This book vividly portrays the authors experiences spent during a lifetime of talking and communicating with people from all walks of life, in a variety of situations across several careers as a police officer, probation officer, university lecturer and as a union representative. It is deliberately written in an entertaining, informative and humorous style. While not intended to be a 'how to' manual on public speaking and communicating there are plenty of lessons to learn from the author's history of mistakes and learning on the job! It is about real interactions with real people at the sharp end of some of the toughest jobs and situations anyone could face. Whether lecturing to the public or students, calming violent people, preventing suicide, resolving conflict, rehabilitating offenders, dealing with relatives of the deceased or giving a comical speech, it is all here. If you like people and are fascinated by the art of communicating and what makes them tick, then read on...