The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Verbal Self-Defense

At first seemed like a great book (after a few minutes browsing) but when I got home and read it in depth, I nearly puked at the sight of how corny it was. There are so many bad points about this awful book that I will not even waste time listing them, however one aspect which I must point out is that the author tried to make the subject humourous, which I found to be very unappropriate and disturbing; Myself personally and my sister have been victims of severe verbal abuse as kids, and I really do not find the subject to be a laughing matter. The style of the book was too light-hearted (with all those silly cartoony illustrations) for a subject like verbal abuse, that disgusted me.
Rating: 2 / 5

Glass offers a thorough account of communication techniques by those who would use words and actions to attack another person. She calls these attacks verbal murder because they kill the spirit. I like the metaphor very much, and she gives detailed instructions on how to physically demonstrate more assuredness when encountering one who would verbally kill you.

My big complaint with the book is that Glass repeats and repeats and repeats. Two indexes? Chapter previews, then section previews, then paragraph previews. And all those reviews. I believe in “Say what you will say; Say it; Then, tell what you’ve said.” But this book is 4 times as long as it needs o be. That being said, no one can fault Glass’s attention to detail.

This would be a useful companion to my book that explains the dynamics of battles between those of different rank within a hierarchy. Add Glass’s book to mine and you will be prepared to set up a strategy, devise a plan, and have yourself ready to do battle.

Julie Ann Wambach, author of Battles between Somebodies and Nobodies: Combat Abuse of Rank at Work and at Home
Rating: 3 / 5