When the Giraffe Dances with the Wolf: Four Steps to Empathetic Communication

Does this sound familiar? You’re angry with your partner and want to say so without them immediately feeling attacked. Or your partner makes an accusation, and instead of feeling hurt, you suddenly understand what’s really behind it. That’s exactly what Serena Rust’s *When the Giraffe Dances with the Wolf* is all about – an easy-to-read 176-page book published by KOHA.

Rust takes you step by step through a form of communication in which nobody has to ‘win’ anymore, because the needs of everyone involved count equally. Instead of trying to get your own way or prove you’re right, it’s all about empathy and understanding. The foundation is Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, who is known worldwide as a mediator and has also been successfully teaching his approach in Germany for several years.

We here at the Empathikon team give it a clear recommendation: it’s an easy read, full of practical tips for everyday life, and has now become a classic of German-language NVC literature.