I had to read this book in a hurry because I needed the information in it. Bill Eddy wrote this book from years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker dealing with what he calls High Conflict Persons (HCPs), highly emotionally driven people who often inflict damage on the lives and reputations of Targets of Blame, innocent people who get in their way somehow. These HCPs are often suffering from one or more of 5 personality disorders, as outlined in the DSM-5 (paranoid personality, antisocial, etc.). Eddy has useful tips for how to spot these HCPs and how to stay out of their way; he also has recommendations about how to deal with them and their allies if you can’t stay away. What he doesn’t help you with is how to overcome the humiliation or anger or stress that comes with dealing with an HCP enough to rationally implement his methods. Maybe that’s the next book. Still, an incredibly useful book if you find yourself in this situation.