Why am I passionate about this?

I'm passionate about helping people to better manage their internal state so they can control their external behaviors under high-pressure situations. My expertise is on the following topics found in the books I've chosen: power/status, influence, leadership presence, setting boundaries, speaking clearly & concisely, emotional mastery, improvisation, compassion, and empathy for self and others. As a communication coach and trainer, I work with clients to neutralize power dynamics for more positive exchange, leaving both parties feeling safe and respected. 

I wrote

The Ego Tango

By Amy Carroll,

Book cover of The Ego Tango

What is my book about?

This is a collection of real-life stories I tell in my workshops as a communication coach. Each story demonstrates either…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Untamed

Amy Carroll Why did I love this book?

I work with people to help them build confidence, reduce resentments and communicate more effectively. The most powerful concept the author left me with was this: “If I have to choose between someone else and myself, I will always choose me first.” It is a bold and edgy statement and one that a lot of people can benefit from. If we want to be of service to others, we must develop the inner strengthen and confidence to take care of ourselves first.

By Glennon Doyle,

Why should I read it?

15 authors picked Untamed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! “Packed with incredible insight about what it means to be a woman today.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick)

In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, bestselling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine • The Washington Post • Cosmopolitan • Marie Claire • Bloomberg • Parade •…


Book cover of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Amy Carroll Why did I love this book?

Quiet is an essential book for extroverts. It brings insight into the power of the introvert mind and the value they offer. It will help close the gap and improve communication between these opposing personality types.

By Susan Cain,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Quiet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

SUSAN CAIN'S NEW BOOK, BITTERSWEET, IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW

A SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE HOW YOU SEE INTROVERTS - AND YOURSELF - FOREVER.

Our lives are driven by a fact that most of us can't name and don't understand. It defines who our friends and lovers are, which careers we choose, and whether we blush when we're embarrassed.

That fact is whether we're an introvert or an extrovert.

The most fundamental dimension of personality, at least a third of us are introverts, and yet shyness, sensitivity and seriousness are often seen as…


Book cover of The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Know to Make Love Work

Amy Carroll Why did I love this book?

Terry starts off by telling women “You’re not crazy, you’re right!” Unfortunately being right is not enough, you need the skills to ask for what you want, in a way that it will be heard and well-received. Terry provides the reader with straightforward tools and insights for transforming relationships. 

By Terrence Real,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The New Rules of Marriage as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In his extraordinary new book, Terrence Real, distinguished therapist and bestselling author, presents a long overdue message that women need to hear: You aren’t crazy–you’re right!

Women have changed in the last twenty-five years–they have become powerful, independent, self-confident, and happy. Yet many men remain irresponsible and emotionally detached. They don’t know how to respond to frustrated partners who just want their mates to show up and grow up.

Enter the good news: In this revolutionary book, Real shows women how to master the new rules of twenty-first-century marriage by offering them a set of effective tools with which they…


Book cover of Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation

Amy Carroll Why did I love this book?

My goal is to help clients identify and neutralize the power dynamic in any relationship or exchange. In this autobiography of Nelson Mandela's experience in prison and beyond, he deftly transforms one challenging situation after another. His ability to stay Partner under pressure results in consistently positive outcomes. This is an illustration of a very high level of emotional intelligence, which we are all capable of developing.

By John Carlin,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Playing the Enemy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Read the book that inspired the Academy Award and Golden Globe winning 2009 film INVICTUS featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Daymon, directed by Clint Eastwood.

Beginning in a jail cell and ending in a rugby tournament- the true story of how the most inspiring charm offensive in history brought South Africa together. After being released from prison and winning South Africa's first free election, Nelson Mandela presided over a country still deeply divided by fifty years of apartheid. His plan was ambitious if not far-fetched: use the national rugby team, the Springboks-long an embodiment of white-supremacist rule-to embody and engage…


Book cover of White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism

Amy Carroll Why did I love this book?

Improving our capacity to communicate also means putting our ego to the side so that we can receive messages, even when the packaging is not so pretty!  This book expanded my ability to accept difficult messages. In the past, I’ve made a request to people close to me, "if you want to tell me something difficult to hear, please package the message respectfully." Since reading this book, when I hear something I perceive to be hostile or accusing, my job is to work on not taking it personally, because getting the message is more important than the packaging!

By Robin Diangelo,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked White Fragility as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The International Bestseller

'With clarity and compassion, DiAngelo allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to "bad people." In doing so, she moves our national discussions forward. This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change' Claudia Rankine

Anger. Fear. Guilt. Denial. Silence. These are the ways in which ordinary white people react when it is pointed out to them that they have done or said something that has - unintentionally - caused racial offence or hurt. After, all, a racist is the worst thing a person can be, right? But these reactions only…


Explore my book 😀

The Ego Tango

By Amy Carroll,

Book cover of The Ego Tango

What is my book about?

This is a collection of real-life stories I tell in my workshops as a communication coach. Each story demonstrates either an external behavior or an internal mindset to help people become more effective and productive in their personal and professional relationships.

My hope is that you'll be able to appreciate their humour and humanity while extracting the gems, applying them to your everyday interactions experiencing fewer hassles, and have more satisfying relationships.

Book cover of Untamed
Book cover of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Book cover of The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Know to Make Love Work

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My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

Book cover of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

Ruth F. Stevens Author Of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

From the time I was a girl, I’ve loved stories that put a lump in my throat even as I’m laughing. As a fiction writer, that funny-sad tone is the one I go for in my own work. I gravitate toward female protagonists of all ages who break the mold—women who are intelligent and strong but who also have unconventional, quirky personalities. Women who can be hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once. Because they are complex and unique, these women tend to struggle with life’s challenges more than their contemporaries. That’s what makes their stories so interesting, and why I have chosen the books on this list. 

Ruth's book list on smart, quirky women facing personal struggles

What is my book about?

When Mar’s husband divorces her, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy starting over, she’s ready for new adventures—as long as she can keep things casual. Each month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant. . . and a handsome novelist who wants more than she can give. Mar learns from each encounter. But can she open herself up to true connection?

Surrounded by quirky, endearing characters, Mar navigates her…

My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

What is this book about?

"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author

When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.

With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical…


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