Speaker - March 2008

Thoughtful observations on titles worth a look
Powerful, mind-blowing stories

As a right-brained, left-handed creative type, I found this book’s title appeal-

A Whole
New Mind
(Penguin Group
2006)
By Daniel H. Pink

ing. Especially the subtitle, Why Right-

Brainers Will Rule the Future. Once inside this easy read, it’s like déjà vu of a simple model for a complex phenomenon.

Daniel Pink explains that our modern world has been built on left brain, or logical, thinking. He argues that era is now over because of abundance, Asia and automation. With convincing statistics and personal examples, he proposes that we have entered the Conceptual Age, because all the left-brain thinking can now be done faster by computer or cheaper overseas. The abundance of choices in our environment has changed the shopping experience from one of logic to one of feeling; hence, the rise of creativity and design.

Pink’s prescription for making it in this new age includes one of our favorite tools—the well-crafted story. This book is mind-bending and exciting if you count yourself as one of those creative types. The chapter on “Story” alone is worth the cover price. Pink also provides resources for expanding your right brain, and exercises that would be fun to add to any workshop.

If your topic is business effectiveness, careers, creativity or motivation, this book is a must-read. I would loan you mine, but I have many pages dog-eared and highlighted, just waiting to include a quote in my next presentation.

Catherine Jewell www.CatherineJewell.com Austin, Texas

If you have ever found yourself expounding to colleagues, friends and family about how

successful your business is, how healthy you are, how much your family members understand and support you, and at the same time are saying, “This is a crock. What I am saying is what I wish my life was like, and what I hope you think my life is like, but in reality it is not, and I am a big phony,” then The Power of Story is for you.

You see, this book is not about the stories we tell others in our programs, and how to make them better. This book is about the stories we tell ourselves. And as the author says, “Far too many of our stories are dysfunctional, in need of serious editing.” In a step-by-step progression, the author guides the reader into examining

The Power
of Story
(Free Press 2007)
By Jim Loehr

the “faulty assumptions we believe and tell ourselves,” and then how to create “new, reality-based stories that inspire us to take action, and take us where we want to go both in our work and personal lives.”

Just think. Won’t it be wonderful when we can honestly say to others, “I love my work and I’m passionate about speaking. I love my family and I want to be healthy. Yet there are several areas in my life which just aren’t working for me, and sometimes I try to fool myself into thinking they are. Maybe you can tell me about your struggles too, and we can figure out some things together.” Aha, now that’s success.

Barbara Braunstein www.barbarabraunstein.com Boca Raton, Fla.

READ ANY GOOD BOOKS?

If you have, why not write a review for Speaker magazine? It doesn’t matter if it’s hot off the press, a dusty classic worth rereading or something in between, we will consider it for a future issue.