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Best Seller #1 Choice For Confident Communicators
★★★★★ 4.8
Based on 49,247 verified reviews
Dragon Press

Knowing What To Say

The Art of the Perfect Response | Communication Skills for Confidence

  • Never be caught off guard in a conversation again
  • Master high-EQ responses that build instant rapport
  • Handle criticism, say no, and stay calm with ease
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★★★★★

Real Stories, Real Results

Honest experiences from readers of Knowing What To Say

Finally Stopped Freezing Up

I used to replay awkward conversations in my head for hours afterwards, thinking of what I should have said. Two weeks into this book and I'm actually saying the right thing IN the moment. My boss even commented that I seemed more assured in our last meeting. Genuinely didn't expect a book to change something this deep-rooted.

Sarah W.
Verified Customer

The "Power of the Pause" Alone Is Worth It

I have a colleague who used to steamroll me in every meeting. The chapter on the pause completely flipped it. I don't raise my voice, I don't get flustered — I just stop and hold the silence. He hasn't cut me off once in the last month. This one technique paid for the book ten times over.

David M.
Verified Customer

Learned How to Say No

I'm a people-pleaser and I've said yes to things I didn't want to do my whole life. The chapter on saying no gracefully genuinely made me tear up. I turned down two things this week without any guilt spiral afterwards. That has never happened to me before. Ever.

Helen B.
Verified Customer

My Introvert Cheat Code

I'm the classic quiet one who thinks of the perfect reply on the drive home. This book gave me a set of pre-loaded responses so I'm not scrambling in the moment. I'm still introverted — I just don't sound flustered anymore. Colleagues have started asking my opinion in meetings. Small thing that means the world.

Priya S.
Verified Customer

Handled Criticism Without Melting Down

I got some blunt feedback from my manager last week and normally I would have gone home and cried about it. Instead I used the framework from chapter 6, acknowledged it calmly, asked one clarifying question, and moved on. Zero spiral. He later said he appreciated how professionally I took it. I felt like a different person.

Rachel T.
Verified Customer

Bought One, Ordered Three More

Read it in about a week and immediately ordered copies for my sister, my grown daughter, and a friend going through a rough patch at work. It's the kind of book you wish you'd had 20 years ago. One chapter a day is the perfect format — no fluff, just something you can actually use that same afternoon.

Margaret D.
Verified Customer

Fixed My Reflex Apologising

I apologised for literally everything — bumping into furniture, someone else stepping on my foot, being late even when I wasn't. The reframe in this book on when to actually say sorry vs when to say thank you instead completely rewired me. My husband said it's like watching my confidence grow in real time.

Emma L.
Verified Customer

Finally Stopped Freezing Up

I used to replay awkward conversations in my head for hours afterwards, thinking of what I should have said. Two weeks into this book and I'm actually saying the right thing IN the moment. My boss even commented that I seemed more assured in our last meeting. Genuinely didn't expect a book to change something this deep-rooted.

Sarah W.
Verified Customer

The "Power of the Pause" Alone Is Worth It

I have a colleague who used to steamroll me in every meeting. The chapter on the pause completely flipped it. I don't raise my voice, I don't get flustered — I just stop and hold the silence. He hasn't cut me off once in the last month. This one technique paid for the book ten times over.

David M.
Verified Customer

Learned How to Say No

I'm a people-pleaser and I've said yes to things I didn't want to do my whole life. The chapter on saying no gracefully genuinely made me tear up. I turned down two things this week without any guilt spiral afterwards. That has never happened to me before. Ever.

Helen B.
Verified Customer

My Introvert Cheat Code

I'm the classic quiet one who thinks of the perfect reply on the drive home. This book gave me a set of pre-loaded responses so I'm not scrambling in the moment. I'm still introverted — I just don't sound flustered anymore. Colleagues have started asking my opinion in meetings. Small thing that means the world.

Priya S.
Verified Customer

Handled Criticism Without Melting Down

I got some blunt feedback from my manager last week and normally I would have gone home and cried about it. Instead I used the framework from chapter 6, acknowledged it calmly, asked one clarifying question, and moved on. Zero spiral. He later said he appreciated how professionally I took it. I felt like a different person.

Rachel T.
Verified Customer

Bought One, Ordered Three More

Read it in about a week and immediately ordered copies for my sister, my grown daughter, and a friend going through a rough patch at work. It's the kind of book you wish you'd had 20 years ago. One chapter a day is the perfect format — no fluff, just something you can actually use that same afternoon.

Margaret D.
Verified Customer

Fixed My Reflex Apologising

I apologised for literally everything — bumping into furniture, someone else stepping on my foot, being late even when I wasn't. The reframe in this book on when to actually say sorry vs when to say thank you instead completely rewired me. My husband said it's like watching my confidence grow in real time.

Emma L.
Verified Customer

Common Questions

Yes. Most books explain theory — active listening, body language, "be assertive." This book gives you the actual words. Every chapter ends with word-for-word scripts you can use the same day, for the exact awkward moments most people freeze in: gratitude, criticism, saying no, being caught off guard, awkward silences, and more. It's a script book, not a psychology book.

Especially for you. The whole reason confident people seem "quick on their feet" is that they have pre-loaded responses ready. You don't need to become an extrovert — you just need to stop scrambling in the moment. Having the words prepared is what removes the anxiety in the first place.

Yes — this is exactly what the book was written for. That "staircase wit" feeling comes from not having a response pattern ready. Once you've internalised the frameworks (they're short, memorable, and practical), the right reply comes to you in the moment instead of in the shower three hours later.

No. It's built as one chapter a day. Each chapter is a short read (5–10 minutes), a reflection, and one practical exercise you use that same day. You can also jump straight to the chapter you need — "handling criticism," "saying no," "responding under pressure" — and use it as a reference book long after your first read-through.

Yes. A large part of the book is about high-stakes moments: responding to criticism without getting defensive, saying no to your boss without guilt, handling passive-aggressive colleagues, and speaking up in meetings without freezing. The scripts work in professional settings just as well as personal ones.

No — and this is addressed directly in the book. Knowing what to say isn't about tricking people or performing. It's about not sabotaging yourself with reflexive words that don't reflect what you actually mean. Genuinely warm, honest people benefit from this more than anyone, because their kindness finally lands the way they intended.

Physical paperback, printed by Dragon Press. It ships in discreet packaging so you can read it on the train without the whole carriage seeing the title. Most readers say they highlight, dog-ear, and keep it on their desk as a reference.

Most readers report using one or two of the scripts on the same day they read the first chapter — and noticing how differently people respond. The bigger shift (staying calm under criticism, not freezing when caught off guard) usually builds over the first 2–3 weeks of daily practice.

Yes. There are specific chapters on holding your ground calmly, redirecting a conversation, and using the "power of the pause" — a technique that stops interruptions without you having to raise your voice or seem confrontational.

Then you pay nothing. Our 30-day guarantee means you can read the whole book and put it into practice risk-free. No forms, no return shipping, no questions. Just email us for a full refund.

Never Be Caught Off Guard Again.

The right reply, when it matters. Calm under criticism. A graceful no. A response for every moment you used to freeze in. Confident, present, and never lost for words again.

Results vary. This isn't a magic trick — it's a practice. Consistency matters.