Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Several weeks before her wedding, a bride (1) came in to see her minister..." (more)
Key Phrases: emotional interlock, multigenerational forces, differentiating partner, Father Frank, Rabbi Levy, Rabbi Baruch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A groundbreaking book in the use of family therapy....The key is not expertise, but self-definition and self-understanding." --Behavioral Studies of Religion -- Review

Bravo! This superb book is essential reading for anyone who takes his or her participation in relationships seriously, particularly in the context of religious systems....I have found a book I can use in classroom teaching! It provides the best introduction to family systems and systems thinking that I have encountered -- Rev. Steven Preister, Executive Director, The National Center for Family Studies, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Well written and lively...required reading for pastoral counselors of every persuasion....Any therapist will find here new techniques for bringing about changes and will enlarge his or her conceptual framework of the human dilemma -- Jay Haley

Review

"Well written and lively...required reading for pastoral counselors of every persuasion....Any therapist will find here new techniques for bringing about changes and will enlarge his or her conceptual framework of the human dilemma." --Jay Haley

"Bravo! This superb book is essential reading for anyone who takes his or her participation in relationships seriously, particularly in the context of religious systems....I have found a book I can use in classroom teaching! It provides the best introduction to family systems and systems thinking that I have encountered." --Reverend Steven Preister, former director, National Center for Family Studies, Catholic University of America

"A must read for persons of the cloth, for it points to significant issues and considerations on the experience of living in families and working with a congregation as a family."--Review and Expositor

"A groundbreaking book in the use of family therapy....The key is not expertise, but self-definition and self-understanding." --Behavioral Studies of Religion

"An important contribution to...family systems thinking and pastoral care."

--Journal of Pastoral Care

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Hardcover: 319 pages Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (July 19, 1985) Language: English ISBN-10: 0898620597 ISBN-13: 978-0898620597 Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,385 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #2 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology > Pastoral Theology #6 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Pastoral Counseling #6 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Counseling

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More About the Author

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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Several weeks before her wedding, a bride (1) came in to see her minister. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
emotional interlock, multigenerational forces, differentiating partner, extended family field, congregational family, congregational partner, nonanxious presence, reacting relative, family emotional process, homeostatic resistance, leadership triangles, emotional interdependency, congregational families, family emotional system, emotional triangle, family systems view, homeostatic changes, symptomatic member, nodal events, physical patient, family symptom, clergy families, family systems model, sibling position, interlocking triangles

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Father Frank, Rabbi Levy, Rabbi Baruch, Sister Mary, Henry Marvin, Ruth Miller, United States

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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 21 books:

• Family Life Cycle by Elizabeth A. Carter on page 44, and Back Matter
• Ethnicity and Family Therapy, Third Edition by Monica McGoldrick LCSW PhD in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Lord of the Flies (Perigee) by William Golding on page 246
• Family Therapy and Family Medicine: Toward the Primary Care of Families by William J. Doherty Phd in Front Matter
• Family Therapy in Schizophrenia (Guilford Family Therapy Series) by William R. McFarlane in Front Matter

See all 21 books this book cites

 

75 books cite this book:

• When Children Suffer by Andrew D. Lester on 4 pages
• The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics by Israel Galindo in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
• Understanding Clergy Misconduct in Religious Systems: Scapegoating, Family Secrets, and the Abuse of Power (Haworth Pastoral Press) by Candace R. Benyei in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
• When A Congregation Is Betrayed: Responding to Clergy Misconduct by Beth Ann Gaede (editor) in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
• Recalling Our Own Stories: Spiritual Renewal for Religious Caregivers (The Jossey-Bass Religion-in-Practice Series) by Edward P. Wimberly on page 61, and Back Matter

See all 75 books citing this book

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Genograms by Monica McGoldrick

Discusses:

• family emotional system
• nodal events
• sibling position

Extraordinary Relationships by Roberta M. Gilbert

Discusses:

• family emotional process
• family emotional system
• nodal events

Family Evaluation by Michael E. Kerr

Discusses:

• family emotional process
• family emotional system
• sibling position

The Leader's Journey by Jim Herrington

Discusses:

• emotional triangle
• sibling position
• interlocking triangles

The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory by Roberta M. Gilbert

Discusses:

• family emotional process
• emotional interdependency
• family emotional system

Handbook of Family Therapy, Volume 2 by Alan S. Gurman

Discusses:

• multigenerational forces
• differentiating partner
• nonanxious presence

Genograms by Monica McGoldrick Discusses: family emotional system nodal events sibling position Extraordinary Relationships by Roberta M. Gilbert Discusses: family emotional process family emotional system nodal events Family Evaluation by Michael E. Kerr Discusses: family emotional process family emotional system sibling position The Leader's Journey by Jim Herrington Discusses: emotional triangle sibling position interlocking triangles Loading...

