Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: psych concepts, burning platform, New York, Psych Concept, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"CHANGE OR DIE. What if you were given that choice? We're talking actual life and death now. Your own life and death. What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had to make difficult and enduring changes in the way you think, feel, and act? If you didn't, your time would end soon--a lot sooner than it had to. Could you change when change mattered most?"

This is the question Alan Deutschman poses in Change or Die, which began as a sensational cover story by the same title for Fast Company. Deutschman concludes that although we all have the ability to change our behavior, we rarely ever do. In fact, the odds are nine to one that, when faced with the dire need to change, we won't. From patients suffering from heart disease to repeat offenders in the criminal justice system to companies trapped in the mold of unsuccessful business practices, many of us could prevent ominous outcomes by simply changing our mindset.

A powerful book with universal appeal, Change or Die deconstructs and debunks age-old myths about change and empowers us with three critical keys--relate, repeat, and reframe--to help us make important positive changes in our lives. Explaining breakthrough research and progressive ideas from a wide selection of leaders in medicine, science, and business (including Dr. Dean Ornish, Mimi Silbert of the Delancey Street Foundation, Bill Gates, Daniel Boulud, and many others), Deutschman demonstrates how anyone can achieve lasting, revolutionary change.

Change or Die is not about merely reorganizing or restructuring priorities; it's about challenging, inspiring, and helping all of us to make the dramatic transformations necessary in any aspect of life--changes that are positive, attainable, and absolutely vital.

About the Author

Alan Deutschman is a senior writer at Fast Company and the author of two previous books, The Second Coming of Steve Jobs and A Tale of Two Valleys. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060886897
• ISBN-13: 978-0060886899
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,199 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Powerful Book - This should be on the desk of every Entrepreneur, Manager, and CEO, January 15, 2007

By	Dave Lakhani "BoldApproach.com" (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked this book for a number of reasons not the least of which was the way that Deutschman broke down psychological principles and complex social theories into chunks that anyone can use. This books is powerful because it is simple, reinforces the main point, the three R's of change.

Relate, Repeat, Reframe

Those three keys to change will be meaningless outside the context of the book, but they are very powerful principles that Deutschman brings into clear focus for your business and your life. One of the things that really brought this book home for me was the examples that he chose as the models for how the change process works, they were unexpected yet very relevant.

If you've ever wondered how to create real change in your organization or even to achieve a goal like weightloss (as the author did) this book shows you a clear path to success based on sound psychology and solid thinking.

If you've ever set goals you didn't reach or have any significant dream or desire to change something in your life or your business, this book is a handbook that you'll use over and over again. I'm buying it for everyone on my team and in my personal mastermind group.

Dave Lakhani
Author: Persuasion The Art of Getting What You Want and The Power of an Hour Business and Life Mastery In One Hour A Week.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is change possible?, January 13, 2007

By	Michael P. Maslanka (dallas, texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes, but it takes a lot of work, repititon, and a good support group, or so argues Alan Deutschman in his expanded article from Fast Company magazine. He takes a quick and interesting look at recent cognitive theory and explains cleary that our minds are wired by pre-exisiting frames that dictate behavoir(with an appropriate nod to Lakoff), and that Freud got one thing right, namely our ego defenses supress the truth. What does not work? Fear will not(short term modification) and facts won't(telling overweight or unhealthy people who are depressed that they can live longer if they change does not work; who wants to live longer if they are going to continue to be depressed). What does? Give people a better story to believe and their actions will be consistent with the new story, and have them practice the story line even if they don't yet fully believe in it(the best writing in the book is how the Delancey project in San Francisco uses these techniques to change addicts who have circulated through the prison system or who are told by the justice system that it's Delancey or hard time). Good side trips on how the brain is elastic and can change and also on some of his personal experiences which fit in with the topic. A good intro for those starting to get interested in cognitive theory or a handy refresher for those already familar with some of the ideas. Well written and concise.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read book for anyone hoping for change, January 15, 2007

By	M. Tejada "curviliciousbibliophile" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whether you are a political activist, a business executive helping a company change its approach or a mere mortal struggling to keep a New Year's Resolution, this book is a must-read.

There are so many authors out there offering false hope in many of these areas. Their books sell, but their readers are unlikely to make any lasting changes in their communities, companies or lives.

Deutschman analyzes why change is so hard and shows concrete lessons gleaned from the exceptions. This is not the wishful thinking of a feel-good TV therapist or infomercial peddler. These are the insights of a journalist who has interviewed leading thinkers and "doers".