cover image The Power of No: How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay

The Power of No: How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay

Beth Wareham. Rodale Press, $17.99 (147pp) ISBN 978-1-59486-650-0

With the strident but wise voice of a long-time New Yorker who not only says ""No,"" but relishes it, Wareham shares secrets to standing up for oneself in this brief, amusing self-help. Wareham documents the usefulness of ""No"" in a number of scenarios, including relationships and dating, work, family life and marriage, and specific cases within those settings; often, she reminds readers that ""getting what you want often depends on your willingness to go without it."" Wareham solves the common office drone complaint that the Blackberry has become ""a portal to woe"": ""just turn it off at night and for most of the weekend."" She's also got handy, straightforward ""no"" phrases for neglectful or vague contractors, including, ""If you don't return tomorrow, I'll sue you."" Wareham treats her mission very seriously-""Saying no is about fighting for your life... about generating respect and putting value on yourself""-which should prove inspiring, as well as practical, for those with a weak spine.