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	86% buy the item featured on this page: Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue 4.6 out of 5 stars (17) $30.28
	7% buy A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix 4.6 out of 5 stars (19) $18.48
	4% buy Friedman's Fables 4.9 out of 5 stars (9) $18.45
	2% buy Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking About Human Interactions 4.3 out of 5 stars (21) $10.85

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews 5 star:  (15) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on leadership I've found, February 3, 2000 By  Erik Buss (Seattle WA) - See all my reviews This should be essential reading for any thinking pastor who seeks to help his or her congregation grow spiritually and psychologically. It is filled with ways of thinking about relationships that challenge and expand our normal definitions of what works and what doesn't. It moves beyond addressing intellectual techniques and tools to showing a person how to lead the emotional process in a congregation or a family. I read Generation to Generation because I was looking for ways to become a better pastor. What I found was that it helped me as much or more in my own personal life and my marriage, which in turn made me a more effective pastor. It addresses leadership on every level. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for all persons in positions of leadership, September 26, 2001 By  J "peacemover" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews    "Generation to Generation" by Edwin Friedman is a groundbreaking book on the dynamics of organizational and religious leadership as seen through the lens of the multi-generational family systems model. In the book, Friedman uses case studies and examples drawn from his own leadership experience and uses them to illustrate how leadership can be understood and transformed by having an awareness of three major systems that directly affect organizational leadership: 1. the personal multi-generational family system of the leader 2. the organization itself as a system with both functional and dysfunctional elements 3. the family systems of those person within the organization- for a religious congregation this would be the families within the congregation; for a company it would be that of the employees; for a hospital, it would be that of the employees, volunteers and patients who comprise that organization, etc. Friedman brilliantly shows how these three sets of systems intertwine with one another to make an organization function in a certain way. He asserts that by better understanding the dynamics of these systems and how they affect one another, leaders can move from a transactional style of leadership to one that is more transformational in the way it functions. In addition, Friedman's book is a tremendously helpful resource in seeking to gain a better understanding of one's own family of origin issues and how these dynamics manifest themselves in our relationships throughout the life cycle. In this sense, this book will be greatly beneficial, not only for leaders, but also for lay people as well as caregivers. The book is challenging reading in spots, but well worth the effort- get this book of you have not done so already- it will change your perspective on leadership and life. 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most relevant books available on systems theory, May 19, 2000 By A Customer Utilizing Murray Bowen's multi-generational family systems model as a framework, Friedman has crafted a book that offers tremendously practical insights in the area of organizational leadership, as well as personal development. The book significantly enhances one's understanding of the connection between one's role in their family of origin and role in organizational leadership. He rightly asserts that one's family of origin role interrelates to how one functions in an organization, in addition to how the organization functions as a whole. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a position of leadership; for those who want to gain further insight into their family of origin issues, or want to learn about Bowen's multi-generational approach to family systems theory.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars thought-provoking work Edwin Friedman's Generation to Generation is a classic. Taking a Family Systems Therapy Approach to congregational life, Friedman looks at the kinds of situations priests,... Read more Published 18 days ago by David Burt 5.0 out of 5 stars Very prompt service. Received book in timely fashion. I have never been disappointed with any purchase from Amazon. I am a completely satisfied customer and I highly reccomend them to others. Rev Jerry Mabb Published 7 months ago by J. Mabb Jr. 3.0 out of 5 stars Do you still want to have a family? Dry as saw-dust and complicated to follow at times. BUT: once you get your head around what it is he is saying - your disfunctional family starts making sense and you understand... Read more Published 10 months ago by Bookworm 5.0 out of 5 stars Book Full of Wisdom for Leaders Edwin Friedman is a rabbi, consultant, and scholar who is a pioneer in applying Bowen Family Systems Theory toward leadership in congregational (church and synagogue) settings... Read more Published 14 months ago by Matthew Gunia 5.0 out of 5 stars Very good This book is a eye-opener. Very good and so helpful to understand family dynamics and workplace- or congregational-dynamics. Read more Published 20 months ago by S. Magnusdottir 5.0 out of 5 stars Systems Theory and Religious Institutions Edwin Friedman's Generation to Generation is a classic work that examines how family systems therapy can be applied to religious systems. Read more Published on November 6, 2007 by Dazoo 5.0 out of 5 stars If you are a leader in a congregation, you simply have to absorb the concepts in this book This is a book to be absorbed slowly. I don't think I can summarize this book any better than Friedman himself does on page 1: "It is the thesis of this book that all... Read more Published on August 12, 2006 by William Pinches 5.0 out of 5 stars Read, and Your Ministry Will Never Be the Same This book has a reputation of revolutionizing the way its readers view congregational life. Based on his experience as a rabbi and marriage and family therapist, the late Ed... Read more Published on February 14, 2002 by Dr. Carlus Gupton 5.0 out of 5 stars Life Saving I must have read this book twenty times since I was assigned to to read it in 1992, and it has grown on me. Read more Published on August 27, 2001 by Gerard Sparaco 5.0 out of 5 stars A modern classic Friedman's seminal work in the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory to congregational life (Jewish and Protestant) has become a modern classic. Read more Published on June 22, 2000 by Israel Galindo Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (July 19, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898620597
• ISBN-13: 978-0898620597
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,385 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology > Pastoral Theology
  #6 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Pastoral Counseling
  #6 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Counseling

