Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Harvard Business Press (2000), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 206 pages
Description
Presenting twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavors, The Art of Possibility is the dynamic product of an extraordinary partnership. The Art of Possibility combines Benjamin Zander's experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander's genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment. The authors' harmoniously interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of life. Through uplifting stories, parables, and personal anecdotes, the Zanders invite us to become passionate communicators, leaders, and performers whose lives radiate possibility into the world.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member maggiereads
Around the age of ten, Mother allowed me to spend the night with my new friend Suzanne. A huge event because Suzanne’s family lived in a brand new, paint-still-drying house, and I being ten didn’t get out much.
As we were getting ready for bed, Suzanne’s mom pops her head in and says, “When
With our feet tucked in and the covers to our chins, Suzanne’s mom commences with the story…There is a family with twin sons. One son is an eternal optimist and the other a perpetual pessimist…Brief intermission to allow for definitions…
Well, a local doctor claims he can cure the boys. He fills one room full of toys and another full of manure. The doctor leads the brothers down a long hallway and places them in the separate rooms: optimist with manure and pessimist amongst the toys. Before five minutes are up, the pessimist is screaming and wailing in his room.
Both parents rush down the hall to his aid. After opening the door, the pessimist starts complaining about the broken toys, and the lack of a playmate. Some toys are too small for him and some require assembling, etc.
The parents then realize their other son is awful quiet in his room. Fearing the worst, they inch open the door and are almost hit in the face with manure. Here they see their optimistic son digging furiously like a dog. Upon seeing them at the door the son shouts, “Throw me a shovel! With all this manure, there’s bound to be a pony!”
Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, will have you shouting, “Where’s the pony!” after reading their new book The Art of Possibility. This husband and wife super duo has learned to solve problems with the left sides of their brains. Problem solving that is “outside the box” and lends well to any professional or personal life.
If the Zander name sounds familiar, good, Benjamin is the current conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and wife Rosamund is a noted psychotherapist. She is also a budding artist and when the couple has trouble at work, she literally draws possible solutions. Let this book draw you in and show you new roads less fret with manure.
As we were getting ready for bed, Suzanne’s mom pops her head in and says, “When
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you settle down I’ll tell you a story.” Suzanne began to ham it up, “This is the best story!”, “You will want to tell everyone!”, “Mom will have you in stitches!” and so on like a Barnum and Bailey circus barker. Therefore, I calmed down as fast as anyone full of popcorn and coke, could.With our feet tucked in and the covers to our chins, Suzanne’s mom commences with the story…There is a family with twin sons. One son is an eternal optimist and the other a perpetual pessimist…Brief intermission to allow for definitions…
Well, a local doctor claims he can cure the boys. He fills one room full of toys and another full of manure. The doctor leads the brothers down a long hallway and places them in the separate rooms: optimist with manure and pessimist amongst the toys. Before five minutes are up, the pessimist is screaming and wailing in his room.
Both parents rush down the hall to his aid. After opening the door, the pessimist starts complaining about the broken toys, and the lack of a playmate. Some toys are too small for him and some require assembling, etc.
The parents then realize their other son is awful quiet in his room. Fearing the worst, they inch open the door and are almost hit in the face with manure. Here they see their optimistic son digging furiously like a dog. Upon seeing them at the door the son shouts, “Throw me a shovel! With all this manure, there’s bound to be a pony!”
Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, will have you shouting, “Where’s the pony!” after reading their new book The Art of Possibility. This husband and wife super duo has learned to solve problems with the left sides of their brains. Problem solving that is “outside the box” and lends well to any professional or personal life.
If the Zander name sounds familiar, good, Benjamin is the current conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and wife Rosamund is a noted psychotherapist. She is also a budding artist and when the couple has trouble at work, she literally draws possible solutions. Let this book draw you in and show you new roads less fret with manure.
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LibraryThing member GShuk
This audio delivers on its title. It provides thoughts that allow you to step outside the box in how you approach dreams, goals and your outlook on life. I highly recommend this entertaining audio.
