<p>After the sudden death of a friend, Cynthia Kane realized that life is too short to waste time being misunderstood, misheard, and misrepresenting her needs and desires, and that life could be richer and more satisfying if she was able to communicate with a greater level of kindness, clarity, and awareness.</p><p>Kane's book, based on <i>Buddhism's Four Elements of Right Speech</i>, is a simple and practical guide for learning communication skills that inevitably result in better relationships, enhanced self-esteem, and conscious living. The 5 steps for communicating like the Buddha are:<br></p><ol><li>Listen to yourself.</li><li>Speak consciously, concisely, and clearly.</li><li>Listen to others.</li><li>Regard silence as a part of speech.</li><li>Meditate.</li></ol><p></p><p>When followed, these steps will result in an awareness of what is being communicated to others and to oneself (truths or untruths), an understanding of how best to speak to others, more effective listening skills, and the ability to know how and when to effectively use silence. In short, this approach results in a satisfying and mindful life.</p>