Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

Combination by a trained Vipassana teacher and non violent communication trainer. Title of the book says everything.

Absolutely love it! It's a must read for anyone who wants to improve communication.

I purchased the same book from Amazon and another company. They both gave around the same time in delivery, but I received the book in one week from the other company, compared to Amazon which took a month. I had already finished reading the book by the time I received the one from Amazon. This happened in the middle of Covid times, and it may have something to do with the method of delivery they both used. As for the book, it was full of useful, practical information. It was very clearly written and easy to follow. I had also brought the audio version through Amazon earlier, and I heard so much 'gold' in it, I wanted to get the hard copy so I could refer to the points more quickly. Love the book. Brought extra copies to give away.

Thais book can truly help you navigate your relationships in skillful ways so that you can find common ground and manage or avoid conflict. It makes you better and makes Life better. Gives Hope!

In this book, Sofer does a great job by combining principles of nonviolent communication (NVC) with mindfulness. While NVC offers a way how to communicate based on our needs, mindfulness practices allow us to actually get to point where we are able to to so, instead of relying on our autopilot and habitual communication strategies. I also like the emphasis on empathy in the book, which for me, is summarised in the basic stance of curiosity and care towards the person I am interacting with. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in NVC!

I am a veteran educator and rely on my communication skills to work with students, families and administrators. Delivering messages so they can be heard, and listening to others so they can feel seen and heard is a huge part of my professional existence. If you are interested in deepening your communication and apply mindfulness, self awareness (cognitive, affective and somatic) and concepts from Rosenberg’s Non-Violent Communication, this book is highly recommended. This is a VERY well written book by Oren Jay Sofer. The concepts (Oren refers to them as principles) and teachings are well structured and organized so that you are able to process the concepts multiple times during the book to really grasp and let them sink in. Oren shares contemplative practices that support the communication principles and at the end of the chapters, recaps with bullet points and with mini Q and A’s, further exploring the “what ifs” when applying the practice/principles. The list of Roadblocks to Communication was enlightening as there were some in there that didn’t appear as roadblocks, but looking deeply can get in the way of connecting with others. There is much wisdom and heart in the principles. His “pairing” of Practices (mindfulness related to help build presence, relational awareness, curiosity and care) to apply the principles in communication with others were helpful when I first started. It gave me a felt experience of what my body and mind needed to be when trying out the principles with others. I also enjoyed his direct and accessible style of writing about the concepts/principles, real life anecdotes (relatable, makes all of us Human!) and the meditation practices (guided online) that come with the book. A great book to read with a partner to embark on a journey to strengthen communication, for book clubs or summer reading for those who work closely with people and want to deepen connection with others through empathy and curiosity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sensible, practical, compassionate, flexible and kind. I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone who might be looking to improve their communication skills. Also useful for anyone wishing to break the cycles of aggression or agitation with a particular person. This book has helped me become more courageous and clear in my own practice. I will be returning to the book often.