Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Living Nonviolent Communication: Practical Tools to Connect and Communicate Skillfully in Every Situation” as Want to Read:
Living Nonviolent Communication: Practical Tools to Connect and Communicate Skillfully in Every Situation
by
You're about to have an uncomfortable meeting with your boss. The principal just called about your middle-schooler. You had a fight with your partner and it's an hour before bed. You know your next move will go a long way toward defining your relationships with these individuals. So what do you do?
We all find ourselves in situations similar to these, and too often resort ...more
We all find ourselves in situations similar to these, and too often resort ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
June 1st 2012
by Sounds True
(first published 2012)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Living Nonviolent Communication,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Living Nonviolent Communication
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Living Nonviolent Communication: Practical Tools to Connect and Communicate Skillfully in Every Situation

It's a difficult read (for me - because it's not a story) but well worth the time. I needed help speaking with both my son and students in a way that respects and empathizes with their own "stuff" instead of taking things personally. Honestly, I'm just sick of being defensive all the time. I don't have enough practice yet, but I plan to attend some seminars and read all his other books. A world without war. holla.
...more

“Don’t mix up that which is habitual with that which is natural.”- Gandhi
Read it. Take notes.
Before reading this book I suggest you read Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, a book about foundations of NVC, and then come back to read this more practical companion.
Here you'll get stories from Rosenberg's workshops, role-playing dialogues and stories from his personal life. He really breaks it down into simple steps and shows how much relief and joy people find when they connect with ea ...more
Read it. Take notes.
Before reading this book I suggest you read Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, a book about foundations of NVC, and then come back to read this more practical companion.
Here you'll get stories from Rosenberg's workshops, role-playing dialogues and stories from his personal life. He really breaks it down into simple steps and shows how much relief and joy people find when they connect with ea ...more

Like Rosenberg's main book, this introduces life-changing theories for how to think and speak. A sequel of sorts to the original, it uses case studies, dialogue to help unpack and explain the value of non-violent communication. I found myself wishing I had obtained the foundation first, which I subsequently did by reading the original.
...more

I would give this book 6 stars if I could. It has the power to change how you relate to others and yourself.
As much as I appreciated NVC, hearing (or seeing) Rosenberg talk to an audience about it and interact with them brings the concepts to life. Reading this book, largely excerpts from workshops he has done, is like watching him practice. It gave me a much deeper and also more practical sense of how I can apply NVC in everyday situations.
As much as I appreciated NVC, hearing (or seeing) Rosenberg talk to an audience about it and interact with them brings the concepts to life. Reading this book, largely excerpts from workshops he has done, is like watching him practice. It gave me a much deeper and also more practical sense of how I can apply NVC in everyday situations.

There is a chapter on anger, which is the most helpful piece on the topic that I've read (and I've sought out so much advice and literature in both psychology and spirtiuality on the topic because I struggle with it so much). Anger starts as a thought, in the form of a judgment of either yourself or someone else. If you can shift focus to either your feelings and needs or the other person's feelings and needs, the anger gets cut off. It sounds simple but is difficult to do, but this so far has b
...more

A great completion to the first "Nonviolent communication" book. Great chapter about anger.
...more

I very much think that the world would be a better place if everyone learned about NVC. Not in the same way that I think it would be a better place if everyone tried chai tea, but like, in an actual way. I want to hold this book like a dear baby.
The tenants of NVC are genius but SO SIMPLE. This book contains tons of examples and situational role-playing so that you can see how it really works in real life, which is very helpful. There are tons of clips from Marshall's seminars on YouTube and th ...more
The tenants of NVC are genius but SO SIMPLE. This book contains tons of examples and situational role-playing so that you can see how it really works in real life, which is very helpful. There are tons of clips from Marshall's seminars on YouTube and th ...more

Relatively quick read. Good in addition to the other works. Especially enjoyed the last chapter on "practical spirituality" and this quote:
pg 145 "I trust a spirituality that leads people to go forward and transform the world, that doesn't just sit there with this beautiful image of radiating energy. I want to see that energy reflected in people's actions as they go out and make things happen. It's something you do, a practical spirituality." ...more
pg 145 "I trust a spirituality that leads people to go forward and transform the world, that doesn't just sit there with this beautiful image of radiating energy. I want to see that energy reflected in people's actions as they go out and make things happen. It's something you do, a practical spirituality." ...more

I've learned a lot and reflected on my own relationships, communication, and conflicts thanks to this book. I'm not a big fan of the dialog / transcript format though. A motivating read, I see the real value of the book is finding time to practice in our lives. the potential of healing with empathy leaves me optimistic, but also more aware of the omnipresence of suffering in how we've been socialized.
...more

