How to be a People Person

Reviews

Lovely secret santa gift for some one in the office who has problems with people skills, Amazon 3 Jan 2011

I gave this as a secret Santa gift to some one in the office who was making my life a misery! Let me tell you that she was extremely embarrassed when she opened it up, however she has made marked improvements in the way she goes about speaking to people in the office.

Every one else in the office has also seen the improvements and have told me what an appropriate gift it was for her (since every one found out it was me who gave it).

*****

I love this book. Marianna Csoti is Godsent, 9 Jan 2007 Amazon.co.uk
Reviewer: Jennifer Smith (London)

This book has helped me a lot. Having had a pretty isolated and difficult childhood and adolescence, I'd grown into an adult desperate to be accepted and yet isolated, unable to communicate effectively or be assertive. I simply didn't know how. Since reading this book, I've come to understand how to change from being passive to being assertive, and when to be aggressive. My fear of being isolated made me afraid to assert myself, to speak up. I stuttered, spoke hesitantly, head-bent... It was terrific to see all my behaviour described by a total stranger - so precisely - in this book! And to have passages and passages on how to fix it. I didn't even know there was a term for my behaviour ('passive' / 'passive-aggressive'). To know that there was a way forward...! It was very reassuring. 'How to be a people person' helped me understand the methods people use to get what they want and how to win their respect and appreciation (and how to protect myself from bullying). I was refused promotion because of my inability to assert myself and to lead a team. Heck, as the book says, inability to communicate effectively is the biggest problem of the passive mind. The book tells me how to correct that and I think Marianna Csoti is one cool and fabulous human being for taking the time to write down her excellent tips. I'm applying them daily and feel really so much liberated and sure of myself where-ever the leaves may fall. I am me and proud to be...everyday. There's still a lot of work to do on me, but this book has given me a wonderful headstart.

*****

Jill Curtis
(psychoanalytic psychotherapist and Member of the British Association of Psychotherapists)

'How to be a People Person will be enormously helpful for anyone who wants to know more about the intricacies of personal relationships and to increase their self-awareness in the process.'

'Read this book if you have ever wondered why everyone else seems to find relationships easy to manage. From making conversation to forming romantic relationships, there are clear pointers to help you negotiate many worrying social situations. I recommend it.'

*****

all that women want

www.allthatwomenwant.co.uk/bestbooks.htm

Super little book that empowers you to overcome shyness and anxiety, widen your circle of friends and increase your chances of success at dating. Learn how to understand and master body language, resolve conflict, be assertive, negotiate successfully and have the confidence to deal with bullies, put-downs and prejudice. Follow Marianna's advice and you will feel like a new person in no time - a people person!

*****

www.amazon.co.uk review posted 8 August 2006

Reviewer: Delia (London)

I bought this book for my students who work with people and encounter many of the scenarios that the author highlights.
It was not only a fantastic reference for so many situations, both common and uncommon, but also very accessible. There is less of the academic language and more of the down to earth language that people can relate to on a day to day basis. This book is both practical and accessible to all, whatever you think your people skills are already.

*****

Newscheck September 2006

Sheila Cunningham

How to be a People Person definitely falls into the self-help genre of books.
So whether you're the kind of person who has a bookshelf full of such titles, each one read avidly in the hope of a more fulfilling existence, or you fall into that more cynical camp of "psycho-babble" sufferers, you will be keen to know whether this one offers something that is different to all the rest.
It certainly presents a more practical and straightforward approach than many others. No sensationalist promises to change your life overnight here; nor is it crammed with over-complex psychological theory or jargon.
In fact, the way the book is written can at times come across as over-simplistic and naive, but that said there are certainly many readers who will prefer the clear advice it offers to anything more soul-searching or profound.
The author doesn't profess to have a psychology background but is basing her writing on her experiences of life and work, which include teaching and pastoral care of teenagers.
Although she has written other titles aimed at young people, this one is targeted squarely at an adult audience. As a result, the language, together with the anecdotes and scenarios used to illustrate points within the book, do occasionally reflect a bias towards a slightly professional readership.
The content is wide-ranging, taking in everything from friendships, flirting and first impressions, to bullying, body language and bigotry.
Essentially, it is a guide to achieving clear and effective communication with the many people you will come across in your personal and working life.
Particularly strong chapters include those on conversation, listening and caring skills, body language, assertiveness and giving and receiving feedback.
As a Hungarian who grew up in Britain and later worked with international students the author has experience of national and cultural nuances of communication, and devotes the final chapter of the book to a useful insight into the etiquette, body language and taboos and customs of different nationalities and cultures.
Those who have real difficulties with aspects of life such as making and maintaining personal relationships or dealing with conflict would find helpful suggestions and techniques to try out, whilst those who already benefit from fairly effective skills could still pick up tips to help them fine-tune their communication abilities.
If you are a careers professional who works with adults, you might consider recommending this book to a client displaying signs of communication deficiencies that disadvantage them at interviews, or may be a barrier to them holding down a job or progressing within their career.
Those who work with teenagers and young adults could refer to the book selectively, or draw on the points covered to inform their own guidance or teaching.
There are also useful snippets that could benefit your own work performance and job satisfaction.
Divided into 20 chapters and with the benefit of a subject index at the back, this is the kind of paperback that you could dip into as and when the need arose, be it for the benefit of your clients or yourself, making it a versatile and inexpensive addition to your bookshelf.