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Average rating4
Edwin H. Friedman has woven 24 illustrative tales that offer fresh perspectives on familiar human foibles and reflect the author's humor, pathos, and understanding. Friedman takes on resistance and other "demons" to show that neither insight, nor encouragement, nor intimidation can in themselves motivate an unmotivated person to change. These tales playfully demonstrate that new ideas, new questions, and imagination, more than accepted wisdom, provide each of us with the keys to overcoming stubborn emotional barriers and facilitating real change both in ourselves and others. Thought-provoking discussion questions for each fable are included. See also the downloadable audiobook, Friedman's Fables: Favorites Read by the Author, featuring 15 of the tales narrated in Dr. Friedman's inimitable style.
Reviews with the most likes.
I wish good reads let us do half stars. It is a 3.5.
My brother bought this for me for Christmas with a note saying it would help me in my writing. I'm not sure that's what I took away from this book. The fables are fun but nothing eye opening.
The author is right that this is a book of questions but them being questions I have encountered before they don't have me reflecting very hard. I enjoyed the characters talking to each other in the epilogue.
The Tennis chapter bothered me because it is clear the wife doesn't like Tennis and we never dive into that and the questions at the end don't even bring that up as an issue.
The deadman bleed test was quite fun and probably my favorite of the fables.
The author is religious and has some fairly antiquated views of the world.