Em Griffin Making Friends And Making Them Count Chapter Summary

Abstract: In this paper, I will be covering the main points of the book titled, “Making Friends, and Making them Count,” by Em Griffin. I try to thoroughly explain the advice, pointers, and tips that Griffin gives us to guide us to better relationship formation and communication. My opinions of his book will also be present in this paper, as well as a synopsis of the outline and character of the book.

A Synopsis: I found Em Griffin’s book quite fun to read. His comical stories and analogies were really helpful and I was able to understand the concept of communication more thoroughly after reading this book. He explained communication and friendship very well in his book, but also included a little bit of a Christian standpoint. Something
Toss yourself into a meaningful cause, surround yourself with people who make you feel good, and even seek professional counseling. Also, try not to take yourself too seriously! Maybe change the way you look, practice assertiveness, and most important, know thyself!
In chapter three, Griffin explains that as people, we need to be motivated. We have the need for achievement, affiliation, and for power. Griffin says that motivation gives a person power. Now, he firmly stresses that “power” is not a dirty word. God gave us the desire to want to be powerful. His quote, “The best pastors often have a high need for power,” says it all!
Chapter four is about perception, which is not just observing other people. It is drawing inferences, making judgments, and making conclusions, too. He explains through personal experience and expertise how we perceive others, and offers us a perceptual guide called the “Kluckholn’s table of values.” In the table of values, it shows different values that are held by different cultures. There are three positions in five areas: View of human nature, relationship of man to God/nature, sense of time, type of activity, and structure of social relationships. There are so many differences between cultures, and this table is a great reference when communicating and perceiving the values of
I feel like I have been doing a very good job meeting, creating, and keeping friends. I think that may have to do with the fact that my husband is in the military and I have to meet new friends all the time (although, now I have friends all over the country, and they are absolutely amazing)! I do think that the book had some great points, though, one being about self-worth and identity. It is hard sometimes keeping up with all of the lifestyle changes in life, so that part of the book gave me some relief. Identity is not written in stone!
Another thing that I want to pay more attention to in my life is the identity of others. I want to get to know the identity of people I see all the time. For example, the ladies at the post office, the grocers at the grocery store I go to all the time, and the mailman. Not only will building a relationship with these people be simple and easy, it will be pleasurable!
One more thing I can implement in my life is to realize when other people are communicating with me in non-verbal ways. I sometimes do not pay attention to the non-verbal communication. It is mostly because I am just a fast paced person. I need to learn to slow down and interpret non-verbal communication. I might be missing a lot! This book did help me to learn how to read and understand facial expressions more accurately, and it also described all of the other non-verbal