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Summary: A "must read" if you believe in change
Review: I purchased my first copy of "The Art of Possibility" after attending a Boston Philharmonic concert. After the concert, the authors were promoting their book. At one point, while I was uncertain, they offered to buy it for me and told me how important reading the book would be. Well, I am writing to tell you that that it has had a profound effect on me and I am thankful for their persistence. I have already purchased more than 10 copies for friends and business associates. I am thankful to the Zander's for sharing their stories with their readers. It is a timeless book that touches the very essence of being a human being and how to see things in a new light. I look forward to reading their next book!
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Summary: The Power to Change Your Life
Review: I usually don't read self-help books because they don't work for me. This book is different. It made me realize just how much of my own happiness and success are already under my control and how much the way I choose to think shapes my life. It's already made a big difference for me. And it's beautifully written and engrossing--I read it in one sitting. Now I find myself re-reading sections that particularly apply to my situation. I recommend this book whole-heartedly!
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Summary: How fascinating!
Review: I've made a lot of mistakes in my life (part of the human condition?), but now I know to just raise my arms and exclaim -'How fascinating!'I had the privelege to see Mr Zander speak at last year's TechLearn2000 conference in Orlando. (It became a family trip since the conference destination was Disney World, but my two boys got chicken pox one after the other - how fascinating? - fortunately we had managed a day at Disneyland before heading further east.) This book restores my memoriies of Mr Zander's presentation and is very worthwhile. But, if you get a chance to hear him, don't miss the opportunity. And jkeep your singing voice ready - it's not often you'll get a chance to sing under the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, which you might well do!
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Summary: This is a book that will open doors inside you.
Review: I've read (and even written) a lot of self-help books, but I can't remember ever having read such a book that left me feeling so electrified. The Zanders' humanity, creativity and imagination shine on every page, in every anecdote, quote, and description of their 12 practices. This isn't a feel-good, fix all your problems without effort book (I hate those!), but rather a key between two cardboard covers. Grab it, jiggle in all sorts of doors you assumed to be locked forever, both inside yourself and in the outside world. Watch in wonder as those doors swing open. I wish THE ART OF POSSIBILITY could be handed out to all new parents, all teachers, all bosses.
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Summary: Definitely worth the read
Review: I've read a lot of self-help inspirational books. This book sometimes reminds me of "Who moved my cheese?" by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth H. Blanchard or even "7 spiritual laws of success" by Deepak Chopra. But this book is different. "The Art of Possibility" does not offer a quick path to wealth. The authors show us that inspiration does come from every-day events. The book invites you to see life from a different perspective, if you wish so. This book is certainly a great start to freeing up one's brain and thinking process. I highly recommend "The Art of Possibility" to anybody seriously seeking to release their full potential from the control of our human conditioning. This is really a wise book about transforming yourself and others.
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Summary: Musical Examples Are Particularly Fascinating
Review: In a glut of books on personal improvement, this is a breath of fresh air. Many of the illustrations were drawn from the world of classical music, and as a musician/lawyer, I found them particularly relevant and interesting. Nothing trite here, just great thoughts and useful examples that you will find nowhere else. When I read the book for the first time, I wondered whether a non-musician would be able to relate to a description of a Mahler symphony or Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony. However, I used one of the examples in a recent speech to real estate professionals, and found that they were very interested in hearing about a string quartet (some probably for the very first time). The event made me realize that I love books that take me into a world in which I have never been, and I think many others have the same desire. So if you are not a musician, read this book, because you will be transported into the mind of a musician and the world of classical music. If you are a musician, you'll find yourself agreeing out loud with the musical examples.
This is not to say that the other examples are not relevant and interesting - they are, and they avoid the well-worn roads. I believe this husband and wife team have more to say, and I'm looking forward to their next books.