This is another one of those Marshall Rosenberg books where it's like, look, if this is the one NVC book your library has, then check it out and learn about the method. But if you have access to Nonviolent Communication, I have no idea why you should bother with this book.
The really irritating thing about all Rosenberg's NVC books is that he uses the same examples over and over. The prisoner who said he wouldn't have had to kill his friend, the husband and wife at war over spending, the anti-Sem ...more
The really irritating thing about all Rosenberg's NVC books is that he uses the same examples over and over. The prisoner who said he wouldn't have had to kill his friend, the husband and wife at war over spending, the anti-Sem ...more

It wasn't exactly what i thought, but i found it really useful. Some of the communication techniques would work best if both parties had read the book (some required a level of give-and-take that wouldn't be easy if only one party was using the techniques) but a lot of the book would be really helpful for someone who just wanted to be able to help ensure the other party understood that they were really trying to understand and help them.
It's got a "Mr. Rodgers" type feel to it- gentle and a lit ...more
It's got a "Mr. Rodgers" type feel to it- gentle and a lit ...more

Marshall Rosenberg has created one of the most powerful tools that has been ever created.
By introducing the world to Non Violent Communication he's giving us the wonderful opportunity to contribute to the enrichment of the lives of others as well as our own, through true connection.
We are born with these abilities, however, through modern education we un-learn these natural processes and instead we use means of punishment and awards to meet our needs.
Marshall teaches us how to re-learn these na ...more
By introducing the world to Non Violent Communication he's giving us the wonderful opportunity to contribute to the enrichment of the lives of others as well as our own, through true connection.
We are born with these abilities, however, through modern education we un-learn these natural processes and instead we use means of punishment and awards to meet our needs.
Marshall teaches us how to re-learn these na ...more

Rosenberg left a legacy of non-violent communication and the importance of using empathy to connect with others. He presents the ability of have power with others rather than over others. He explains how to effectively make an observation, state one's feeling and needs, and make a request in order to get our needs met, while meeting the needs of others. This book is for anyone who is trying to resolve conflict with others, or just becoming more self-aware of one's own needs and feelings.
...more

Even if you are dubious about the mechanics or the method, you should read this book for the underlying concept. If you are feeling divided from your neighbor, is it enough to feel superior and justified? Or, do you have a need to live in community?
[Mr. Rosenberg also stresses that it is not the method that is important, but the underlying alignment of your self, both towards others and to your own needs.]
[Mr. Rosenberg also stresses that it is not the method that is important, but the underlying alignment of your self, both towards others and to your own needs.]

Okay book. He gives a lot of examples from sessions he's led in prisons, marriage counselling etc. Basically Rosenberg believes we're not great at communicating our "needs" as opposed to our strategies. We need to practice hearing what people actually mean and use positive present language with one another.
...more

This book profoundly changed my life and my perspective. A lot of what he explains in this book were ideas and thoughts that I already had about how violent communication has become. I really believe that everyone should be required to read this to communicate more effectively and to resolve conflicts for the best of everyone involved.

I read the intro, part of the romantic partner section, and jumped to the chapter about parenting with NVC. It's a great model. I want to learn more so that I can employ this way of interacting with others, especially my toddler.
...more

This seems like a powerful tool. I'm looking forward to trying it when we are out of SIP and I interact with more humans again. His anecdotes are impressive and I've heard friends say that these practices worked for them.
...more

This brings to life a lot of the information from the original book with extracts from workshops and examples. A bit repetitive (which is not necessarily a bad thing if you're trying to learn this process).
...more

Jan 27, 2020
Alina Bodnar
added it
Practical continuation of the seminal work on Nonviolent communication with examples. Highly recommend!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Marshall Rosenberg was an American psychologist and the creator of Nonviolent Communication, a communication process that helps people to exchange the information necessary to resolve conflicts and differences peacefully. He was the founder and Director of Educational Services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication, an international non-profit organization.
In 1961, Rosenberg received his Ph.D ...more
In 1961, Rosenberg received his Ph.D ...more
News & Interviews
Listen up, because our colleagues here at Goodreads have some excellent audiobook recommendations for you! Of course, the books they've...
13 likes · 7 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Don’t mix up that which is habitual with that which is natural.”
—
11 likes
“This objective of getting what we want from other people—or getting them to do what we want them to do—threatens the autonomy of people, their right to choose what they want to do. And whenever people feel that they’re not free to choose what they want to do, they are likely to resist, even if they see the purpose in what we are asking and would ordinarily want to do it.”
—
6 likes
More quotes…