BOOK COMPARISON 4
Running head: BOOK COMPARISON 1
Book Comparison: Ideas and Related Concepts Articulated between Why Don′t We Listen Better by Petersen, Bridges Not Walls by Stewart, as well as in France and Weikel’s Helping Skills for Human Service Workers
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James C. Petersen’s book, Why Don’t We Listen Better? Communication & Connecting in Relationships closely relates to how disjoint communication becomes when an effective and practical approach to talking and listening is not followed. The book identifies numerous listening techniques and communication traps that can be harnessed in a talk and listen to the scenario which harnesses empathy and other insightful foundational concepts of communication. Petersen’s work and ideas closely relate to the concepts articulated in John Stewart’s Bridges Not Walls as well as in France and Weikel’s Helping Skills for Human Service Workers. The three books closely relate with the major theme among them seen in what constitutes to effective communication. The paper will compare and contrast the different ideas portrayed by the different authors to show how key communications in relationships.
Petersen seeks to address what defines clear, concise and imperative communication. Why Don’t We Listen Better shows how true listening is central to mindful speaking and how the combination of listening and response defines effective communication. In his book, Petersen breaks down the communication cycle all in the aim of showing how each part of communication encompassing reactions, emotions listening and speaking defines communication. The book sort to give a solution to the communication barrier that exists between different parties be it lack of inattentive listen, lack of listening to language barriers that exist during the communication process (Petersen, 2015). Petersen main theme in his book is the definition of effective listening which forms the basis of communication.
The book Bridges Not Walls explores what forms the basis of interpersonal communication while establishing what bring meaning while communicating and how relationships are key in communications. Stewart addresses the ins and outs of verbal and nonverbal communication with close emphasis on listening and perception of message form the basis of what guarantees effective communication and close relationships. Just as in Petersen’s work, Bridges Not Walls seeks to define what forms the basis of effective communication. The book demonstrates why a collaborative link needs to exist in the process of verbal and nonverbal communication ii meaning is to be found between those communicating. The book further explores how technology and social media has influenced how we communicate and build bridges either interpersonally, in business and global contact. Unlike in the other two books under discussion, Bridges Not Walls takes on a much broad perspective on how we communicate basing the overall message on a social and psychological course in establishing what communication should be like.
In helping skills for human service workers, the authors France and Weikel provides comprehensive and useful information on how to effectively learn and use communication skills as service to various social and mental issues affecting how we correlate. Helping Skills for Human Service Workers explores the link between self-efficacy and therapeutic bond, real relationships, evaluation of problems, wisdom, and need for establishing plans and objectives in human relation (France & Weikel, 2006). The authors explore the common modes of response and how they relate to effective communication. The book further seeks to enhance communication by helping the reader understand skills that develop effective communication. Unlike much of the other two books, the main objective is helping the audience understand of various helping skills that can be harnessed in the realization of successful human service that can improve human growth, social work, and service.
Conclusively the three books have a different and unique message. Concurrently, the books share a common theme of what constitutes and contributes to effective relationship and communication among different parties. In Why Don’t We Listen Better, Petersen elaborate the essence of listening in establishing effective communication among different peers. By listening and giving positive feedback backed by the underlying topic while communicating, interpersonal communication can be established among those communicating which helps in building a strong connection much referred to as a bridge by Stewart. The book Helping Skills for Human Service Workers does not put much emphasis on communication but shows the essence and effectiveness of human service and social work. As such the three books explore the building blocks of communication while showing how each component is vital in forging an up-close relationship between different parties.
References
France, K., Weikel, K., & Kish, M. (2006). Helping Skills for Human Service Workers: Building Relationships and Encouraging Productive Change. Charles C Thomas Publisher.
Petersen, J. C. (2015). Why Don’t We Listen Better?: Communicating & Connecting in Relationships. BookBaby.