I knew I was going to like this book by the second page of the first chapter (which may be a new record for me!). Clinical psychologist Dr. Godwin begins "How to Solve Your People Problems" with a laugh out loud anecdote from his own childhood. And that surprised me. I thought maybe a book written by a psychologist would be serious... studious... somber. I couldn't have been more wrong! Dr. Alan Godwin goes about the business of covering a very serious topic, "conflict," with a delightful use of humor, interesting stories, real life examples, and everyday language. Staying away from doctor-speak, he chooses instead to write "How to Solve Your People Problems" in a digestible, readable, and engaging way.

"How to Solve Your People Problems" is basically broken into two parts; conflict with reasonable people, and conflict with unreasonable people. Each of these types of conflict must be handled differently, and I found Godwin's approach informative and eye-opening. When discussing unreasonable people Dr. Godwin writes, So here's what we're up against when we have conflict with unreasonable people. They automatically assume we're the ones in the wrong, they fail to see their contributions to the conflict, they claim no responsibility for any part of the problem, they're not bothered by the impact of their words and actions on us, and they change nothing because nothing about them needs changing. Is it any wonder that unreasonable people are so difficult for us to handle?

When a reasonable person argues with an unreasonable person, they have different objectives. The reasonable person's conflict goal is resolution while the unreasonable person's goal is rightness. To the unreasonable person, being right is entwined with his identity as a person and/or survival. He needs to eat, he needs to breathe, and he needs to be right.

I don't like conflict, and I don't know anyone who does (I'm sure they're out there--I just don't know any). But, conflict is a normal part of life and it's important that we learn how to best handle it when it comes our way. "How to Solve Your People Problems" would be ideal for young married couples, for those struggling with obstinate family members, as a tool in pastoral counseling, or for those in a hostile work environment.

"Amazing book! Not a bunch of hard to understand advice, or unrealistic situations, but a very practical guide to better understanding the relationships we deal with every day. Dr Godwin gives hope that it is possible to live at peace with even the most difficult people. His insightful, often humorous examples are easy to relate to. An enjoyable read and well worth the time!"

This author assists the reader in identifying troublesome areas in relationships. It offers practical tips for adjusting one's thinking to enrich his/her relationships. It is well-written, concise, and understandable to the lay person.

"How To Solve Your People Problems" by Dr. Alan Godwin is a decent look at personal issues written in an uncomplicated language with helpful cultural references. Each chapter begins with enjoyable quotes and pertinent scripture verses. They end with helpful questions for reflection (and possibly discussion). The appendices were not very helpful, but the glossary served as a nice reference.

Personally, I would have preferred more scripture references throughout the work. I believe the audience that this material is targeting would benefit from more Biblical advice to support the psychology located in the text. But overall, I feel this is a worthwhile read.

Dr. Godwin has great insights! Practical strategies for building healthy relationships and dealing with unhealthy relationships.

Dr. Godwin has written an important book for everyone that has to deal with conflict. How to Solve Your People Problems teaches you how to deal with both reasonable and unreasonable people. He offers tips and insights to help understand these types of relationships and at the end of each chapter there are questions to help discuss what you had just read. I had gotten this book one day after having a big discussion on empathy with my therapist and now I understand where she was coming from. I recommend Dr. Godwin's book to everyone.