Preview
  • Talking to Crazy

  • How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life
  • By: Mark Goulston MD
  • Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
  • Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,157 ratings)

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Talking to Crazy

By: Mark Goulston MD
Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Business/Personal Development, 2016

Let's face it: We all know people who are irrational. No matter how hard you try to reason with them, it never works. So what's the solution? How do you talk to someone who's out of control? What can you do with a boss who bullies, a spouse who yells, or a friend who frequently bursts into tears?

In his book Just Listen, Mark Goulston shared his best-selling formula for getting through to the resistant people in your life. Now, in his breakthrough new book Talking to Crazy, he brings his communication magic to the most difficult group of all - the downright irrational. As a psychiatrist, Goulston has seen his share of crazy, and he knows from experience that you can't simply argue it away. The key to handling irrational people is to learn to lean in to the crazy - to empathize with it. That radically changes the dynamic and transforms you from a threat into an ally.

Talking to Crazy explains this counterintuitive Sanity Cycle and reveals:

  • Why people act the way they do
  • How instinctive responses can exacerbate the situation and what to do instead
  • When to confront a problem and when to walk away
  • How to use a range of proven techniques including Time Travel, the Fish-bowl, and the Belly Roll
  • And much more

You can't reason with unreasonable people - but you can reach them. This powerful and practical book shows you how.

©2015 Mark Goulston (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"A persuasive performance by L. J. Ganser illuminates both the droll and the danger of dealing with 'crazy' people.... The resonance of Ganser's voice is engaging, and his portrayals of the numerous personalities discussed are the highlight of his performance." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Talking to Crazy

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Espectacular

Lectura obligatoria para cualquier persona que dirija una organización, un equipo de trabajo o una familia

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1 person found this helpful

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Fantastic, relevant to anyone/everyone.

learn about the irrationality that you, I, and everyone can fall into at times of irrationality. this is a great book. whether your parents, spouse, friends, coworkers or customwrs- you will be able to apply this to at least one meaningful interaction.

I am the final line of defense for a software company retaining it's clients. the tactics in this book were helping me before I finished. you gotta consciously apply them. you really do. but darn they are brilliant. I wish every teenager would read this, we are all irrational as teenagers and this would be enlightening. It's enlightening at all ages because none of us live in solitude and irrationality is inevitable for us all.

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Become comfortable with Crazy

This was an excellent listen. I learned a lot about how to talk to people who are having a variety bad days. I also learned a lot about mental illness and how to relate to the people who suffer from it. I really recommend this one.

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A must read....unless you're a hermit!

Wow! Anyone that interacts with another human being, on any level, must read this book!

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Eye opening.

I loved it! A hard copy would be nice to go along with it.
Really enjoyed the narrator too.

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Not sure how to use this in real life

The stories were interesting, but other than using the steps to reach out to an uncommunicative teen, I'm not sure how to generalize a lot of the information for everyday conversations.

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really helpful and insightful

really helpful.
i have to look up the pdf.
Very practical guidance on crazy ... and how to tell if I or the other one is the crazy one

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MUST read!

What made the experience of listening to Talking to Crazy the most enjoyable?

EVERYONE should read this! No matter what you do or who you are! SO insightful and helpful in dealing with people of all types.

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Fantastic!

Such a great book! Absolutely loved the humor and light hearted approach the author took for such a tricky topic! Will definitely read it again!

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Great insight

This book gives great insight on how to deal with deficit people. Great job Mark! I learned about you though Zo William's...

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