When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

An interesting book with a lot of good points, but unfortunately is let down by several areas of both sexism and homophobia. This is a sign of the times of when the book was written, but I found it "distracted" away from the message/given examples in several areas of the book. Worth a read but just something to bear in mind.

Awesomeness​! This profoundly changes one's outlook towards life. It is so self-redeeming. Manuel Smith's ideas should be taught in schools. The world will change for the better.

its insights within can be valuable and practical to just about anyone. This book explains assertiveness and manipulation in opposition of each other. It describes manipulation as the act of indirectly asking for what you want by making others feel guilty. And it describes assertiveness as the act of firmly asking for what you want without feeling guilty and without making others feel guilty. Its main technique is so simple ("fogging" and refusing the implied guilt) -- it's been easy to apply in real life.