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on leadership I've found, February 3, 2000

By	Erik Buss (Seattle WA) - See all my reviews

This should be essential reading for any thinking pastor who seeks to help his or her congregation grow spiritually and psychologically. It is filled with ways of thinking about relationships that challenge and expand our normal definitions of what works and what doesn't. It moves beyond addressing intellectual techniques and tools to showing a person how to lead the emotional process in a congregation or a family.

I read Generation to Generation because I was looking for ways to become a better pastor. What I found was that it helped me as much or more in my own personal life and my marriage, which in turn made me a more effective pastor. It addresses leadership on every level.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for all persons in positions of leadership, September 26, 2001

By	J "peacemover" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

"Generation to Generation" by Edwin Friedman is a groundbreaking book on the dynamics of organizational and religious leadership as seen through the lens of the multi-generational family systems model. In the book, Friedman uses case studies and examples drawn from his own leadership experience and uses them to illustrate how leadership can be understood and transformed by having an awareness of three major systems that directly affect organizational leadership:

1. the personal multi-generational family system of the leader

2. the organization itself as a system with both functional and dysfunctional elements

3. the family systems of those person within the organization- for a religious congregation this would be the families within the congregation; for a company it would be that of the employees; for a hospital, it would be that of the employees, volunteers and patients who comprise that organization, etc.

Friedman brilliantly shows how these three sets of systems intertwine with one another to make an organization function in a certain way. He asserts that by better understanding the dynamics of these systems and how they affect one another, leaders can move from a transactional style of leadership to one that is more transformational in the way it functions.

In addition, Friedman's book is a tremendously helpful resource in seeking to gain a better understanding of one's own family of origin issues and how these dynamics manifest themselves in our relationships throughout the life cycle.

In this sense, this book will be greatly beneficial, not only for leaders, but also for lay people as well as caregivers.

The book is challenging reading in spots, but well worth the effort- get this book of you have not done so already- it will change your perspective on leadership and life.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most relevant books available on systems theory, May 19, 2000

By A Customer

Utilizing Murray Bowen's multi-generational family systems model as a framework, Friedman has crafted a book that offers tremendously practical insights in the area of organizational leadership, as well as personal development. The book significantly enhances one's understanding of the connection between one's role in their family of origin and role in organizational leadership. He rightly asserts that one's family of origin role interrelates to how one functions in an organization, in addition to how the organization functions as a whole. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a position of leadership; for those who want to gain further insight into their family of origin issues, or want to learn about Bowen's multi-generational approach to family systems theory.