Which NVC book is helpful to read?
Whether you want to read one for yourself,
or maybe you want to give one to someone in
the hopes that they will also fall in love
with Nonviolent Communication..
I’m gonna read all those books for you,
and I will tell you if it is worthwhile to
spend your cash on.
So this time I’m reading “Nonviolent Communication,
a Companion Workbook” by Lucy Leu – this
This is the Dutch translation.
And this book is explicitly meant as a companion
for Marshall Rosenberg’s book; the book
that I was reviewing last time.
If you haven’t seen that video, I’ll put
a link somewhere.
And that’s a bestselling NVC book, but as
I was saying, it was lacking a little bit
in practical exercises.
And this book is meant as a workbook for that
particular book.
So now for some plus and downsides of this
book.
On the plus side: this is a really hands-on
practical workbook.
It does exactly what it promises.
It guides you in thirteen weeks through Marshall’s
book and each week you get exercises that
will stimulate you to go try NVC in real life.
Also, this book is great for if you’re starting
an NVC practice group.
Every week you also have exercises that you
can do in your group, and it also contains
a lot of chapters about any kind of problems
that you may encounter when you are working
in a group.
Like what do we do when we get into a conflict?
What do we do if one person is kind of ‘dominant’?
What if someone is leaving the group?
It really feels to me like a very complete
list of anything that might happen in a group
and what you can do in an NVC-way in that
case.
For me it was even like.. just to read it
was kind of giving me empathy for all the
groups I’ve ever been in.. and that – oh
wow, this is just normal, all this stuff happens.
And there are some solutions for it as well.
So now for some downsides.
So I didn’t have many downsides for this
book, but just two small things.
First thing, is that this is actually two
books in one.
So it’s both meant for groups, how to set
up your practice group, which exercises can
you do with Marshall’s book.. and also an
individual plan.
So same thing: each chapter there’s exercises
for when you do it individually.
And they try to, every time that there was
a group exercise to come up with an equivalent
for the individual.
And sometimes it gets a bit forced.
For example, you are being asked in a group
to go in pairs and to give empathy to someone
about something.. and then it says for the
individual: try to do it for yourself.
And I was like..... how exactly are you wanting
me to do this?
And secondly this book comes across as a little
bit stale – this is my opinion, as everything
in this video.. but I’m saying it now because
I find it hard to motivate it.
I think it’s partly because it was first
published fifteen years ago, so maybe it has
something to do with that.
Or what I noticed, some tips feel a little
redundant.
For example, she says: get a notebook or a
computer to make notes for this book.
And I’m a bit like, yeah, I’m not a child..
You know it’s like, ehh..
Maybe it just smells a bit stale.
All in all, I would really recommend it.
It’s the only book, as far as I know, that
is available about how to start an NVC practice
group.
It’s very helpful if you are a teacher and
you want to teach it combined with Marshall’s
book.
You do really need Marshall’s book to use
this one.
And also if you’re just an individual wanting
to practice NVC and you have Marshall’s
book already, this is very helpful.
So I would definitely recommend it.
So now, let me know in the comments what did
you think of this book?
Do you know any NVC books that you would like
me to review?
I will have a look at it and consider your
suggestions.
And in general, just let me know how you liked
this video in the comments below.
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Okay, I’d love to see you next time, ciao!
