“The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought.” Pythagoras
It is usually best to just say “No,” a powerful two-letter word, or perhaps a complete sentence, to keep people away from intruding into your space of time and privacy. Each “No” conveys a different caution, suggestion, advice and sometimes a veiled threat. You must get comfortable in asserting yourself and voicing your views, and saying a "No" if the situation requires so, without hesitation or awkwardness. You do not have to cover up with excuses like, “ I am afraid I cannot invite you for lunch today as I have a dentist appointment,” while the fact is you are going for a movie.
The book “NO” is about saying "No" to keep one happy and stress-free. The author wants you to be assertive and say "No" to time wasters, to customers making unfair demands, to bribes and favours, to aggressive, passive or manipulative behaviour, to relationships likely to go sour, to promises you cannot keep, to poor quality, to negative thinking, to children occasionally, to fake charity, to borrowing or lending, and cites many more situations where a firm "No" will keep you happy.
The book carries the strain of "No" to herd mentality, "No" to depriving children of quality education, "No" to unviable projects, "No" to stock market tips, "No" to pollution and "No" to taking job security for granted. Saying "No" in appropriate situations will enable you to manage your time better, make it easy for you to meet your commitments at work and home, and give you a stress-free sleep.
The author shares his life experiences and corroborates his point with stories, anecdotes, witty punchlines and quotes of eminent people.