Beyond Difficult: An attachment-based guide to dealing with challenging people

by Rachel Samson, Jessie Stern

Do you sometimes dread work because you don't want to face more drama with your co-worker? Have you spent significant time and money on therapy trying to work on painful romantic relationships that ultimately became messy break-ups? Do you ever walk away from an unpleasant conversation wishing you had known how to handle it better in the moment? This book is for you.

Australian clinical psychologist Rachel Samson and American attachment researcher Dr Jessie Stern have come together to bring you the ultimate guide to understanding the 'difficult' people in your life. Learn how to navigate your interactions with them with more confidence and compassion – and a lot less stress!

Using the science of attachment and temperament, Beyond Difficult offers a new, relationship-focused approach to mastering the art of dealing with difficult people.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

Reviews

[Rosie Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed some advice😂

[matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowee, 3 star book but it gets an extra star because of how much I really took away and reflected on. First couple chapters are still my favourite because of how they layout the different societal understandings of “difficult” behaviour, and how it develops and then presents. Loved and will keep talking about it with anyone that will listen !

[Kim Wakefield · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 9%

The production of this audiobook is horrendous. I can hear the VA swallow her saliva and breathing into the microphone - which sounds harsh, but it I don’t hear it with other audiobooks.

Additionally, the brief acknowledgment of neurodiversity, only to spout studies on temperament that didn’t appear to consider neurodiversity makes this a difficult resource to take seriously, even if I’m only 9% into it.

[Hew Parham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a really useful and insightful guide at a difficult time and did highlight to me a couple of issues that have been going on. The audiobook however is poorly recorded and needs a better engineering mix on it.

[Nora Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book didn’t bring anything new to the table that I didn’t read already. It’s kind like a 101 for attachment styles and communication skills.
I agree with a previous review, the narrator did not do a great job.

[Isabella P · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I don't usually review books, but so many people would benefit from reading this book. It was so well written and had so much practical advice. The two authors should be very proud of this book!