learn how to detect the subtle putdowns insults and other verbal blows that almost everyone usesparents and children husbands and wives teachers and students and friends and loversmost of us are under verbal attack everyday and often dont even realize it in the gentle art of verbal selfdefense youll learn the skills you need to respond to all types of verbal attack specific strategies fro your defense include twelve rules of clear effective interaction recognition of five verbal modesthe placator blamer distractor computer and leveler tone of voicemake yours bolder and more assertive alternative scriptsbetter approaches to common confrontation body languagehow it supports what you say and in special chapters directed to both men and women the author explains how women have long been the verbal victims of men and what both sexes can do to break this destructive patternwith numerous examples of verbal confrontations and a journal to help you keep track of your progress the gentle art of verbal selfdefense will give you the perception you need to deal confidently in any interaction