Books The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - A must-read for everyone!
There are so many reviews of this book already that I hate to add one more to the pile, but I must at least say this: this was a FABULOUS read. This book should be required reading in high schools, colleges, and beyond. The basic premise being this: you should open yourself up to all possibilities, i.e. rather than viewing a mistake as a problem, view it as an opportunity to learn.

While portions of the book were a little too academic (e.g. the descriptions of the central self and the calculating self), most of it was related in real-life stories and scenarios. It was a quick read and truly enjoyable. I picked it up after several co-workers recommended it and viewed a Benjamin Zander video on Ted.com.

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Rating: - Reframe Problems into Opportunities
"The Art of Possibility" was a bit "out there" for me, somewhat whoo-whoo, New Agey. It would probably benefit from a second reading. The Art of Possibility is co-authored by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander. Mr. is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. His wife Rosamund is a family counselor. From these disparate disciplines they bring a framework that attempts to shift the way your approach life problems, viewing challenges as opportunities.

I read this book after I heard it being recommended by Jason Womack, a productivity coach. I heard a snippet of a lecture given by Benjamin Zander. Intrigued, I got a copy of "The Art of Possibility."

I found the book encouraging but somewhat lacking in specific action steps for the reader to take. Team Zander does a good job of offering specific anecdotes about how they had in different problematic circumstances reframed problems into opportunities. Applying these tactics to our own lives encapsulates the challenges in "The Art of Possibility."

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Rating: - Eloquent, artistic, thought-provoking
Always one to look for a good read, I picked up this book after hearing it recommended by a radio talk show host. When I first started it I expected it to be spiritualistic positive-thinking fluff. But this book turns out to offer very practical methods for changing one's perceptions in a way that opens one to more of the possibilities in life. Seeing the potential in others, not taking oneself too seriously, recognizing one's own ability to contribute to a situation -- these are just a few ways the authors present to experience a more fulfilled and passionate life. Their writing style is eloquent, elegant, and creative, much like a piece of beautiful music itself.

The transformational "practices" explained in the book seem to purposely exclude any kind of moral or ethical values or judgments. Since morality is foundational to my own worldview, I found the book unhelpful in that respect, yet still very relevant and engaging otherwise.

This is a unique book, one of the most interesting I've ever read in the categories of motivation, inspiration, or leadership.

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Rating: - Simple, reasonable lessons for life
The book could definitely be categorized in the "self-help book" field, but it is more creative and the examples are excellent. If you decide to get this book, and do not know who the authors are, make sure you check out a video on Youtube. Ben Zander follows the rules of the book and you can see it in his energetic, child-like attitude. Some of the rules may not seem as relevant as others, but your sure to find something you can improve on. This book is great for leadership programs and really helps you to learn your strengths and weaknesses.