Customer Reviews

The Ugly Duckling Goes to Work: Wisdom for the Workplace from the Classic Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

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4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
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I loved this book! This is not your ordinary business book. It is truly an original idea. Mette Norgaard uses the classic tales of H. C. Andersen, to deliver a deep message. This is a book that makes you think, reflect on yourself in your private and professional life. As I read it, I often felt as if the author was talking to me directly and it raised important questions in my mind.

I was actually surprise to realise that I had never read some of the H.C. Andersen tales before, at least not the full version. It was really enjoyable to read them. The historical information before each tale was also very interesting.

I strongly recommend it for anybody doing some soul searching at the moment.

I loved this book for lots of reasons, but the two top reasons were the two levels of discovery I enjoyed while reading. First was the discovery of a much more sophisticated Hans Christian Andersen (now I know should be referred to as H.C. Andersen). Secondly, was the self discovery in reading and interpreting the meanings of these great little stories.

Dr. Norgaard introduces us to the sophisticated H.C Andersen by presenting her translations - from her beloved native Danish - of the Andersen's stories, designed to be read to children with adult messages. One can thoroughly enjoy the book, just by reading these newly translated stories.

The greater discover comes, however when you treat yourself to read how skillfully Dr. Norgaard applies the lessons presented in a child's tale to provoke very adult thinking. Whether you agree with Dr. Norgaard's analysis or not, she will make you think. Not only will she make you think, you will push you to grow and challenge yourself to apply these wisdoms of presented in YOUR workplace. A challenge much easier said than actually done.

Give yourself a treat, remember your own story telling hour as a child and push yourself to grow to a more thoughtful person at work. Even better, share the book around the office and see how many "translations" can be provoked.

Make no mistake, this is a business book. But unlike other business books in the same genre, Dr. Mette Norgaard takes the fairy tales of our youth and helps us learn lessons from these wonderful stories that we couldn't learn when we were younger. The Ugly Duckling Goes to Work does something most business books today don't - it gives you the time and space to think while bringing some wonderful stories back into our lives.

In my experience, most business books preach at you, and tell you "just do this" and everything will be all right. Dr. Norgaard, thankfully, does neither. Through the stories of Hans Christian Andersen she reminds us of things we probably knew, but forgot in our quest to keep our jobs, support ourselves and our families and make our way in the world. Through the simple yet powerful tales of HC Andersen, she shows us how some of the actions we take may not really be working for us, things like "playing it safe", or our quest to gain or keep our status. She also helps us rediscover ways to enjoy who we are and become who we wish to be.

As Dr. Norgaard states so eloquently in her discussion of the tale of the Ugly Duckling, "we do not succeed in life by having an enviable career; we succeed by finding where we belong and becoming the person we were meant to be." At the end of each chapter are questions to think about and questions to talk about with others. Questions like "What scatters your energy, what distracts you from your source of power, and what do you need to say "no" to?" from the tale of the Nightingale or "What voices do you need to leave behind? The judgmental voices of the duckyard or the sensible nagging of the hen?" from the Ugly Duckling, encourage deep thought, not about how to best plan a project or deal with an unreasonable boss, but deep thought about who we have become and if we are fulfilled by the life we have created at work.

In the process Dr. Norgaard encourages us to explore our world of work in ways we rarely take the time to pursue. By focusing on the individual, who I am, how I act, how I interpret things, The Ugly Duckling Goes to Work, encourages you find your "inner swan" and the peace and wisdom that goes with it. And who couldn't use more of that in our lives at work?

This book is wonderful! I have to admit that I was skeptical at first thinking the author would give trite interpretations of the fairy tales. But WOW! I really liked it. I liked it because of the format and the insights. First, Dr. Norgaard starts each section with a "Did you Know" section that gives great context of the author and some of the facts about the fairy tell. There is also a summary and full length version of the fairy tell--both valuable either as a first time summary or a detailed review of the original text.

Second, Dr. Norgaard enables the reader to discover some great insights to the stories that I found valuable. The book would have been trite had Dr. Norgaard provided the "how" or the application of each story. Instead she asked some very insightful questions that helped me make the application and want to dig deeper into the meaning.

