Verbal Judo by George J. Thompson Summary
Overview of Verbal Judo
Verbal Judo transforms conflict into cooperation through tactical communication. Required training for police nationwide and adopted by Fortune 500 giants like IBM, this masterclass in persuasion was crafted by a unique English professor-turned-cop with black belts in multiple martial arts. What confrontation could you defuse today?
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Key takeaways
The Art of Verbal Self-Defense in a Chaotic World
Picture this: A suicidal man sits in a bathtub, threatening to electrocute himself. Instead of pleading or forcing him out, police officer George Thompson does something unexpected - he vividly describes the agonizing death that awaits, then casually offers to share "a hundred and four easier ways to die." The man immediately jumps out. This counterintuitive approach exemplifies Verbal Judo - a communication methodology that has saved countless lives since its development. What makes this approach so powerful is Thompson's unique background as both an English professor with a PhD and a street cop who joined the force at age 35, combining academic understanding with real-world application in ways few communication experts can match. The birth of Verbal Judo came from observing masters at work. During a violent domestic dispute, Thompson's partner Bruce Fair walked in, completely ignored the screaming couple, and began casually reading their newspaper. He then looked up and asked if he could use their phone about a car advertisement. The bewildered couple instantly shifted from fighting to hosting - their conflict completely dissolved by this unexpected approach. This incident revealed how communication principles could redirect hostile energy without force - just like martial arts. The core goals became clear: ensuring personal safety through mind-mouth harmony, enhancing professionalism by reducing complaints, and increasing efficiency by "saying it right" the first time.
Mastering Verbal Self-Defense Principles
Understanding the Three Types of People
Words That Ignite vs. Words That Illuminate
The Power of Empathy and Communication Tools
LEAPS: The Bridge to Understanding
From Conflict to Cooperation: The Final Word
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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