Why Don T We Listen Better Summary

Practical Book Review: Listening Better

SUMMARIZE!

Petersen, J.C. (2007). Why don’t we listen better? Communicating & Connecting in Relationships. Tigard, OR: Petersen Publications James C. Petersen (2007), author of Why Don’t We Listen Better, offers practical advice on how to communicate effectively and connect with others. In order to help his readers, communicate effectively, Petersen (2007) divides his book into five divisions. Each division builds on the content in the preceding portions. Every segment provides a significant amount of information, which will aid people in how they choose to communicate. The first section explores the “flat-brain theory of emotions, flat-brain syndrome, and flat-brain tango” (Petersen, 2007, pp. 2-45). All three are interrelated (Petersen, 2007). The flat-brain theory of emotions “demonstrates what’s occurring inside of us when things are going well, and how that changes when they are not” (Petersen, 2007, p. 11). Petersen’s (2007) theory “explains how our emotions, thinking, and relating abilities work and how what goes on inside us comes out in the ways we communicate and act” (p. 8). The “flat-brain syndrome” describes what happens when an individual

Petersen, I have realized there are several actions and changes I need to develop in my life. One thought I struggle with the most is listening. In order to overcome this struggle, I am willing to incorporate the “talker-listener card” into my everyday conversations (Petersen, 2007, pp. 55-64). Using this tool will guide me in developing active listening skills. Whenever I have a disagreement with a friend or family member, I can utilize this card. According to Petersen (2007), “Using the TLC opens the door to more effective conversations when someone needs to ‘talk things over’” (p. 55). This method helps prevent screaming matches and forces people to respond calmly and rationally to disagreements they are