In short, I think this is a wonderful book to help in business or personal pursuits alike. I'm going to recommend this book to my clients. Take a read. I think you'll really enjoy it.

I had the joy of reading Mette Norgaard's book and found what I have been yearning for in a business book. Most focus on process, technique, and modernity, but Mette takes us back in time. She re-introduces us to H.C. Anderson (someone we never really knew), while re-visitng his works in the context of our busy work lives. Through these fairy tales, she acts as a guide to us, posing thought-provoking questions at the end of each story which enable us to improve the quality of our work life and therefore, our personal life as well.

I found this book insightful, educational, and charming. I learned that H.C.Anderson truly wrote tales of "Everyman". Every time I started on a new story, I just knew it would be "the one" I would most easily identify with, but instead I found elements in all of them that were provocative and helpful to me.

My deepest thanks to the author for a refreshing experience that unleashed my thoughts and presented some new paradigms for me. I loved the book!

This is a wonderful little book full of wisdom. It is about Hans C. Andersen's fairy tales, which contain profound truths for all times. The first tale, especially, brings to mind the recent corporate scandals at Enron and Worldcom. If you couldn't see how their deals made money, "You just didn't get it." You were viewed as stupid, as not belonging with the company. Many people pretended they did "get it," rather than risk looking confused or clueless.

On another level, I enjoyed this book as an artistic creation, a tapestry that Ms. Norgaard carefully weaves. The threads -- the history of the man (H.C. Andersen) and his writings, the stories in short and long form, and Norgaard's personal reflections -- are all woven together in a beautiful way.

One of the key messages in the book is the importance of authenticity. The author remains true to this concept in her use of historical facts, the careful translation that goes back to the earlier meanings of words, and the absolute honesty of her personal reflections.

By re-introducing us to these tales of timeless truths, Ms. Norgaard offers a gift to a 21st century audience.

This book is based on the classic tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. Norgaard, born and raised in Denmark, presents six of the tales. Each is presented in summary form, then in full context. Next comes commentary about what Andersen was saying, including nuances that come from the Danish text and not from the English translation. In each chapter, the moral of the tale is explained. Some business context is provided, but not enough that it was clear that this is a management book.

I found this book to be an interesting read. Taking children's fairy tales and finding lessons for business in the 21st century is an interesting concept. It's fascinating how the moral teachings of long ago apply in today's context. While the messages are related to business, this is more a book of wisdom than technique. You'll find the content to be thought-provoking and filled with relevant teachings. If you want a hard, practical book, look elsewhere.

This book is wonderful! I have to admit that I was skeptical at first thinking the author would give trite interpretations of the fairy tales. But WOW! I really liked it. I liked it because of the format and the insights. First, Dr. Norgaard starts each section with a "Did you Know" section that gives great context of the author and some of the facts about the fairy tell. There is also a summary and full length version of the fairy tell--both valuable either as a first time summary or a detailed review of the original text.

Second, Dr. Norgaard enables the reader to discover some great insights to the stories that I found valuable. The book would have been trite had Dr. Norgaard provided the "how" or the application of each story. Instead she asked very insightful questions that helped me make the application and want to dig deeper into the meaning.

In short, I think this is a wonderful book to help in business or personal pursuits alike. I'm going to recommend this book to my clients. Take a read. I think you'll really enjoy it.

I enjoyed this book since the first page.
Take all the tales (full story or the summary) along with the author's analysis; shake them all, and you will be ready to create your mission statement. You will be ready to find the real values in all you do, in your personal and professional life.
I experienced through each story the search and discovery of the authentic things.
My favorite tale ... "The nisse at the grocer's"; growing intellectually, being always open to changes meanwhile conjugating our internal opposites, now I'm facing North, and now I'm facing South, but it's still me. As the Mette Norgaard wrote "When we are real we know who we are".

Great, great book

This is a very clever book with great insight and quite applicable I enjoyed it and in nursing school that is a challenge. They delivered when they said they would and I appreciate that.