Can You Hear Me Now?

After 30 years of marriage, this book gave us a method for truly communicating. The techniques can also be used on the job or anywhere in life. It takes some intentional practice, but the results are well worth it. We seem to keep buying books to hand out to friends.

One of the very best books I've ever read on this subject! Many scriptural references adds to credibility. This book changed our lives and after 38 years of marriage, my husband and I are fully communicating on all levels (physical, emotional, spiritual). We are using this book in our small groups study and find that many couples with lack of communication in their marriage open their hearts, become vulnerable, and find that deep, satisfying communication takes place. We have suggested the book to many couples and receive nothing but positive feedback on the results of reading the book! It's really great!

For more than 20 years, Dallas and Nancy Demmitt have been traveling across the United States, lecturing and demonstrating the skill of listening. With CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?, they've taken these crucial teachings and for the first time, put them into print. As bestselling author, Gary Smalley writes in the foreword, "Listening can help you avoid misunderstanding and conflict, reduce false assumptions, stop the natural tendency to reach in the panic or crisis mode, and reduce fear, loneliness, and pain. As the Demmitts write" 'Just showing someone that you are willing to listen--without condemning or judging them--will help to make that person feel valued, loved, honored, and appreciated.'" Everyone can gain or renew some valuable lessons from this book. I recommend it.

Many books on listening and conversational skills attempt to teach techniques that seem to belong in a counselor's office and would sound artificial if applied in real life. Dallas and Nancy Demmitt teach some skills that can be applied by everyone in many different contexts, including in a marriage. They teach skills that increase understanding, reduce tensions and reduce the fear of discussing touchy subjects. To increase increase loving and beneficial communication, you first must increase understanding. Don't initially respond to your spouse's statements and concerns except to seek to understand. Ask who, how, where, and when in an effort to understand. Later, after you clarified and understood your spouse's perceptions and feelings do you respond. Their books is helpful and practical.

In a quick easy to understand style, Dallas and Nancy Demmitt capture in print the principles of listening that they have been teaching for over 20 years. Almost every person on the planet needs help with listening. In our noisy world, the art of listening to another person has been lost. Pick up this book. I recommend it.