getAbstract Summary: Get the key points from this book in less than 10 minutes.

What is it about the human race? To paraphrase Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda, 80% of people don't want to hear about your problems, and the other 20% are happy you're having trouble. Those 20%, that is the backstabbers, saboteurs, sadists, know-it-alls, insulters and hotheads, are the subject of Muriel Solomon's street-smart book. In it, the self-dubbed "strategic talking" expert categorizes many types of difficult people you might encounter at work. To make the book very applicable, she introduces each personality, explains why such individuals think as they do, how you are likely to react to their behavior, and what strategies you can use to protect yourself. Unless you work alone, getAbstract expects that you, like most team players, probably have your hands full dealing with a complete chorus of "false hounds" and "rascally knaves." This book can help you minimize their damage. Since you can't always get away from such people, you might as well learn how to put them in their place diplomatically. Or, if that doesn't work, you can quote Shakespeare: "I do desire we may be better strangers." Forsooth.

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Copyright © 2002 by Muriel Solomon. Used by arrangement with Prentice Hall Press, a division of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.