How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

And Say Yes to More Time, and What Matters Most to You

By: Patti Breitman, Connie Hatch

Narrated by: Connie Hatch, Patti Breitman

"To this book I say yes, yes, yes!"
—from the Foreword by Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Find more time and energy for the things you love to do—learn to say no without feeling guilty!

The simple word "no" is often the most difficult to say. Yet anyone can develop the skills to say no with confidence, kindness, and peace of mind. And the benefits are enormous. You'll spend less time doing things you don't want to do with people you don't want to see, and move closer to your own priorities and passions.

How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty shows you the five simple techniques that will help you say no with finesse in nearly any situation and how to apply two basic principles to minimize guilt about saying no and reduce the likelihood of personal conflicts.

In addition, authors Patti Breitman and Connie Hatch provide specific language and practical strategies for defending your boundaries against life's many intrusions and distractions, including:

• Demanding friends and family members
• Unwelcome invitations, dates, and romantic entanglements
• Requests for money, whether from friends, relatives, organizations, or panhandlers
• Unreasonable assignments at work
• Pushy people who ask for too many favors
• Junk mail, annoying phone calls, and buddies with something to sell
• High-maintenance people
• And much more

Ultimately, "no" can be one of the most positive words in your vocabulary. Whether you crave more family time, more time for yourself, or more time to pursue a dream, saying no frees up room for the "yeses" in your life.

Critic reviews

Advance praise for How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty:

"This book is the bible on how to say no and still be seen as a nice person. It can change your life forever."
--Jack Canfield, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series

"It's a book to consult over and over again. I recommend it."
--John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

"Brilliant! This practical, powerful book will help you express what you really feel and want."
--Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., author of Making Peace with Your Past

"This is a charming, intelligent, and practical guide to finding the great YES of life, by learning that NO is a complete sentence. Thoroughly enjoyable."
--Anne Lamott, author of Traveling Mercies

"A road map for opening up lots of needed space in our lives. Out with the guilt, and in with a life that is ours again!"
--Janet Luhrs, author of The Simple Living Guide and Simple Loving

"How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty enables us to rid ourselves of needless guilt so we can live a richer, more fulfilling life."
--Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave

"This book is wonderfully useful, doable, wise, and inspiring."
--Sue Bender, author of Plain and Simple and Everyday Sacred

"A must for anyone who wants to live a life of joy and ease, and feel good about it."
--Marcia Wieder, author of Making Your Dreams Come True

"The best book I ever read on setting boundaries. This is a must-read for everyone!"
--Sirah Vettese, Ph.D., author of What Happened to the Prince I Married?

Convincing Illustrations

This book covered the art of saying no with daily life examples. I give it to 4 stars.

good verbiage to say no and meant it

speaker was too monotone, very dry. would like information as to what's in each chapter.

good enough for me.

I was struggling to say no. this book literally tells you how to say no in different circumstances.

great views.

enlightening. It provides the listener with point of views which I could have never thought of my own.

Great book, skipped a lot of paragraphs.

It was a great book, I really learned a lot from it but it did jump paragraphs.