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The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems Hardcover – October 4, 2011

by Stephen R. Covey (Author)

4.5 267 ratings

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From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, hailed as the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century, The 3rd Alternative introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving.

There are many methods of “conflict resolution,” but most involve compromise, a low-level accommodation that stops the fight without breaking through to new and innovative results. The 3rd Alternative introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving, transcending traditional solutions to conflict by forging a path toward a third option. A third alternative moves beyond your way or my way to a higher and better way—one that allows both parties to emerge from debate or even heated conflict in a far better place than either had envisioned. With the third alternative, nobody has to give up anything, and everyone wins.

Through key examples and stories from his work as a consultant, Covey demonstrates the power of 3rd Alternative thinking. His wide-ranging examples include a Canadian metropolitan police force that transformed a crime-plagued community; a judge who brought a quick, peaceful end to one of the biggest environmental lawsuits in American history without setting foot in a courtroom; the principal of a high school for children of migrant workers who raised their graduation rate from 30 percent to 90 percent; a handful of little-known people who are quietly finding new ways to bring peace to the Middle East; and many others. These various groups and individuals offer living examples of how to create new and better results instead of escalating conflict, as well as how to build strong relationships based on an attitude of winning together.

Beyond conflict and compromise, The 3rd Alternative unveils a radical, creative new way of thinking.

Print length

480 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Free Press
Publication date

October 4, 2011
Dimensions

6 x 1.6 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1451626266
ISBN-13

978-1451626261
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Even in our conflicted times, now and again we catch a glimpse of the better thing. Dr. Covey shows us how to seek that better thing and transcend our deepest disputes.”
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“You can ‘get’ Stephen Covey’s message in five pages—or less. But I dearly hope you will carefully read and apply every page. Stephen has given us a precious gift—but, like most profound ideas, it is the daily, conscious practice that can or will transform your life.”--Tom Peters, author of The Brand You 50 and Re-imagine: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age

“In The 3rd Alternative, Dr. Covey inspires us to think differently about solving problems than we ever have before. We must set aside our differences, including our boundaries, languages, economics, politics and cultures and work hand in hand together to create solutions which are greater than the problems we now face.”
--Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner 2006

“In The 3rd Alternative, Stephen Covey urges us to chart a course beyond the suboptimal solutions to all our crises – beyond left and right, and beyond the many false choices in front of us. The 3rd Alternative is a wise and welcome echo of Einstein’s warning that the problems we’re facing today cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”
--Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group

“Once again, Stephen Covey has nailed it. In this latest book, he offers meaningful advice for navigating life’s toughest challenges. It’s not about ‘my way,’ or ‘your way,’ but seeking out ‘our way.’”
--J.W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman & CEO of Marriott International, Inc.

“In this book, Covey reaches out way beyond his familiar domain, to the Universe, and has come up with a social vaccine capable of addressing if not resolving the existential agonies and angst that we all face, as individuals and to the organizations and societies that we live and work in. In this Olympiad vault, Covey has written his most ambitious and hopeful book, in my own view, a masterpiece to benefit all of us doing our best to live in peace and justice in this messy world.”
--Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Management, University of Southern California and author of the memoir, Still Surprised

“A most compelling approach for addressing the most challenging issues of the day. It is an inarguable formula for success in the corporate world and beyond.”
--Douglas R. Conant, retired CEO, Campbell Soup Company, and New York Times bestselling author

“Dr. Covey has done it again. The 3rd Alternative is not only powerful reading—it answers some of life’s most challenging questions. A must-read for all future leaders.”
--Jon M. Huntsman, Sr.

About the Author

Recognized as one of Time magazine’s twenty-five most influential Americans, Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012) was an internationally respected leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and author. His books have sold more than twenty-five million copies in thirty-eight languages, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was named the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century. After receiving an MBA from Harvard and a doctorate degree from Brigham Young University, he became the cofounder and vice chairman of FranklinCovey, a leading global training firm.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Press; 1st edition (October 4, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1451626266
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1451626261
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.6 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #829,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,909 in Stress Management Self-Help
- #3,180 in Motivational Management & Leadership
- #3,540 in Business Motivation & Self-Improvement (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 267 ratings

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Stephen R. Covey

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Stephen R. Covey is a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and co-founder of FranklinCovey Co. He is author of several international bestsellers, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has sold over 20 million copies. He was named one of TIME Magazine's 25 Most Influential Americans. Dr. Covey holds the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair in Leadership at the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

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guidance to live in crescendo

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2012

Verified Purchase

Dr. Covey inspires us again. This 3rd alternative thinking will be our guiding principle in the life. We are currently living in a difficult world. Environment, health, poverty and impartiality issues weigh heavily on us incessantly. Not only to solve the conflict but also to regain our soul, we need to change our paradigm. He points out we are too much swallowed up by the serious identity theft, which deprives the sense of who we are and what we can do in our life. We have to sneak away from the thinking of the industrial age, two alternative thinking. The key to a healthy society, he says, is to align the social will, the value system, with the principles of synergy.

Every corporations, politicians, doctors, musicians, educators and governmental officers of famous and only known locally, he introduce as 3rd alternative thinkers, are unanimously impressive. Especially Pablo Casals's words knocked out me. Whoever can say I'm beginning to notice getting better at this at the age of ninety three. I gird up my loins again to live in crescendo.

Dr. Covey's erudite knowledge covers the whole globe. We can deepen our cultural anthropology understandings, like ubuntu, talking stick communication, ashimsa, dharma and izzat, etc. In Japanese, the Chinese character of person comes from a scene two people stand on earth leaning against each other. We should know we live on an interdependent planet, and need to think in holistic to solve the difficulties we are facing, rather than consider the sum of the parts, by a broad and deep understanding reality.

