I have not heard of this book or author, but I do the disengaging, and it works well with my almost three year old. Caveat: disengaging is not the same as ignoring! I don't ignore him, but I try to get him to express his feelings with words - he's a good talker, and if he won't, I say, Mama will be on the couch when you are ready to talk. He is almost always immediately ready to talk then. I use this almost every day when he won't get dressed. "mama is going to get her clothes on - tell me when you are ready" - after he refuses or is doing somersaults as we try to get his pants on. He is then immediately ready to get dressed. I would like to read that book, provided it is gentle and respectful throughout.