Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization

By David W. Johnson

Book Overview

Now in its Eleventh Edition, Dr. David H. Johnson's best-selling book, Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization, remains the most comprehensive, practical, and applied book available on interpersonal skills. Its language remains engaging and accessible, aiding the content to come alive for its readers and has continued to keep pace with the latest theories, sources of interpersonal communication, and research in the field of psychological knowledge on how to build and maintain relationships. As it has done for decades now, Johnson's preeminent work will guide and prepare all types of students for a myriad of occupations, helping them to develop and refine their own level of interpersonal skills in a unique and engaging manner.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0132851016
• ISBN13: 9780132851015
• Release Date: August 1970
• Publisher: Pearson Education
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Essential Reading

What this book clearly demonstrates is that effective interpersonal skills are essential to the development and maintenance of any relationship - from family to friendship to work. That many of the personal and professional problems we experience everyday are the result of inadequate communication skills, lack of trust and self-disclosure, and inability to manage conflicts, anger, and stress.Of special significance to more than half of the US population who report being shy, the author acknowledges the sometimes devastating impact of social fears on relationships and includes a section on working through shyness.While the book is about skill building, it isn't just an exercise book. On the contrary, it smartly integrates psychological research data, theory, and exercises into a thought-provoking, readable volume. The approach is get-out-there-and-do-it experiential learning. Even though "Reaching Out" is an excellent text for classroom use, it is also very informative, practical, and useful for the self-help reader.

Relationship Basics Reference

If you work with children or young adults this is a "must have" reference book. My first copy was the fourth edition and I continue to purchace new copies as the editions change. This book breaks down into basic teachable elements complex human interactional dimensions. If you do group work in any context you will benifit from its wisdom. I have used this book in public schools at all grade levels, in therapy groups and family sessions, college courses, and to assist teens with improved social relationships. Human services work benifits from the clear and complete presentation of facts.