The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

If that sounds a little too airy-fairy for you, don't be put off; this is no mere self-improvement book, with a wimpy mandate to simply transform its readers into "nicer" people. Instead, it's a collection of illustrations and advice that suggest a way to change your entire outlook on life and, in the process, open up a new realm of possibility. Consider, for example, the practice of "Giving an A", whether to yourself or to others. Not intended as a way to measure someone's performance against standards, this practice instead recognises that "the player who looks least engaged may be the most committed member of the group", and speaks to their passion rather than their cynicism. It creates possibility in an interaction, and does away with power disparities to unite a team in its efforts to produce an outcome. Or consider "Being the Board," where instead of defining yourself as a playing piece, or even as the strategist, you see yourself as the framework for the entire game. In this scenario, assigning blame or gaining control becomes futile, while seeking to become an instrument for effective partnerships becomes possible.

Packed with such examples of personal and professional interactions, the book presents complex ideas on perception and recognition in a readable, useable style. The authors' combined, eclectic experience in music and painting (as well as family therapy and executive workshops) infuses their examples with vibrant colour and sound. The relevance to corporate situations and relationships is well developed, and they don't rely on dry case studies to do it. Indeed, this book assumes the readers' emotional intelligence and desire to engage, promising access to the rewards of that door-opening notion--possibility--in return. --S. Ketchum

The best way to explain this title is that each chapter communicates an idea. Each idea is a new way of opening up possibility within your life. The book starts off with stripping away what is invented in your life and truely helps to realise that most of the material things around us are invented. The other ideas in the book follow on to describe plenty of ways to enhance and increase possibility from everyday situations.

The authors describe many of the ideas through examples of their experiences with the method. In fact, some of the examples within the book are the actual reason why they realised the idea in the first place.

The Art of Possibility is a great title for helping to realise how possibility can open up new chapters and be used as an approach to any situation in a positive light and in the hope to get more.


Fresh and inspiring   March 12, 2006
H. Monzel (Frankfurt, Germany)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The Art of Possibility from R.S. Zander and B. Zander is a well written and very interesting book about how you can approach your life from a different point of view: Instead of comparing yourself to others and striving for your own survival, you can be of service and make yourself available for others. You can act from a place of respect that gives the people around you the room to realize themselves. If you like those kinds of possibilities, you might also enjoy “Working on Yourself Doesn’t Work” by Ariel and Shya Kane. Their approach of living in the moment and not in your thoughts is very refreshing. You can explore your life and your truth like an anthropologist: neutrally and without judging. I highly recommend it for anybody who is looking for a new approach for a fulfilling and satisfying life.


I give it an A (remembering rule no 6)   February 27, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I cannot over state how transformational this book can be. If you believe that if you start to look for something it will find you, then this book has found me at exactly the right time in my life. I will not be under estimating the impact that I, Ben and Rosamund can have on my life and those around me.

thank you.