LibraryThing member rchj98
A very effective and entertaining book. Very "artful" in getting the reader to actually implement the strategies.
LibraryThing member Steve55
I remember seeing Benjamin Zander at one of his lectures seven or eight years ago, and being inspired by his message. This book captures much of Benjamin’s philosophy in the topic area of the subtitle, ‘Transforming Professional and Personal Life’.
The book is jointly written with Rosamund
With many references to his life in music in the form of analogy and experience, the book sets out a dozen practices which will bring the power of opportunity into your life. The practices are all simple. Each provides a story based explanation of its value drawn from the personal experience gained in the USA and UK by the two authors, and straightforward instruction on its use.
As always with the best advice, there is no rocket science here, though the book is more powerful for this, not less. For example ‘Giving an A’ simply suggests that by approaching everyone we meet prepared and ready to see their best, this very act has already created energy to improve outcomes and create new opportunities in what they achieve. The book’s graphic examples bring these simple approaches to life and provide evidence of the power of apparently simple ideas.
This is a powerful book. I read this book on a flight to Khartoum, and found some of the insights and examples quite moving. Occasionally the musical references left me struggling a little, but served to highlight a need to learn more and in no way diminished the value of the messages.
I heartily recommend this book to everyone determined to improve their lives and in search of simple ways in which to begin.
The book is jointly written with Rosamund
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Stone Zander who is a family therapist. Drawing equally on Rosamund’s experience and that of Benjamin’s conducting the world’s orchestras, including the Boston Philharmonic, the book takes the form of a ‘How to’ which instead of providing strategies to overcome life’s obstacles, invites the reader into a world of opportunities.With many references to his life in music in the form of analogy and experience, the book sets out a dozen practices which will bring the power of opportunity into your life. The practices are all simple. Each provides a story based explanation of its value drawn from the personal experience gained in the USA and UK by the two authors, and straightforward instruction on its use.
As always with the best advice, there is no rocket science here, though the book is more powerful for this, not less. For example ‘Giving an A’ simply suggests that by approaching everyone we meet prepared and ready to see their best, this very act has already created energy to improve outcomes and create new opportunities in what they achieve. The book’s graphic examples bring these simple approaches to life and provide evidence of the power of apparently simple ideas.
This is a powerful book. I read this book on a flight to Khartoum, and found some of the insights and examples quite moving. Occasionally the musical references left me struggling a little, but served to highlight a need to learn more and in no way diminished the value of the messages.
I heartily recommend this book to everyone determined to improve their lives and in search of simple ways in which to begin.
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LibraryThing member verucas_chaos
One of the best "business" books I have ever read. Applicable to education and business philosophy as well. This is a book I will come back to over and over for good ideas.
LibraryThing member KeithMerron
In a world where inspiration is the key to leadership, this book offers wonderful examples of the kind of leadership that supports others in raising their abilities to new heights. The term “education” comes from the Latin word “educare” which literally means “to draw forth.” In
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addition to directing and guiding, this book suggests that leadership is about cultivating the talents of others that are inherently already there—the spirit of true education. Show Less
LibraryThing member VVilliam
A passionate look at empowerment, leadership, and fulfillment. Roz and Ben compliment each other very well, offering vignettes from their personal lives as a coach and a conductor. The overall theme of inspiring possibility is great, as are the specific techniques for doing so in this book. I
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easily see myself revisiting this in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member Davidgnp
I worked with Ben for several years, bringing his talks to British audiences, and I produced a video 'Benjamin Zander: Conducting Business' which brought many of the stories in this book to life through Ben's inspirational ways of working with business audiences and musicians directly. Ben's wife
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Rosamund was kind enough to act as 'first reader' for the facilitator's guide to the video, and I returned the favour for the first draft of this book, so I have to declare my bias. I have met many people (including one in my own family) who have told me that seeing and hearing Ben changed their approach to life and business for the better. Though the book cannot deliver quite so much, it is nevertheless a great and inspiring read. Show Less
LibraryThing member pjhogan
More inspiration than practical tips about creativity. It did encourage me to appreciate all the constraints our mental models put on us. I particularly liked the idea of “Rule No. 6”: (name comes from an anecdote) which is not to take yourself too seriously. Coda says book is interested in
Concepts are presented in chapters with anecdotes from authors, a husband-wife team. Ben, a conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and Rosamund, a family therapist.