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Summary: Worthwhile and Inspiring Read
Review: My first impression upon picking up The Art of Possibility was that it would be "fluff." Wrong impression. Instead, this turned out to be a very powerful book that I'm glad to have read. The Zanders present a philosophy and strategy for seeing and living in our world from a standpoint of possibility rather than scarcity and restriction. They describe a set of practices that may sound trite from their chapter headings ("Giving an A") but which are backed up by lucid explanations and very moving anecdotes. (I don't usually go for books that rely so heavily on personal stories, but in this case they are quite inspiring and contribute significantly to the power of the book.) The two authors come at the issues of leadership and personal growth from different perspectives: He from the point of view of an orchestra conductor, and She from that of a psychotherapist. Benjamin Zander fortunately does not try to make the threadbare comparison that being a conductor is like being a CEO; rather, he simply uses his personal experiences as a leader to help make his points with interesting examples related to his career as conductor. It's a worthwhile read (and easy, too, at 200 pages) that at the very least is inspiring and enjoyable, but also likely to make positive changes in your life if you apply the practices the authors describe.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile and Inspiring Read
Review: My first impression upon picking up The Art of Possibility was that it would be "fluff." Wrong impression. Instead, this turned out to be a very powerful book that I'm glad to have read. The Zanders present a philosophy and strategy for seeing and living in our world from a standpoint of possibility rather than scarcity and restriction. They describe a set of practices that may sound trite from their chapter headings ("Giving an A") but which are backed up by lucid explanations and very moving anecdotes. (I don't usually go for books that rely so heavily on personal stories, but in this case they are quite inspiring and contribute significantly to the power of the book.) The two authors come at the issues of leadership and personal growth from different perspectives: He from the point of view of an orchestra conductor, and She from that of a psychotherapist. Benjamin Zander fortunately does not try to make the threadbare comparison that being a conductor is like being a CEO; rather, he simply uses his personal experiences as a leader to help make his points with interesting examples related to his career as conductor. It's a worthwhile read (and easy, too, at 200 pages) that at the very least is inspiring and enjoyable, but also likely to make positive changes in your life if you apply the practices the authors describe.
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Summary: Thank you doesn't say it!
Review: Read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Have read reviews by other customers as well before I started this. I was living in San Francisco at the time of Werner Ehrhart and EST...but that was 25 years ago and having not attended a seminar with all my other pals (I hated the idea of not being able to take an aspirin if I needed it...a HUGE reason for not partaking), I felt that I was getting a lot of new stuff. Self-help is only good when the authors tell you how to do it. They not only told me how to achieve what they felt was needed, but the did it in a way that I could understand. The finest thing about the book was that I have been doing this all along for years as I fight chronic illness, try to raise children, keep the grandchildren in line, work in a business with my husband of 43 years and melt professional and personal lives together effectively (while cleaning my oven, giving birth and raising chickens....walking to school barefoot through the snow....you know the scenario). It was just so good to see things that I thought ( as a result of an excellent therapist and as a musician) were inventions of my own were actually thought out by two such amazing people. To be validated like that was awesome. How the ideas were presented were sparkling new. How the authors used their own ideas in their own lives and the lives of those who are lucky enough to be a part of their day to day experience was so inspiring that all of the ideas became new and bright and polished and fragrant and all those wonderful things that ideas should be whether they are already thought of or not.
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Summary: The Art of Possibility
Review: The "Art of Possibility" deeply resonated with me. Creating value by managing risk and uncertainty has been the core of my life's journey. It has been filled with complexity, tension, and dissonance...but it has also been filled with the discovery of possibility and meaning. The Zanders have done a real service in framing the "how" of possibility with their examples and practices. This gem of a book will be useful not only in managing one's life, but also in helping other's to create their great life stories. The answers to core questions like "which game of success will I choose to play?","will I choose to be a contribution?", and "do I take myself too ___seriously?" are keys to a life of joy, meaning, and fulfillment. Can you see the work of art within you? Within others? Or are you focusing on the facade? Who is winning the battle between the caculating self and the central self? Are you vulnerable or are you permeable? What is here now? And what do you want to do from here? Get yourself this book and engage in THE joyous adventure of opening up to your possibilities.
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