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Appreciative Living: The Principles of Appreciative Inquiry in Personal Life

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This book is remarkable. Appreciative inquiry (AI) appears simple until one scratches the surface to discover its remarkable depth and complexity. The challenge for any author trying to convey the concept of AI is to reveal the complexity of AI without losing its simple invitation. Ms. Kelm succeeds.

Once a person experiences AI, the theory makes sense. It's sort of like telling the story, then explaining the details. Each detail is almost obvious once you have seen the context presented through the story. For years, AI practitioners have dealt with AI's complexity by teaching through experiential exercises. So how can the writer of a book emulate the experience so that the details of AI become obvious to the reader who may never have heard of AI, let alone experienced it?

Ms. Kelm makes it happen. She does this beginning with the simple, clear and consistent organization of the book. Second are the remarkably apt quotations at the beginning of every section. They seem to have been written with the content of the section in mind even though many were written 100's of years before. Third, Ms. Kelm includes references from books as far flung as philosophy, psychology, and chaos theory. Moreover, the references appear naturally in a flowing text that is both easy to read and rich with content. Rarely have I underscored so many points in a book I am reading. Days after reading her book, I have already begun using the points in my work.

After presenting the concepts, Ms. Kelm puts it all together in a chapter called "Practicing the Principles." She says, "[We] do not have to cognitively understand the principles to live them. It is also possible to understand the theory and not live the principles." And then she invites you into her own life to see how AI can be lived - how habits can change. In her typical thorough fashion, she offers not one, two, or three exercises, but 10. Just in case one doesn't fit your style, you can move on to the next. Some of the most influential people in my life were and are still people who live appreciative lives. Ms. Kelm shows you how to live the appreciative life.

At the very end, true to her sense of good organization, Ms. Kelm summarizes the content of her book. What a treat for those of us who use our libraries as references as well as inspirations to our work.

This is the right book to read if you're interested in understanding the principles of Appreciative Inquiry and learning how to apply them to your "one wild and precious life" (to quote Mary Oliver). Jackie deeply understands the principles and meaning of AI, and has clearly communicated them to us in this practical yet elevating book. Her voice is accessible and friendly, her explanations of the principles crystalline in their clarity, and her exercises are just right. This book allows the reader to dip a toe into the AI waters and try it for themself, or to dive into the deep end and swim to their heart's content. If you're practically-minded, you'll love how the exercises are organized and cross-referenced; if you like theory, you'll love the concept chapters. The only drawback, so far as I can tell, is that I didn't write it myself. However, that saves me the effort that Jackie put into it, and I get to benefit from her work. I can't think of any area of my own life where her book has not touched. It's clearly a work of the heart, and a real, substantive contribution.

I am not usually one to go for this type of read, but an acquaintance gave this to me and suggested I give it a try. I must say it took me by surprise. It connects with a deeper truth that I think lives within us but doesn't get much attention in todays hectic life. I found the material to be well structured and the examples to be quite thought provoking. As a parent of two young kids, I found it helpful preparation for the difficult questions and developmental challenges ahead. The example of "passing the homeless man with my son" is sure to remain with you. Be sure not to skip the workbook section in the back. If you really do the exercises, you will find yourself re-reading sections to help think through the scenarios she presents. My only critique is that she could have covered a broader range of situations. Maybe there will be a second book...

This book is truly unique and refreshing. I was looking for a book that could teach me how to approach every day life and changes in a positive way. This one did just that and I was very pleased! It is very easy to read and provides in-depth practical details on how to improve life and relationships. Very quickly, I found myself applying the points of the book at work and at home. I highly recommend it!

I am a perpetual coaching student of MentorCoach.com and had the opportunity to take the course, Appreciative Inquiry with Dr. Bob Siegfied last year. This book was the required textbook. As one of the readers stated, it is hard to convey principles of AI, however, this challenge is solved as you read this book. As the class was studying and reading this book, we had the honor to have Ms. Kelm teach our class one night. Since we were well into our study and reading of this book, we could really delve deeper into the book's concepts and ask more thoughtful questions personally. It was an insightful class night and I was inspired to go to her website to find more resources to enhance my understanding. As an internal corporate coach, a parent and community activist for people with special needs and their families this book and the related training materials on her website are a great resource. I hope you will read this book, go to her website to learn more and if you are a servant leader, you too, will be empowered to do even more for the communities you serve. Be blessed!

The book's primary purpose is to take us beyond the necessity of gratitude in everyday life for what we have, into the still modestly explored realm, first studied at Case Western Reserve University in 1980, of Appreciative Inquiry. In the authors' words, "AI is about the co-evolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them". In layman's terms, this means the envisioning of the best of what we want, steering clear of any thought or intimation for what we don't. In other words, think more about what we want than what we dread, empowering the positive in the process.

This has a direct application in caffected relationships. In psychology, the phrase 'unconditional positive regard' is used to denote a devotion one feels toward another, such as a mother for a child. Caffected couples have this as well, and AI allows further affirmation of that.