Books on Communication
-Suggested by Tom Shea

Cornelius, Helena and Shoshana Faire, Everyone Can Win: How To Resolve Conflict, Simon Schuster, Australia, l990, l92pp.It is available from Aiki Works, P.O. Box 251, Victor NY 14564. Price $19.00 plus $2.75 postage (USA only) Darylene and I think this is the best single work not only for learning how to manage conflict, but also communication in general. It's easy easy reading, comprehensive coverage, has stories and illustrations. Not available in USA, except as above.

Faber and Mazlish, How to Talk so Kids will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk, Avon Books, l982, 242 pp. Paperback book for parents. Some Michigan State Cooperative Extension offices, e.g. Grand Traverse County, have workbooks and video's for training parents in this approach.

Tannen, Deobrah, Ph.D., You Just Don't Understand Me: Women and Men in Conversation, Ballentine Books, N.Y., l990, 330pp. Not a 'how to book' but a plain talking piece on gender styles of communication.

Stewart, John, editor, Bridges Not Walls: A book About Interpersonal Communication, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 3rd ed. l982.353 pp. Essays on multiple facets of communication, from how words work, and owning anger, to behaviors, confrontations, and relationship issues by authors from John Powell and R.D. Laing to Rogers Fromm, and May, and Buber.

Bone, Diane, The Business of Listening: A Practical Guide to Effective Listening, Crisp Publications, Inc.1994. 88 pp. Very practical workbook style book aimed to improve personal productivity through better listening.

Gordon, Dr. Thomas, Parent Effectiveness Training, Leader Effectiveness Training, Teacher Effectiveness Training (series) Bantam Books.l977.278 pp. The work of Dr. Gordon is still valid after all these years. In fact, it seems to me that many subsequent authors have " borrowed" from his work on basic communication skills.

Tom Shea is a principal in:
Shea & Shea Associates
Dispute Resolution Services, Mediation, Consultation, Training

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