
Synopsis
We all have people in our lives who frustrate, annoy, or hurt us: workplace bullies, those who always claim to be right, or those with anxious or obsessive personalities. And most of us hurt others occasionally, too. Now, authors Dr. Helen McGrath, a clinical psychologist and professor, and Hazel Edwards, a professional writer, offer this highly readable, extremely practical guide to dealing with the difficult personalities we encounter every day--in others, and in ourselves.
Taking the American Psychiatric Association's widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as its starting point, Difficult Personalities helpfully outlines over a dozen different personality traits and types, detailing their common characteristics and underlying motivations. It also equips readers with numerous strategies for dealing with difficult behavior, including:
- Anger and conflict management
- Optimism and assertion training
- Rational and empathic thinking
- Reexamining your own personality.
Readers will also benefit from sections on making difficult decisions and maintaining romantic relationships. Perfect for anyone who has ever wished that other people came with a handbook, Difficult Personalities illuminates the personality differences that so often serve as barriers to cooperation in the workplace and harmony at home.
About the Author
Helen McGrath completed her undergraduate degree and Diploma of Education at the University of Sydney and her Masters degree and Ph.D at Monash University. She is currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at RMIT University as well as a part-time senior lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. She also has a small private psychology practice in Cheltenham, Melbourne. Helen is a leading psychologist and educator with a particular interest and expertise in mental health, social skills and relationships.
Helen has been involved in a range of major government projects such as the Victorian Education Department's Anti-Bullying Review, the Australian Government's 2011 Revision of the National Safe Schools Framework and the Australian Government's 2008 Scoping Study on Student Wellbeing.
She is the author or co-author of 22 books for educators, psychologists and the general community. In 2007 she was a recipient of a Deakin University's Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence for her long-term contributions to Deakin's partnership with governments, the teaching profession and the wider community.' She is regularly invited to run workshops and present keynote addresses both nationally and internationally. She is a member of the executive committee and the Advisory Council of the National Centre Against Bullying.
Dr Helen McGrath is based in Melbourne. Acclaimed children's author Hazel Edwards is best known for her popular classic There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake, but for her 200th novel she chose to embark on quite a different project. Hazel is also co-author of the book Difficult Personalities along with Helen McGrath.