Stop the Fight!

November 15, 2015

Through her work with couples and corporations, clinical psychologist Brody has found that lasting change in negative interactions derives from each party seeing the big picture. To help readers "see" the whole, the author presents over 300 cartoons and thought bubbles showing what both sides of a couple are thinking in the midst of common arguments. Some of these include the "partner improvement fight," the "'you don't care about me' fight," and the "household responsibilities fight." Using the comical cartoon figures, Brody helps couples understand each other's intentions, needs, and dreams. VERDICT A clever and nonthreatening resource for couples wishing to get along better.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 14, 2015
Brody, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating relational conflict, urges conflict-prone couples to look at the big picture, especially when fights occur where each partner feels like a victim. Her new book explains how to stop fights before they even begin. Brody combines prudent advice with simple, cartoon-like illustrations to help couples see the patterns in their disagreements. She further shows how often hurt feelings translate into aggressive and cruel statements (which she describes as a function of our instinctual fight-or-flight behavior), perpetuating and escalating disagreements. In response, she suggests getting to the individual core valuesâfeeling appreciated, loved, and wanted. Spanning 12 common causes for fights, including nagging, house work, money, and sex, the book provides tools for opening lines of communication and establishing happy, healthy, and mutually supportive relationships. The result is a helpful and concise manual for anyone in a relationship, as the issues addressed are as common as they are destructive. Brody handles the subject well, and her skill and experience in her field shows outright. Agent: Jessica Papin, Dystel and Goderich.