The Squeaky Wheel

Book excerpt: We complain about everything, often neither expecting nor getting meaningful resolutions. Wasting time and energy on unproductive complaints can take an emotional toll on our moods and well-being. Psychotherapist Guy Winch offers practical and psychologically grounded advice on how to determine what to complain about and how to convey our complaints in ways that encourage cooperation and remedies to our dissatisfactions. Whether we're dealing with a rude store clerk, a bureaucrat, a coworker, a friend or family member, complaining constructively can be empowering and can significantly strengthen our personal, familial, and work relationships.