Assertiveness Training

I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes when I saw *another* assertiveness guide. But *Assertiveness Training* won me over by the end of Chapter 2—not because it’s revolutionary, but because it’s *useful*. Banks breaks down assertiveness into repeatable steps, like dissecting a math problem. The chapter on 'passive-aggressive traps' (complete with cringe-worthy examples we’ve all used) had me laughing—and squirming—in recognition. Jay Deane’s delivery sells it; he sounds like the no-nonsense mentor you’d actually listen to, not a hypeman or a therapist. His tone dips into sarcasm just enough to keep things lively, especially during the role-playing sections, which could’ve felt stilted in lesser hands. That said, this isn’t a deep dive into *why* we struggle with boundaries (if you want psychological roots, look elsewhere). And while the scripts are gold, some feel tailored to workplace conflicts—parents or people in high-emotion relationships might need to adapt them. The pacing is mostly tight, though the section on body language drags slightly in audio format (it’s harder to visualize posture cues without a visual aid). Still, at three hours, it’s the rare self-help audiobook that respects your time. I’ve already used the 'fogging technique' (a genius way to deflect criticism without defensiveness) twice this week. If you’re done with theory and ready for a toolkit, this is your playbook.