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providing reader with “tools for your transformation.” Concepts are presented in chapters with anecdotes from authors, a husband-wife team. Ben, a conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and Rosamund, a family therapist.
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LibraryThing member readmore
While this is often looks dangerously close to being a YASHB (Yet Another Self Help Book) it proved to be a very good read filled with interesting stories of music and clever conflict resolution and creative living.
LibraryThing member RubyA
A little bit too kool-aid/landmarky for me.
LibraryThing member buildingabookshelf
I've read a million-and-one self improvement books, so it isn't very often that I find something that I haven't heard already. This book had several eye-opening topics for me. I was drawn into the book and had trouble putting it down. I especially liked the topic of 'giving yourself an A.' It is
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such a simple thing, but really altered my philosophy. This will be a book that I pick up over and over. Show Less
LibraryThing member figre
After two chapters I was in full skim-and-dash mode. I was disappointed, depressed, and wanting to do nothing more than throw it all away as a waste of time. But I am not like that. Even if I fear I have taken the first steps of a meaningless journey through empty platitudes and mindless ideas, I
This book proves why it is so important to keep plodding through. Had I not done so, I would have missed a lot.
A few years ago I saw Benjamin Zander speak and I was very impressed. Recently I had cause to revisit some of the principles he talked about, looking up his TED talk as well as some other videos of his presentations. (Check the TED talk out; it will not disappoint.) It was enough to make me take the leap and buy the book. I knew I was running the risk of this being another feel-good, we-are-the-world, kumbaya tome. But, based on what I had seen of his work, I took that chance.
And, as you saw, the first set of pages lead me to believe my fears were well founded.
And then I got into Chapter 3 – "Giving an A" – and I found myself deeply wrapped within the ideas and concepts that were being spun. Yes, the concept is simple. Rather than judging people – making them earn your respect – start with the idea that they have already received an "A" and see what happens.
Now, if I were you and I were just reading this out of context, I know I would respond in much the same way I did to the early parts of the book. "Yeah, nice story, tell me something I can use." But in the context of the book – in the context of the stories – there is something in this simple idea that resounds within me.
Here's a quote from the chapter. "...I actively train my students that when they make a mistake, they are to lift their arms in the air, smile, and say, 'How fascinating!'" Here's another. "A cynic, after all, is a passionate person who does not want to be disappointed again." Just two dog-eared pages from the many that eventually populated this little book.
What I found within were not so much motivational things for me (although readers will find those if that is what they need); rather I found ideas and concepts that have more to do with leadership and motivating others, about new ways to approach old problems, and ideas that have practical applications in life, the universe, and everything.
Don't get me wrong. There were down times. I still stumbled across chapters that left me just as cold as those first two, situations where autopilot kicked in and I was reading just trying to get to something I cared about. But when I did arrive at those destinations I was floored by the impact of what was being said.
I think the point of all of this is that your mileage may differ. And that is as it should be for this type of book. I never got Who Moved My Cheese, but exec after exec seemed to think it was the greatest thing since cheese without holes. And so you may read this and wonder what I am going on about. Or you may read it and say that chapters one and two were the greatest words ever written and what the bleep did I see in chapter three. Or your reactions may be all over the board.
All I can say is that I will be stealing – I'm sorry, make that borrowing – many of the ideas and concepts as I train others about leadership and self-direction. And I think that, if you give it a chance, you will find things that will make a difference for you, also.
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will complete that journey. Once I start a book, I will (except for a very, very, few exceptions) finish it. That doesn't mean I have to pay close attention. Skimming means I am reading. But I will get through it.This book proves why it is so important to keep plodding through. Had I not done so, I would have missed a lot.
