New Skills
This is an down to earth, practical tool for improving your ability to communicate well with other human beings, those close to you and those in situations in which you are connected in other ways. Using ways to clearly convey needs and notice the needs of others is a desperately essential requirement in a warring world. Well worth your attention and practice.

Enlightening, challenging, inspiring, educationally practical
"Nonviolent communications: A Language of Life" is an update to an ancient philosophy of life, seldom practised, that empowers one to become aware of the links between language and emotion from which physical and psychological violence in human life originate. What makes Rosenberg's update worth reading is its articulation of a means of recognizing the clues in our selection and interpretation of language that reveal our real human needs. The book offers a framework for gently uncovering the "viruses of language form" in which we either lose ourselves or ignore others in unwitting ignorance. It reveals, by extensive reference to Rosenberg's own rich experience in mediation and conflict resolution around the world, how these conventions of form often obscure our true needs and those of others rather than help us discover what these needs really are so that we can cooperate to get them met.

Acknowledging that the insight and empathy, whether for other or self, required to do this is rare, Rosenberg's book will nevertheless be an enlightenment for almost all of us of an extraordinarily practical kind. More than a challenge, it is also an inspiration to try out the "NVC skills of language and listening" he both practices and skillfully advocates. It only leaves us wondering where we are likely to be reasonably safe doing so.

Incredible guide to Joyous Living & Giving
To me, Nonviolent Communication, the book, is a superb guide to healing, and life, helping me to be how I want to be in the world. I had a hard time with the language the first time I read it, and I know that some of it could be said more beautifully, but I've read it several times now (the second time I started with the last chapter I liked it more than the first), and given it to people. Here's why:

When I read this book, I found an assertion -- all human beings, just like you, wish for their own well-being AND for others' well-being AND take joy in being able to contribute to others' well-being. This is a core value or belief for me and I suspect that if you really can't accept that premise, the book would not be so useful and healing.

The book goes on to show examples of thinking that gets in the way of living this core value. Most wonderful of all, it offers tools to help us live in accordance with our values. Some of the tools are: the idea that feelings point to met or unmet needs; the list of needs; the differentiation of needs from strategies to meet needs; examples of how to find the feelings and needs in some common scenarios; the insistence on separating observations from judgments; the idea of listening for the needs underlying a person's words; the explanation of feelings as having internal origin rather than being 'caused' by others, etc.

The huge steps I've taken in the past 3 years toward peace, self-acceptance, and realization of my potential seem to have come from attending workshops and classes based on this book. When I re-read Nonviolent Communication, I find bits I missed the other times.

The chapter on self-empathy is particularly helpful on the problem of self-acceptance. I always had a lot of trouble with the mantras of "You deserve....", "You have a right..." Dr. Rosenberg helps me see all parts of myself, which helps me make choices that are aligned with all my values.

A real life-changer; ought to be taught in public school
Participating in a weekend workshop on Nonviolent Communication about 15 years ago, before the first book was ever published, changed my life ever since. I was so excited when I later discovered a book had been published. I have since given this book as a gift many times. In almost every case (the cases in which the person actually read the book!) the person had a very similar experience to my own. This book will help you see communication (and relationships) in a whole new way. As a therapist I have found this book to be helpful to clients with anger management difficulties and problems with conflict in relationships. It also promotes self-awareness and self-acceptance. It takes practice, but once you understand and internalize the general attitude promoted in this book, it sticks. And then it seeps into your life like a soothing balm. That's right, like a soothing balm. Try it; you'll see what I mean.

Great book
Rosenberg's practice of empathy is profoundly changing my self awareness and my relationships with others, like my other favorite book about love and communication I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't