How to Hug a Porcupine, Sean Smith
How to Hug a Porcupine, Sean Smith
List: $13.49 | Sale: $9.44
Club: $6.74

How to Hug a Porcupine
Easy Ways to Love the Difficult People in Your Life

Author: Sean Smith

Narrator: Julie Briskman

Unabridged: 1 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/25/2017


Synopsis

As seen on TikTok—discover 101 powerful, practical strategies to handle difficult people with confidence, calm, and compassion.

We all know someone who feels impossible to deal with—a difficult coworker, a stubborn family member, an argumentative partner, or even a stranger. But what if the key to less stress and better relationships isn’t avoiding them—but learning how to communicate differently?

How to Hug a Porcupine delivers 101 simple, effective communication strategies to help you manage challenging personalities and improve your relationships—at work, at home, and in everyday life.

Readers consistently say this book is truly life-changing:

“If only I had this book 20 years ago—how different my life might have been. I could have had a better relationship with my daughter. Now I finally have tools to improve communication and handle difficult people. It’s never too late to learn, and this book proves it.”

This powerful feedback reflects what makes the book so impactful: it gives you real-world tools for communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution—skills you can apply immediately.

Learn How To:Handle difficult people in relationships, family, and the workplaceImprove communication skills and emotional intelligenceNavigate conflict with patience, empathy, and confidenceReduce stress and build healthier, more respectful connectionsChange your approach—and transform your relationships
Difficult people aren’t always trying to be difficult—but without the right tools, interactions can become overwhelming.

This Book Helps You:Respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionallyUnderstand behavior without taking it personallyBuild a “toolbox” of proven communication strategiesStrengthen relationships—even in challenging situations
Inside You’ll Find:
101 practical tips for dealing with difficult peopleStrategies for handling parents, children, coworkers, and strangersTechniques rooted in psychology, communication, and self-awarenessEasy-to-read, actionable advice for real-life situations
Perfect For:
Anyone struggling with toxic people or difficult relationshipsReaders of self-help, communication, and personal development booksProfessionals improving workplace communication and leadership skillsThose seeking more peace, patience, and emotional balance
Why Readers Love This Book:

Readers describe this as a book that provides life-changing insight and practical tools they wish they had years earlier.

It proves that:
It’s never too late to improve your relationshipsSmall changes in communication can create big resultsAnyone can learn to approach conflict with clarity and confidence
With a foreword by Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis, this modern classic combines warmth, wisdom, and actionable advice to help you create more understanding and less conflict in your life.

Better communication starts here. Stronger relationships follow.

About The Author

Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis is a licensed psychologist in Australia and mental health counselor in New York. She is affiliated with several major psychological associations and societies including being a Member of the Australian Psychological Society, and an International Affiliate Member of the American Psychological Association. For several years, she worked with her husband, Dr. Albert Ellis, giving public presentations and professional trainings in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), as well as collaborating on writing and research projects, until his death in 2007. She now continues to present, practice and write about his groundbreaking psychotherapeutic approach of REBT. She has also co-authored several forthcoming books with Dr. Albert Ellis. She currently has a private practice in New York City, and also delivers lectures, workshops and seminars throughout the U.S.A. and across the globe.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Nancy on March 29, 2014

I work with a prickle of porcupines. I know, calling a group of porcupines a prickle is funny, but truly, that is what they are called to. Some mornings maneuvering around this group is treacherous at best, so when I came across this book I thought it was a gift from above. In easy to follow little s......more

Goodreads review by Helena on January 14, 2024

This is like a guide on how to let mean people walk all over you. I was disappointed because I had hoped there would be advice on how to communicate to “my porcupine” when they’ve hurt me, but it was mostly just advice on how to keep them from getting angry with you or how to make them feel heard. T......more

Goodreads review by Noell on May 22, 2019

The trouble with ebooks is that you can’t flip through them quickly to see how they’re formatted. This is basically a self help coffee table or bathroom reading material for quick bursts of suggestions. It would be better as a page a day calendar or maybe a collection of Instagram posts. Book wise,......more

Goodreads review by Heather on January 30, 2025

This book got an extra star from me for the porcupine drawings. Those were, by far, the best part. I also enjoyed learning more about porcupines. The advice? Not so much. There are some basic principles in there that are good, but I feel like anyone who acts like a “porcupine” on a regular basis shou......more

Goodreads review by Camille on July 07, 2019

What looks like an easy read it actually chock full of insights into how to love difficult people and how to avoid being one yourself. I think this is one I will refer to many times in the future.......more