A short life of the author
Marshall B. Rosenberg (1934–2015) was an American psychologist who studied under Carl Rogers and founded the Center for Nonviolent Communication in 1984. He developed NVC (Nonviolent Communication, also called “Compassionate Communication”) as a practical framework for resolving interpersonal and intergroup conflict through four steps: observation without evaluation, identification of feelings, identification of needs, and making requests rather than demands.
Major Works
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life (1999, PuddleDancer Press; revised editions 2003, 2015) is the foundational text — a practical guide that has sold over five million copies and been translated into over thirty-five languages. It is used in schools, prisons, corporations, and conflict zones.
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict (2005) and Being Me, Loving You (2005) extend the framework to broader social and intimate contexts.
Rosenberg spent decades conducting workshops and mediations in conflict zones including Israel/Palestine, Rwanda, and the Balkans.
Collecting Rosenberg
Nonviolent Communication (1999, PuddleDancer Press) first editions are common due to large printings but in fine condition bring $30–$60. The revised editions are even more widely printed. Signed copies from Rosenberg’s workshops exist but are not frequently traded. The book’s collecting interest is primarily for its cultural impact rather than rarity.