The 7 habits has been my guidance to date to lead a highly effective life. Now and then I stop and looked back myself to the light of these guidelines. From now on I'll add this 3rd alternative thinking to my mental attitude. I believe our capability in creating our own change and finding ways to create synergy within our circle of influence. I wish the consequences of our action expand with time. I would like to be a writer of my life, too.

5 people found this helpful

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Karen

Inspirational book

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023

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Given as gift for Christmas to brother in law who has read first 2 books and liked author.

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2011

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Stephen Covey has always been one of my heroes. In his latest effort he has more than outdone himself. He has challenged us all to look beyond the obvious, the quick fix, and the temporary solution. The 3rd alternative is so obvious that I wonder why I didn't think of it myself. With Covey's teachings and with his straightforward approach, he has always given us something that is lacking in most authors. Hope! From his seven habits, his 8th habit, and now his 3rd alternative, he has excelled in bringing the world a better way, and doing it with his usual grace and class. This is by far, in my most humble opinion, his finest work yet. I take each word of this work and savor it and hopefully apply it to my everday life, as I have done with all his previous efforts. Thank you Stephen from the bottom of my heart for giving us so much to work with, including all your lesser known works which I have also read. I highly recommend that you not just read this and apply it, but share it. I plan on making this book a Christmas present to those I love, and also to those I have differing views with. Who knows, we may even reach synergy. Read this book and change your life.

One person found this helpful

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Aditya Raman Bahl

A simple yet effective framework for mindfulness

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2013

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This is the very first book I have ever read from the author and it has been immensely helpful to me in putting "a" perspective on my life. The best part of the book for me was that within the first 50 pages, Dr Covey laid out the "See-Do-Get" framework in a very concise manner. That I was going through a personal turmoil and desperately looking for wisdom helped in grasping the essence (at least that's what I think) of the book quickly.

The anatomy of "synergy" as suggested by Dr. Covey, lies in the true and meaningful understanding of self, others and then using those insights to reach out and co-create what may not have been possible before. Conflict is inevitable. It is not something that we can escape from. And as much as we can claim that differences are to be celebrated, Dr. Covey provides a very clear analysis that differences can be celebrated only when we take the time and effort to truly and deeply understand each other. He goes further to outline a prescription on how to reach out to each other and create possibilities, effectively giving the term "brainstorming" a new definition.

I found a lot of similarity in the core concepts with those presented in the book "Debunking the Leadership Myth: The Story of Conscious Leadership". In both books, what comes across as a recommendation is NOT to start with our behaviors but our drivers - our belief systems, our attitudes, our very sense of being. It is only when we see ourselves deeply, candidly and acknowledge ourselves fully that we can do the same for others. And those insights are the right foundations for subsequent behaviors which in turn, lead to meaningful outcomes/results.

After laying out the conceptual framework, Dr. Covey narrates multiple applications of the same extending both the theory for specific situations (dealings with business colleagues, dealings with children, spouse, relatives etc) and substantiating the situation specific context with anecdotes. While one can question the anecdotes, the simplicity and the appeal of the synergy framework is undoubted. If I can summarize - the book provides a fairly potent tool in one's journey of mindfulness.

3 people found this helpful

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Amod A. Vaze

Goes into depth on essentially just the 6th Habit

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2012

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Anyone familiar with The 7 Habit of Highly Effective People is familiar with each of the habits. Although the book and its related classes and workshops go into detail on all of the habits, the 6th Habit in particular, "Synergize", is one that is in essense its own topic. This book adds depth to that particular habit because it really is the culmination of the foundation laid by all the other habits. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone that has read the 7 Habits and/or taken its workshops. I do add one caveat in that if you're not familiar with the 7 Habits, don't start with this book. Read that one first, otherwise the concepts in this book would be very difficult to follow all the way through.

15 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Whole new level of handling yourself and people connected to you!

Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

Shipped very quick, in a v. good condition.. the book itself is a great read. Needed. Fresh way of thinking. Simple to apply & makes all the difference when applied, sometimes felt instantly.

Manas

Five Stars

Reviewed in India on April 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

Worth buying

Helena Lewis

Five Stars

Reviewed in Australia on February 27, 2018

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Great book

SandyBestbuy

Wunderbare und berührende Wahrheiten!

Reviewed in Germany on February 2, 2013

Verified Purchase

Ich höre die CD immer im Auto auf der Fahrt in die Arbeit und fühle mich jedes Mal so beglückt. Die Inhalte werden so nachvollziehbar erklärt und aufeinander aufbauend vermittelt. Da ich das Buch bisher immer verschenkt habe und (noch) nicht für mich gekauft habe, fehlt mir bei der CD eindeutig der Überblick über die Kapitel und welche Themen besprochen werden. Das wäre wirklich hilfreich, da die CD über 20 Tracks umfasst. Trotzdem 5 Sterne, da Covey hier einfach wieder auf wunderbare Weise die Welt erklärt und durch das Wissen, das dann hoffentlich zum Einsatz kommt, wieder ein bisschen besser macht. Absolut empfehlenswert für alle Trainer, Coaches, Therapeuten und alle die selbst etwas ändern wollen!

2 people found this helpful

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Guy Arnold

Beautifully clear, simple and powerful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2012

Verified Purchase

This is a stunning book that takes your breath away.

whilst it's in fact just a much more in depth analysis (with GREAT examples) of Habits 4,5, and 6 of the 7 Habits, it puts it into a simple, powerful, easy to understand and apply format, and breaks it up into different situations.

If only we could get this taught in every school, workplace, and particularly to the unemployed and disempowered people in our society, our society would be a totally different place.

Buy it, read it, keep reading it, but it for your friends and colleagues and encourage them to do the same.

Looking forward to Sean Covey releasing a version for teenagers!

4 people found this helpful

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