A few years ago I saw Benjamin Zander speak and I was very impressed. Recently I had cause to revisit some of the principles he talked about, looking up his TED talk as well as some other videos of his presentations. (Check the TED talk out; it will not disappoint.) It was enough to make me take the leap and buy the book. I knew I was running the risk of this being another feel-good, we-are-the-world, kumbaya tome. But, based on what I had seen of his work, I took that chance.
And, as you saw, the first set of pages lead me to believe my fears were well founded.
And then I got into Chapter 3 – "Giving an A" – and I found myself deeply wrapped within the ideas and concepts that were being spun. Yes, the concept is simple. Rather than judging people – making them earn your respect – start with the idea that they have already received an "A" and see what happens.
Now, if I were you and I were just reading this out of context, I know I would respond in much the same way I did to the early parts of the book. "Yeah, nice story, tell me something I can use." But in the context of the book – in the context of the stories – there is something in this simple idea that resounds within me.
Here's a quote from the chapter. "...I actively train my students that when they make a mistake, they are to lift their arms in the air, smile, and say, 'How fascinating!'" Here's another. "A cynic, after all, is a passionate person who does not want to be disappointed again." Just two dog-eared pages from the many that eventually populated this little book.
What I found within were not so much motivational things for me (although readers will find those if that is what they need); rather I found ideas and concepts that have more to do with leadership and motivating others, about new ways to approach old problems, and ideas that have practical applications in life, the universe, and everything.
Don't get me wrong. There were down times. I still stumbled across chapters that left me just as cold as those first two, situations where autopilot kicked in and I was reading just trying to get to something I cared about. But when I did arrive at those destinations I was floored by the impact of what was being said.
I think the point of all of this is that your mileage may differ. And that is as it should be for this type of book. I never got Who Moved My Cheese, but exec after exec seemed to think it was the greatest thing since cheese without holes. And so you may read this and wonder what I am going on about. Or you may read it and say that chapters one and two were the greatest words ever written and what the bleep did I see in chapter three. Or your reactions may be all over the board.
All I can say is that I will be stealing – I'm sorry, make that borrowing – many of the ideas and concepts as I train others about leadership and self-direction. And I think that, if you give it a chance, you will find things that will make a difference for you, also.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dandelionroots
"The history of transformational phenomena - the Internet, for example, or paradigm shifts in science, or the spread of a new religion - suggests that transformation happens less by arguing cogently for something new than by generating active, ongoing practices that shift a culture's experience of
This is an excellent observation. The contents would have made an interesting article, if written by someone else. Numerous times I wanted to punch Ben in the face.
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the basis for reality."This is an excellent observation. The contents would have made an interesting article, if written by someone else. Numerous times I wanted to punch Ben in the face.
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LibraryThing member jpsnow
What I most appreciate about this book is that the twelve valuable practices are novel. It's hard to come up with an orthogonal approach in this space. It's the authors' combined background in a creative field and a counseling field that give them a different base of experiences to draw from
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compared to the typical experiences we see in this genre, yet alone from Harvard Business School Press. The reader will gain a new lens for viewing their world, and with plenty of interesting and moving stories to make the points set. Show Less
LibraryThing member allriledup
I'd give it 4.5 stars and highly recommend the audiobook.
LibraryThing member csaavedra
Wonderful book, truly inspiring, full of enriching metaphors from the world of music that apply to everyday life. Ros and Ben are great motivators and this book proves it. Worth reading it.
LibraryThing member Neale
A great book to help you think about things a little differently. Some great ideas and stories, highly recommend. Listened to the audio book which had the added benefit of music.
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Honestly, if the only takeaway that I wind up with from this book is the action of throwing my hands up in the air and saying "how fascinating!" when I make a mistake, I feel like that was worth the listening time. Of course there are lots of cool ideas in here, and I love the way this book
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challenges the dominant paradigm of constant competition and scarcity. I really enjoyed hearing how about the world of classical music as well, and having concrete examples of some of the concepts. Show Less
LibraryThing member point5a
Ben Zander's TED presentation was great, so I decide to buy his book, but the book wasn't as impressive as I expected. it was slow and boring and not practical.
Language
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
206 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
0875847706 / 9780875847702