Stop saying yes.
Start saying no.
Change your life!
In The Power of Saying No, award-winning professor and researcher Vanessa Patrick delves into the new science of saying no. She introduces the ground-breaking concept of “empowered refusal”—a proven framework for saying no that puts you in charge of your life—and reveals some surprising secrets about the power of the word no.
Praise for the Power of Saying No
“The Power of Saying No is a life-changing book. You can set boundaries without damaging your relationships, and Vanessa Patrick shows you how to do it.”.
- Jonah Berger
Bestselling author of Contagious and The Catalyst
“The Power of Saying No will stay within arm’s reach for me. It offers the explanations and the inspirations I need to take charge of my life and career, with concrete tools to make it happen. I was able to put Vanessa Patrick’s lessons to work the day I started reading the book and have continued every day since. Read this book. Twice.”
- Dolly Chugh
Author of The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future, Jacob B. Melnick Term Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business
“Saying ‘no’ can be empowering, but you should say ‘yes’ to this book! Vanessa shares wise, practical tips for setting boundaries and living life with conviction, so you can spend more time on what matters and spend less time on what doesn’t.”
- Laura Vanderkam
Author of Tranquility by Tuesday and 168 Hours
“Saying no is a superpower, and it can be yours when you read Vanessa Patrick’s paradigm-shifting book. If you want to learn how to say no so you can say yes to your life, pick up this book and read it.”
- Whitney Johnson
Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Smart Growth
"If you’re tired of agreeing to annoying asks and thankless tasks, read this book. The Power of Saying No offers the smartest advice I’ve ever encountered for declining requests without risking your reputation or your relationships. This essential guide will sharpen your mind and steel your spine to live life on your own terms."
Daniel H. Pink
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, Drive, and To Sell Is Human
Praise for The Power of Saying No:
"The Power of Saying No is an absolute game changer. Dr.Patrick illuminates the reasons saying no is so darn hard, provides a framework for deciding when to say yes vs no, and most importantly, teaches readers how to say an empowered no they can feel confident about and that won’t invite pushback. I highly recommend this book for anyone who struggles to say no―so basically everyone!"
- Jill Stoddard, PhD.
Author of Imposter No More and co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast
"If you’ve ever struggled to say ‘no’, then this is the book for you. Which, let’s be honest, is all of us at some time or other. Highly readable, the book its filled with practical tips that are backed by scientific research. What’s more, it explains why saying ‘𝘯𝘰’ isn’t just a case of ‘getting your way’, but the key to being more authentic, more human and more fulfilled. Packed with insights and engaging stories, '𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘰' is an absolute pleasure to read"
- Christian Hunt
Author of '𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴' and founder of Human Risk Limited.
This book saved me $1,000 within 24 hours of finishing it—best immediate ROI of any book I’ve ever read! It’s full of practical science and great ideas, and I’ll be referring back to it again and again.
-Zoe Chance, PhD
Author of Influence Is Your Superpower: How to Get What You What Without Compromising Who You Are
“The Power of Saying No is an exceptional guide to setting boundaries and prioritizing your time. With practical insights and advice, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to create balance and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. Highly recommended!”
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith,
Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
Let's be honest, who doesn't struggle with saying no? This book offers tips not only for saying no when you want to, but for being more mindful about deciding what you really want to say no--or yes--to.
- Vanessa Bohns, PhD,
Author of You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Powers of Persuasion, and Why It Matters.
Dr. Vanessa Patrick, Ph.D.
Vanessa Patrick, PhD. is the Associate Dean for Research, the Bauer Professor of Marketing and lead faculty of the Executive Women in Leadership Program at the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston.
Her research has been published in top-tier academic journals in psychology, marketing, and management, and popular accounts of her work have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, LA Times, Business Week, Fast Company, Forbes, Huffington Post and Washington Post.
