cover image Attracting Terrific People: How to Find--And Keep--The People Who Bring Your Life Joy

Attracting Terrific People: How to Find--And Keep--The People Who Bring Your Life Joy

Lillian Glass. St. Martin's Press, $23.95 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-312-15058-7

The author of Toxic People: 10 Ways of Dealing with People Who Make Your Life Miserable now turns her attention to the other side of the coin: establishing and maintaining relationships with those who enhance, rather than diminish, others' lives. Beginning with the assertion that ""Choosing terrific people is the only choice which can bring about total life fulfillment,"" Glass leads readers through exercises for overcoming the common obstacles of shyness, fear and low self-worth, and teaches the secrets of making a great first impression, engaging others in conversation and presenting oneself in the best possible ways. A long list of the characteristics of ""terrific people"" is followed by 20 basic positive types, including ""The Generous Givers,"" ""The Nonjudgers"" and ""The Win-Winners."" The way to attract terrific people, she contends, is to be one, and the key to maintaining these life-enhancing relationships is ""reciprocity,"" enhancing others' lives by helping them to succeed and introducing them to other ""terrific people."" Reiterating her advice to ""unplug"" toxic people, Glass's cheerful voice is tempered with a no-nonsense tone, inspiring readers to take responsibility for involving themselves in a big, happy network of friends and associates who are on their side. (Mar.)