Crazy Talk

So much theology is confusing and intimidating. The concepts themselves are given weighty-sounding names, such as incarnation and justification, and the explanations of the concepts sometimes can be more confusing than the names. Ê Captivating, entertaining, and highly informative,ÊCrazy TalkÊhelps readers navigate their way through that complexity and offers a vocabulary that dares (and equips!) its readers to embrace their own faith in a new, well-informed way. Ê The purpose ofÊCrazy Talk,Êsays editor Rolf A. Jacobson, is to render the heart of our Christian theology in a form that is accessible and appealing to everyone. The format of the book is similar to that of a dictionary of theological terms, but with a twist of humor! Each entry includes the name of the theological term, an ironic definition of the term, and a short humorous essay offering a fuller explanation of the term. In making the term understandable, Jacobson concentrates on the big theological issue that is at stake in the term and why it matters. Ê This revised and expanded edition includes new and expanded entries and all new images.

Explains how to reduce ridiculous communication so that verbal behavior will not be an excessive burden.

This book is a study of discourse-the flow of talk-of schizophrenic speakers. Our goal is to understand the processes which account for the ordinary flow of talk that happens all the time between speakers and lis teners. How do conversations happen? What is needed by a listener to follow a speaker's words and respond appropriately to them? How much can a speaker take for granted and how much must be stated explicitly for the listener to follow the speaker's meanings readily and easily? Each time we ask these questions, we seem to have to go back to some place prior to the "ordinary" adult conversation. This time, we have tried reversing the questions and asking: What happens when conversa tion fails? Prompted in part by an early paper by Robin Lakoff to the Chi cago Linguistics Society and by Herb Clark's studies of listener processes, we wondered what a speaker has to do to make the listener finally stop making allowances and stop trying to adjust the conversational contract to cooperate. This inquiry led us to the schizophrenic speaker. When a listener decides that the speaker's talk is "crazy," he or she is giving up on the normal form of conversation and saying, in effect, this talk is ex traordinary and something is wrong. We thought that, if we could specify what makes a conversation fail, we might learn what has to be present for a conversation to succeed.

“[Goulston’s]ideas are a bit counter-intuitive but they really do shift the dynamic and help people diffuse and disarm the irrational person leading to more positive outcomes.” -- Online MBA Because some people are beyond difficult... Let’s face it, we all know people who are irrational. No matter how hard you try to reason with them, it never works. So what’s the solution? How do you talk to someone who’s out of control? What can you do with a boss who bullies, a spouse who yells, or a friend who frequently bursts into tears? In his book, Just Listen, Mark Goulston shared his bestselling formula for getting through to the resistant people in your life. Now, in his breakthrough new book Talking to Crazy, he brings his communication magic to the most difficult group of all—the downright irrational. As a psychiatrist, Goulston has seen his share of crazy and he knows from experience that you can’t simply argue it away. The key to handling irrational people is to learn to lean into the crazy—to empathize with it. That radically changes the dynamic and transforms you from a threat into an ally. Talking to Crazy explains this counterintuitive Sanity Cycle and reveals: Why people act the way they do • How instinctive responses can exacerbate the situation—and what to do instead • When to confront a problem and when to walk away • How to use a range of proven techniques including Time Travel, the Fish-bowl, and the Belly Roll • And much more You can’t reason with unreasonable people—but you can reach them. This powerful and practical book shows you how.

bell hooks writes about the meaning of feminist consciousness in daily life and about self-recovery, about overcoming white and male supremacy, and about intimate relationships, exploring the point where the public and private meet.

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the authors of the New York Times bestseller Rework, are back with a manifesto to combat all your modern workplace worries and fears.

Including animation in your classroom can: • improve literacy and numeracy • develop critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills • enhance teamwork and negotiation • encourage creativity This toolkit, together with an extensive companion website, will give you the confidence to use animation in your classroom. From teaching basic flip-book animation right through to producing an animated film, there are drawing templates for the less confident artists and tried-and-tested schemes of work, plus advice on how to use animation equipment and what technology and software is available. This practical, cross-curricular resource is particularly suitable for use with students aged 11-16, although many of the activities can be adapted for older or younger students. It can be used in Art, Media Studies, ICT and many other subjects to engage learners of all styles and abilities.

In these times of rapid change and constant upheaval, can we learn to think and communicate more effectively-at home, in school, on the job, and as citizens in the larger world? This book, which is based on the formulations of "general semantics," says yes, yes, and yes! Topics in it include practical ways to improve your thinking ability, emotional self-management, creativity, and analysis of important social issues. "Buyer beware: Reading this book could result in serious improvements in your approach to self, to others, and to the ways you interact with the world." -Andrea Johnson, President, Institute of General Semantics "This book provides a highly practical guide for problem-solving, decision-making, interpersonal relations, and personal fulfillment." -Steve Stockdale, Executive Director, Institute of General Semantics "Sensible Thinking for Turbulent Times brings the great ideas of general semantics into the 21st century in a clear and accessible manner." -Lance Strate, President, Media Ecology Association "Martin Levinson has done an excellent job of applying sensible thinking to current problems. Our culture needs this book." -Gregg Hoffmann, author of Searching for Unmediated Truth "This book offers a sound approach to the problems of everyday living. Highly recommended." -Judith Feld, M.D., President, Western Chapter New York Psychiatric Society