The first six chapters were great but the chapters there after didn't capture my interest for the topic of verbal defence very much. ( )

The third volume in the basic trilogy, here we revisit much of the same ground as the first two volumes but at a different level, rather than emergency first aid, where the imperative is to stop the bleeding and make the patient safe, we are now understanding some of what lies behind the basic patterns. Here we are introduced to Syntonics: “a system for putting human beings in touch with one another linguistically so that they are able to communicate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness and satisfaction. It is the science of language harmony.” Perhaps the concept is more familiar in NLP as rapport.

More of Satir modes, sensory modes verbal attack patterns and Miller’s Law (“In order to understand what another person is saying, you must assume it is true and try to imagine what it could be true of.”) before we are into the other side of communication with syntonic listening.

Language patterns again: nominalisations, presuppositions, Trojan horses, naming, assertion (the three-part “When you x, I feel y, because z.”). Then more on non-verbal communication ~ each time reviewing, re-inforcing and building on the earlier material and offering deeper and richer understanding.

A long chapter on “twirks” (the equivalent of making a serious speech wearing a red nose ~ it takes something away from the presentation) followed by thoughts on writing, speeches and on planning communication. ( )