Book Review of How to Get Along with Almost Everybody by Dr. Ray Guarendi
Review of How to Get Along with Almost Everybody by Dr. Ray Guarendi
Do you have moments that happened years ago that still stick in your mind? For some reason, they are lodged in your memory like an old library book that has been on the shelf for a long time.
One of those moments for me is speaking with Dr. Ray Guarendi on his radio show. Now this was (not to date myself too badly) over 20 years ago. I called in to ask a question and received good advice. For some reason, I remember that he referred to me as effervescent since I was cheerful when I called in.
I am happy to share with you Dr. Ray’s new book How to Get Along with Almost Everybody. I like that the word “Almost” is part of the title. It is a reminder that we can try our best to get along with others, but we can only do so much! Relationships are a two-way street.
Dr. Ray Guarendi is the author of this helpful book
Who is Dr. Ray Guarendi? Dr. Ray is a Catholic, clinical psychologist, author, husband, father, and speaker, as well as a radio and TV show host. That is a lot of hats to wear! He is well qualified to write this book.
What is How to Get Along with Almost Everybody about?
The focus of How to Get Along with Almost Everybody is exactly what the title says. Dr. Ray breaks down 24 different aspects of this topic, from why we should even attempt to try to get along with others to specific topics on how we can do this-and the awful things that can happen if we do not work to deescalate an issue.
Written in a friendly, funny, and conversational style, Dr. Ray’s book is easy to read. It may not be so easy to digest when we see ourselves and our behaviors in some of the chapters, however… But his explanations and examples are easy to apply to our own lives.
Some of the chapters and a quote from each are:
- Why Try “… changing any relationship begins with the one person I can change-me.”
- Unoffendability “The harder you are to offend, the easier you will live with others, as well as with yourself.”
- The Urge to Surge “Leave the scene, ease the steam, reenter the scene. … letting inflamed emotions settle even a little will leave undone or unsaid what is best left undone or unsaid.”
- Just Ignore It “Ignore means: say nothing.”
What can we learn from How to Get Along with Almost Everybody?
The short answer is: we can learn a lot.
The long answer is: read the book.
In reading How to Get Along with Almost Everybody, I have written many notes in the margins–from ideas to remember to great quotes that sum things up perfectly.
Some of the quotes that stood out the most to me are:
- “Little matters only get bigger when endlessly belabored.”
- “Absolute accusations are fighting words, screaming for retaliation. Never use them. Always pursue particulars.”
- “Intermittent food fasting limits what goes in the mouth. Intermittent criticism fasting limits what comes out of the mouth.”
- “I can’t control another’s mouth, but I can control my ears.”
- “Your emotions…need your thoughts to inflame them.”
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How to Get Along with Almost Everybody is a great book for anyone who wants to get along better with others.
How to Get Along with Almost Everybody is helpful to use in identifying a variety of behaviors: behaviors that trigger us in some way, our own behaviors, and behaviors that can make things worse or make things better in a relationship.
Each short chapter articulates an issue, gives examples in Dr. Ray’s good humor, discusses how the behavior undermines relationships, and gives ways to not fall into this type of behavior. Each chapter also gives advice on what to say or not to say in the situation explored.
Written in a familiar, conversational style, there are a few times when punctuation suffers for the sake of the context. But this is easily overlooked in favor of the great content and helpful information Dr. Ray shares with us.
Informative and helpful, How to Get Along with Almost Everybody is a book that would be great to reread often. As the people and situations in our lives change, rereading the book will be helpful to address these new situations and as a refresher for the old situations we may still be in.
How to Get Along with Almost Everybody by Dr. Ray is available in print and e-book formats:
Sophia Institute Press: How to Get Along with Almost Everybody paperback
Amazon: How to Get Along with Almost Everybody paperback; How to Get Along with Almost Everybody e-book
Learn more about How to Get Along with Almost Everybody from Dr. Ray
To learn more about How to Get Along with Almost Everybody, be sure to watch this brief video from Dr. Ray himself:
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