Book excerpt: So, yet another self-help/self-improvement book. Why should you even consider it? OK, here are three reasons: –First, it zeros in on some of the most common problems people have in dealing with each other. These are repetitive. The people may be different, but the problems stay the same. The 12 skills covered include: learning to be a careful listener; developing empathy for others; controlling our egos; becoming an assertive person; learning to be accountable in relating to people; respecting others; improving communication skills; stopping the “mind reading” of others; breaking away from the need to always be right in dealing with people; how to stop gossiping; not meddling in others’ lives; and becoming a more optimistic person. –Second, the topics of ego control, respect, mind reading, gossiping, meddling, and always needing to be right are rarely, if ever, found in self development books. –Finally, the book is easy to read, very practical, relatively short, and really helpful. You’ll find it to be a motivating and self-empowering read.