Customer Reviews

Language and the Pursuit of Happiness

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If I could go back in time to before any of the courses, seminars, workshops, and hard knocks that prepared me as a manager and part of an organization I would read this book first! It provides a much needed context into which all the more technical matters of human interaction fit.

Chalmers Brothers explains how language is so much more than a means of communication. Through it we define our limits and potential. Personal happiness and success in any area depend on language and the internal and external conversations we choose. His conversational, often humorous southern writing style presents powerful concepts in a friendly, usable way.

This book represents the cutting edge in personal and professional development. Human beings create through language, both in their speaking and listening. This book breaks through some of the destructive and manipulative myths contained technique-laden communications programs. Combine this book with Robert Hargrove's Masterful Coaching and Your Coach in a Book, as well as the The Last Word on Power by Tracy Goss and you've got the best approach for creating a fulfilling life. I cannot recommend this book too highly!

As someone newly entering the world of business coaching I found the concepts in this book quite valuable, particularly in that there were a number of habits and ideas that we probably all consider "obvious," but which are not ones we often see practiced day-to-day. Ideas that stood out for me include "distinctions," "assertions" and "assessments."

However, I caution those interested in these subjects to note several of the books shortcomings. First, it is based on a very specific philosophy: that there is no absolute reality, but that reality is a construct created by language and symbol. This philosophy is essentially a Heideggerian construct, and if you don't buy in to the premise, the rest of the book quickly falls apart.

Second, there is an incredible irony in the way the book is constructed in that, despite the author's lean towards phenomenology and the construction of meaning, he forces you to note exactly what HE means by tremendous overuse of bold, italics, etc. It's almost as if he's saying: "meaning exists in the space where language lives, except for this book, where I insist you pay attention to what I mean..."

And, finally, the book could use the help of an experienced editor. The structure, grammar, language, etc. is passable, at best, and annoying, at worst.

So, in sum: good ideas but mediocre execution. For those interested, I recommend reading (as opposed to studying) it. Get through it in a couple of sittings and don't think too hard about it. Key topics will stick, and you will have an easier time.

Caution... This book could dramatically change your professional and personal life!


If you have not yet heard of "Ontological Design," the study of being or the power of language,moods and body, then this book is the one to read and study. This book requires careful study and reflection.

This is not fluff, or some shallow thinking that will make you feel good temporarily. It is a really well-grounded view of what it means to be a human being. It's is based on science and biology. It's an entirely new interpretation for how to live and design our lives.

I have been studying this domain of knowledge for the past two years, and I continue to be amazed at the power of the message in this book and to accepting these claims.

This is not some passing fad, but a new interpretation. My claim is that it can feel like your world is turned upside down when you engage with this material. I imagine when you read this book you will "feel" like the way folks must have felt when they learned for the first time that the world is NOT actually flat, but it is round. The implications for your life will be real and they will be profound.

So, this is why I caution you. It will dramatically change your thinking and challenge some of the core beliefs that seem like common sense, but are unchallenged.

Enjoy the journey of transformation and happiness.

As a recent grad of the Georgetown Leadership Coaching Certification program, this is one of the key resources in creating awareness in our language and increasing effectiveness. I reference it all the time and it is starting to look ragged! I highly recommend it to all coaches and leaders alike.

Chalmers intergrates life changing concepts that can be applied to any situation you are faced with. Some difficult concepts are made easy for individuals to immediately bring into their lives and workplace. I personally have followed his format and found it to be superior. He not only writes a good book, but the material is easily applied and the outcome gets delivered in the ways it says it will.
I have and will continue sharing this book with others.

Like Napoleon Hills book, Think and Grow Rich, Chalmers Brothers book, Language and the Pursuit of Happiness, gets to the point in practical, understandable language. Both books illuminate the key role played by the stories we tell ourselves in our internal dialogue. Brother's provides not only the why, but the how to greatly increase your business, professional and personal relationship skills. Working for many years with many CEOs and entrepreneurs has taught me that, as a group, these people are busy, creative, focused doers. At the end of the day, having invested the time to read a book, they insist a practical return on their investment. Language and the Pursuit of Happiness provides a great return on your investment of time and is a must read for executives and entrepreneurs who know they need every good tool they can acquire to create the outstandingly successful life they aspire to. I never recommend a book to my clients that doesn't meet my own return on investment needs, Chalmers Brothers Language and the Pursuit of Happiness is one of the select few books that I read and reread.

- Dr. Sparks Lunney, President, LifeCoachUSA, Inc. www.lifecoachusa.com

Chalmers has done a fantastic job of articulating a whole new paradigm for how we can "be" in today's world in order to be more peaceful and effective in our work and personal lives. I'm partial, since I'm his former business partner, but I think he has done an excellent job in capturing the concepts we taught thousands of people in our work together for 3 - 1/2 years. The ontological framework is highly accessible to the layman as it's incredibly simple, yet profoundly powerful. Chalmers' engaging personal style, and optimism, shines through in his writing with his humor and personal stories. A must read, as far as I'm concerned, if you're fed up with the powerless, victim-oriented, external-focused way in which many people are going through life today.

This book was part of my Coach Training curriculum and I've referred to it numerous times since I completed my formal training.

The insights in this book have been tremendously valuable for my own personal growth and development and it has also served as a coaching tool for my work with clients.

The content is presented in a way that I found conversational, quick and light to read; and the learning from the content is absolutely provoking, strong and impactful.

Learning and applying distinctions in language, as Chalmers describes, has the potential to increase your effectiveness as a person in all of your relationships. I highly recommend this book to leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, service representatives, students....(basically anyone who has relationships with other people) who seek improvements in the quality of their interactions and yearn for positive results in life!!

This book is a must read for anyone interested in true, sustainable, deep change. Chalmers so accurately communicates the power of language to shape our present and future. If you are a coach, you must purchase a copy of this book. It will not only enhance your coaching skills, but also enhance the lives of your clients.