In so many facets of our lives, it can be surprisingly hard to speak up, listen well, and find mutual understanding. At some point, all of us will experience an unfortunate miscommunication with a friend or intimate partner, and sometimes there's just no escaping a difficult conversation with a family member or colleague. Rather than eating your words or running from confrontation, learn to communicate confidently and listen empathetically with the help of Dr. Faith G. Harper, bestselling author of Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Intimacy. In this no-nonsense guide, you'll find conversational templates, guidance for setting boundaries, and tips for talking effectively at home, at work, at school, in everyday encounters, and even with social services and other bureaucratic entities-all of which form a handy toolkit for successful communication. Introduction Grounding Exercise: The Reorientation Countdown What Makes Up Our Communication Types of Communication Styles of Communication - Aggressive Styles of Communication - Passive Styles of Communication - Assertive Some Questions to Reflect On Strategies for Communication Levels of Communication So How Does Our Communication Get Fucked Up? Unfuck Your Communication The Communication Commandments Using "I" Statements Communicating What We Want instead of What We Don't Handling No S.T.F.U. Communicating Support What Does Support Look Like for The Other Person? And When It's Really Bad? Communicating Consent: Boundaries How Do the People in Your Life Respond to Your Boundaries? Questions for Determining If a Boundary Is Safely Enforceable How to Communicate When We Fail to Respect Other People's Boundaries Questions to Consider When No Remains No: When Do You Need to Justify Your Boundaries? Communicating Through Uncomfortable Topics Communicating about Sex The Feedback Burrito Communicating about Religion How to Shut Down Shitty Comments Communicating about Politics How to Engage Respectfully Around Politics What if the Political Beliefs Are ... Cultlike? Communicating about Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Treatment Communicating about Food Communicating about Money When It Is a Partner Other People Fucking Up My Finances Communicating Through Conflict Resolving Conflict Is It Intentional? Who You Really Mad At, Cupcake? Humor Rather Than Snipe Beware the Horsemen Ask for What You Need and Negotiate on Preferences Conflict Communication Tool: Collaborative Communication Conflict Communication Tool: Objective Effectiveness Tools for When Negotiation Shuts Down BIFF Responses Brief Informative Friendly Firm Advice Admonishments Apologies The Pane of Glass Trick The Grey Rock Method Communicating in Systems Self-Communication: Reframing Toxic Self-Talk Compassionate Letter to Oneself Conclusion Appendix: Toxic Relational Strategies in Communication Questions to Consider As You Go Through This List "Great with life advice in general…Expounds on key interpersonal skills."