When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

by Manuel J. Smith

Doubleday Broadway, 1985

Copyright © 1975 by Manuel J. Smith
Used by arrangement with Doubleday, an imprint of The Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
First Edition: 1975
ISBN: 9780553263909
Pages: 352

Category: Career & Self-Development

In this summary you will learn

• How other people may attempt to manipulate your behavior to get you to do what they want
• What your basic “assertive rights” are
• How to thwart others’ manipulative behavior and promote productive communication at work and at home

Why you should read When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

Take a trip back to the 1970s, when leisure suits, long sideburns and “assertiveness training” were all the rage. Psychologist Manuel J. Smith was a pioneer in the life-changing assertiveness training movement. Reading his bestseller about it decades later adds a new perspective. Some of his advice still feels relevant, particularly when he urges you to beware of those who try to impose their standards of “right” and “wrong” to manipulate you. Smith lists your 10 “assertive rights,” the most important being the right to be the ultimate judge of your own behavior. He details several verbal techniques you can use to block manipulation, and encourage productive communication and negotiation. He supports each tactic with sample dialogues from real-life situations. Although some of his counsel may seem as dated as disco, getAbstract recommends his classic training manual to anyone who still feels guilty about saying “no!”

About the Author

Manuel J. Smith, Ph.D., is a clinical-experimental psychologist and the author of Yes, I Can Say No. His work has appeared in numerous professional and scientific publications, including the Journal of Experimental Psychology and Psychology Report.

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