Dr. Jim Petersen, a veteran counselor, wrote this book to help readers gain communication skills that can improve their relationships, personal and professional. Petersen says most of us think we listen well, but don't. The book includes his funny-serious theory of the Flat Brain, which explains why we have trouble hearing each other and what we can do about it. Creative listening techniques to handle daily interactions and difficult relationships and the portable Talker-Listener card will help people hear each other, relax, think more clearly and build empathy and cooperation. These skills assume increasing importance as our country veers into ever-more volatile camps that strain relationships within families and between friends.