Messages: The Communication Skills Book

Matthew McKay · Martha Davis · Patrick Fanning

Nov 2018 · New Harbinger Publications · Narrated by Melinda Wade

About this audiobook

Many people assume that good communicators possess an intrinsic talent for speaking and listening to others, a gift that can’t be learned or improved. The reality is that communication skills are developed with deliberate effort and practice, and learning to understand others and communicate your ideas more clearly will improve every facet of your life.

Messages has already helped thousands of people build communication skills and cultivate better relationships with friends, family members, coworkers, and partners. With this fully revised and updated fourth edition, you’ll discover new skills to help you communicate your ideas more effectively and become a better listener. Learn how to:

• Read body language
• Develop skills for couples communication
• Negotiate and resolve conflicts
• Communicate with family members
• Handle group interactions
• Talk to children
• Master public speaking
• Prepare for job interviews

This new edition features a much-needed chapter on digital communication. Effective communication can easily be compromised when you’re not able to read your conversation partner’s body language, facial expression, or vocal tone. This chapter teaches you how to express yourself well via phone, email, texting, and video—all the skills you need to thrive in the digital age.

About the author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, Self-Esteem, and Couple Skills, which have sold more than four million copies combined. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, and specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression. Martha Davis, PhD, was a psychologist in the department of psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Clara, CA; where she practiced individual, couples, and group psychotherapy for almost thirty years prior to her retirement. She is coauthor of Thoughts and Feelings, The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, and Messages. Patrick Fanning is a professional writer in the mental health field, and founder of a men's support group in Northern California. He has authored and coauthored twelve self-help books, including Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, Couple Skills, and Mind and Emotions.