Our New World of Adult Bullies

How to Spot Them • How to Stop Them

De: Bill Eddy LCSW Esq.

Narrado por: L.J. Ganser

Our New World of Adult Bullies connects the dots to show how bullies at all levels of society follow the same predictable patterns of behavior.

Bullies exist everywhere: families, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities, politics and government, and organizations of all types and sizes. And in a media landscape where conflict, crisis, chaos, and fear reign supreme, every day we see the worst behavior of celebrities, politicians, and other public figures who serve as role models.

Winners and losers. Friends and enemies. Heroes and villains. People with high-conflict personalities think almost solely in these extremes. They regularly express unmanaged emotions, routinely blame others, and do harmful things that 90% of people would never do. Bullies share these characteristics, plus a drive to dominate or destroy their victims.

But all bullies act in the same highly predictable patterns, regardless of their demographics and situation. By focusing on the ten hidden powers bullies employ—from their unrestrained nature and bully story to manipulating emotions and playing the victim—Bill Eddy unpacks the way bullies rely on primitive emotions and nonverbal behavior. He helps listeners spot these behaviors and offers practical actions before they become immobilized by helplessness, blame, and shame.

In today’s world, we all may have an adult bully in our lives sooner or later. For anyone who has a bully in their life now, for professionals who counsel victims of bullying, and for anyone who is concerned about the fraying of our culture and society, this book gives effective strategies to prevent bullies from taking over.

Eddy’s six-step approach includes useful advice on how to:
• Recognize the patterns of bully behavior
• Pull the plug on the bully’s story
• Set limits with credible threats
• Impose serious consequences
• Communicate effectively about bullies to others
• Stand strong with others against bullies

Our New World of Adult Bullies takes a closer look at the dangerous behavior of bullies and stop the behavior before it starts.

©2024 Bill Eddy (P)2024 Recorded Books

Selective outrage and hypocrisy

Eddy’s previous books were helpful in many ways. Managing unavoidable toxicity in today’s work world requires careful, intelligent strategies, and I found some great info from the author. Conflict resolution is a noble profession and I admired Eddy and his team for trying to help others.

Perhaps because of my previous positive regard, I was surprised to find this work falls short in so many ways.

The information provided about identifying bullies is unnecessary to thinking, observant people. Eddy insists most people cannot identify adult bullies. i disagree strongly.

Many examples of the bullies are straight up Cluster B behaviors, classic NPD and ASPD. If you are familiar with Cluster B personalities, I doubt the book will offer many additional insights or tools.

Similarly, if you are familiar with general political strategy, propoganda, the way news media outlets operate, etc., you will find little new. Again, an observant person is able to see through blatant propoganda and manufactured talking point outrage on both sides.

I could care less that Eddy hates Trump. I don’t favor either party, seeing them both as protectors of the status quo, while lying whenever they are speaking.

However, I do care deeply about endless war and civilian casualties. Eddy’s political takes about these topics were obnoxious and one-sided.

Two examples:

Eddy is a Biden apologist for the Afghanistan débacle. All orange man’s fault. Nuance and shades of gray are allegedly things Eddy cares about, but not in his political commentary.

Second, Eddy picks and chooses his villains.

For example, Putin bad, Netanyahu unmentioned.

In fact, Eddy repeats debunked talking points which have been fact checked in several of his examples.

To Eddy, Ukraine’s invasion is bad, Gaza’s fully justified. This is the rankest hypocrisy. If you care about Ukrainian civilians, care about non-Hamas Palestinian civilians as well.

This will be the last book I read from Eddy because he has shown his compassion and peacemaking skills are really only for the side he chooses to care about, the side that reflects his political prejudices. If I wanted to read political drivel like this, I’d go to reddit and find it for free.

Wasted credit and hours listening. Narrator was average and at times very snarky, reflecting the sarcasm of some of Eddy’s text.