The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
Book Review: A must-read for everyone!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Amazing read
Summary: 5 Stars
I was impressed by the content and the information in this book. I have great respect for Benjamin Zander and this book definitely lived up to my expectations. The parallels between music and life are invaluable. Give it a try, enjoy the read, and do the practices. They truly made a difference in the way I live my life.Book Review: An interesting read - but authors don't live what they preach
Summary: 2 Stars
I had to read this book for a course I took. I thought it was interesting although I didn't really feel like it spoke strongly to me. I also saw Ben deliver his presentation at a corporate retreat - entertaining for sure.
However, I recently witnessed Mr. Zander and his wife's behavior towards another passenger in the first class cabin of an airline. They were rude, self centered and generally uninspiring. The book and the message have now lost all meaning to me.
Book Review: Anything is possible
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has been a double blessing for me. Not only has it enriched my already fairly positive outlook on life, but it has deepened my appreciation for music in profound ways.
I first came to know of Benjamin Zander when my wife (author of Mojo Mom: Nurturing Your Self While Raising a Family) was invited to a lecture he was giving at UNC's Memorial Hall. Due to some communications snafus, the lecture was very poorly advertised, and the sponsors were trying to make sure there was an audience at all. Despite the limited audience (Zander writes that he is equally enthusiastic when speaking to five people as he is 1500), Zander's message of enthusiastic optimism and positive tranformation had her calling me on my cell phone before she even got home. And she begged me to read the book, which I did when copies arrived from Amazon.com.
Wow.
I, too was moved by its inspirational messages. Years later, as I prepared to listen to James Ehnes play the solo role in Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky's always-dazzling Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thompon Hall, I thought again about the many lessons of Zander's work and how they are more relevant than ever.
Clearly there is something awe-inspiring about being in the presence of a world-class symphony orchestra. If we imagine that the average player has 20 years of professional playing experience, the 100+ members represent over two thousand years of human experience playing at the highest level. And having read Concert Halls and Opera Houses: Music, Acoustics, and Architecture by Leo Beranek I was also suitably awe-inspired about being in a concert hall like Roy Thompson. But Zander's preparation gave me an entirely new appreciation for what was possible, and even now as I write this review, my openness to those possibilities was indeed transformative.
This is definitely a book for sharing!
Book Review: Anythink is possible!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Art of Possibility opens the door on what can be if one will free the mind and expand the consciousness to the unlimited possibilities that exist just beyond our reality. Zander encourages us to dream and search for what we really want, for the endless ideas and insight that are just around the corner if only we will look. It is an excellent source of combating creative block, whether the artist is a painter, writer or musician. It is truly a mind expanding work that will open doors to new levels of promise, not to mention the concept of giving ourselves and others an "A" for our lives and work, a simple mind changing approach that fosters positive and creative energy.