Book List!

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One of the things that I've found to be most helpful to me in managing my social skills weaknesses has been to be constantly on the lookout for books and articles discussing some of the basic principles in successful interpersonal communication. I find that having passages discussing these basic concepts helps me to focus on them and think about how I can successfully implement them in my daily life. I'm not sure if this method has worked with other people on the spectrum or how helpful it is more generally, but if other people agree, I was thinking maybe we could start a book list on the forum of books that have been helpful to us in learning social skills. Either books that are designed for people on the spectrum or books that focus on the bare-bones basics in a way that forces us to revisit them.

I will list two (and yes, one of them is one just about everyone suggests). The first is How to Win Friends and Influence People. Truth be told, I resented that book the first time my father recommended I read it because I considered everything in it to be common sense. It was only years later that I took another look at it and realized in just how many ways I could implement those common-sense ideas that I wasn't currently doing. The other is How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with Other People.

Does anyone else want to join in?

Believe it or not, I got a lot out of the novels of Irwin Shaw, which I think model social skills rather than merely analyzing or categorizing them.

In many of his books, the main character is a somewhat depressed older businessman, who still does positive things.

I have picked up a book " SOCIOLOGY by Harper and Row " not that it might help other people but i read it now and then for information but thats just me.I am sure not every person would want to read about Sociology,im sure.

"the fine art of small talk" by debra fine

As far as Irwin Shaw, perhaps sone of his following novels,

Evening in Byzantium

Beggarman, Thief

Top of the Hill

Nightwork

Two Weeks in Another Town

And the characters are real people. I certainly don't recommend all their actions. But something about the social skills, for that season of my life, I found very helpful.

PS Irwin Shaw is probably most well known for the novel and then TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. But I don't think that was his best book! Funny how things work out that way. And yes, there is a lot of luck in artistic success.

Sorry i forgot to say that the book i have began printing in 1885 to 1966,its very old and yes it is paper back,i never knew it was out dated by 70 years.

Oh, another good one. Although this one is focused on socializing in the work environment, rather than general social skills, "Self Promotion for Introverts" is a great book that works with introverts' (which many of us probably are) strengths in order to be more active socially and get more credit in the workplace. It's really great, because unlike most books on social skills, its suggestions don't boil down to "Be more extroverted."