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Mar 24, 2014 David Kimball rated it it was astonishing

Dialogue: And the Art of Thinking Together
By William Isaacs

This is a great book to make you stop and think about what makes for nifty dialogue. It helps yous ask the right questions such is How do I ascertain great dialogue? How can I create the environment for swell dialogue? What are the elements that make up a great dialogue?

The writer defines dialogue as a conversation with a center, and not with sides. Instead of focusing on our differences, information technology channels our energies on something that is newly c

Dialogue: And the Fine art of Thinking Together
By William Isaacs

This is a great book to make y'all stop and think about what makes for cracking dialogue. It helps you lot enquire the correct questions such is How do I define great dialogue? How tin can I create the surroundings for neat dialogue? What are the elements that brand up a swell dialogue?

The author defines dialogue as a conversation with a center, and not with sides. Instead of focusing on our differences, it channels our energies on something that is newly created. It is fifty-fifty more than than finding a consensus every bit it is a context from which many new associations and prospects can be presented.

Chat starts out with Deliberation between people. At that time, information technology can branch to Defending Positions or Dialogue. By Defending Positions, information technology can be by the use of Skilful Chat through assay, reasoning, and the creation of a synthesis of opposites. These are oft academic in nature and more formal than informal. Defending positions can too turn into Controlled Discussion which is competitive and involves debating in a polite setting, or exact brawling in an boorish setting.

Merely if Deliberation goes the style of Dialogue, information technology starts with Suspending our prejudices, our emotions, and our inside noise. Much of what we hear will trigger parts of our memories which will be our own interpretations of words, phrases, events, actions, emotions, etc. This is imposing prejudices on what is being spoken and needs to exist suspended in guild to practise active listening. Focused listening will lead to Cogitating Dialogue which explores underlying causes, rules and assumptions to get deeper questions and framing of problems. The fundamental to this phase is questioning and critical thinking and leads to seeing both the big moving picture and the diminutive parts from the top down and also from the bottom up . From Reflective Dialogue nosotros can get to Generative Dialogue which not only reveals the wisdom of our own reflections, but incorporates the wisdom of others to generate and create ideas that are new not merely to us but to everyone involved. Through Generative Dialogue, each person walks away from the tabular array with more than we came to the table. (As opposed to Debate and Skillful Conversation where no value has been added to our thoughts and feelings.)

An entire chapter is dedicated to the Fine art and Skill of Listening. Listening is critical not merely by listening to others, only besides by listening to our inner selves through reflection. Although our society is dominated by sight, for dialogue, we need to slow downward and operate at the speed of audio.

Another chapter is devoted to Respect. True Dialogue requires that we respect the others, respect their views, their experiences, their expressions, and their feelings. It is to wait for the "springs that feed the puddle of their experiences" and see their experiences and subsequent knowledge and wisdom as legitimate.

Suspending is given an unabridged chapter where nosotros focus on the words and the context being spoken without our heed's clutter and prejudices, and where we become enlightened of our own thoughts and feelings. Non just practice nosotros become aware of our own thoughts and feelings, just nosotros become aware of the processes that generate them. By becoming aware of our internal processes, we can so follow them and then we can even direct them or let them period through our ain voice. Instead of voicing that which we feel we should vocalization, or mimicking someone else'due south voice (similar a organized religion or a political party), we reveal what is true for ourselves. And this revelation often becomes not only a revelation to others around us, but also to ourselves. We acquire about ourselves as nosotros express ourselves.

And then true dialogue is a mode in which nosotros tin can learn about our thoughts and feelings in an environment where we grow and develop in our appreciation non only of others but too of ourselves. Dialogue: What a concept.

David Kimball

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Oct 12, 2019 Peter rated it it was amazing

The nearly eloquent and in-depth exploration of how to create generative chat I know of. Another style to look at it is an exploration of what it takes to mute power dynamics from group chat. Inspired by the dialogue piece of work of English physicist David Bohm.

January 28, 2008 Gene rated it information technology was amazing

Isaacs draws on thought of David Bohm and makes a clear presentation for contempory efforts to getting people to talk together for real change.Plenty of examples, stories and insights.

The volume provides interesting insights. I am unsure equally to what its precise contribution is considering it presents numerous concepts and ideas from other authors. It is a bit repetitive and overly long.

In Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together (Currency and Doubleday, NY 1999), William Issacs brings readers back to the catamenia of meaning present in conversations. He writes, "most people living today exercise non know how to create meaningful conversations" and traces the etymology of the word from the classics. He defines dialogue as a chat with a center, not sides. A manner of taking free energy of people'due south differences and channeling information technology into a new creation. The aim of dialogue is to avoid and, in t In Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together (Currency and Doubleday, NY 1999), William Issacs brings readers back to the flow of meaning nowadays in conversations. He writes, "most people living today exercise non know how to create meaningful conversations" and traces the etymology of the word from the classics. He defines dialogue every bit a chat with a heart, not sides. A way of taking free energy of people's differences and channeling it into a new creation. The aim of dialogue is to avert and, in time, remove us out of polarizations, he adds.

What follows are stories and examples of men and women in the sciences, engineering, armed services and business organisation who all accept succeeded and fabricated a difference in their chosen field because they have recognized the power, aesthetics and flow of meaning in dialogue. Contents include capacity building for effective conversations in the workplace, enhancing relationships through dialogue, an examination of the ecology of thought and the role of dialogue in organizational management, the new economy and today's fragile republic.

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Jul 02, 2021 Adam rated it liked it

A powerful message that hits a lot of the notes represented in leadership literature. Several of the resource were repeated a bit too much for my liking...deeper, more than diverse approaches to the research would have been beneficial in supporting the (all also necessary) statement.

3 stars. Shoddy editing (typos and grammar mistakes all through the book) was a problem. Also, the book could have narrowed the prove presented...it felt like it could take been two books (present the thesis at the cadre

A powerful message that hits a lot of the notes represented in leadership literature. Several of the resources were repeated a bit too much for my liking...deeper, more various approaches to the research would have been beneficial in supporting the (all too necessary) statement.

3 stars. Shoddy editing (typos and grammar mistakes all through the book) was a problem. Also, the volume could have narrowed the evidence presented...it felt like it could accept been two books (present the thesis at the core, then accept the follow-up volume illuminate opportunities for expansion). Too could have used a workbook to illuminate best practices for laypeople.

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Overly formal language? Check.
Providing latin root of likewise many words for no real reason? Check.
Meandering thesis? Cheque.
Really just an extended review of someone else's work? (David Brohm) Check.

Hard pass.

Overly formal linguistic communication? Check.
Providing latin root of as well many words for no real reason? Check.
Meandering thesis? Bank check.
Really but an extended review of someone else'due south piece of work? (David Brohm) Cheque.

Hard pass.

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Mar 12, 2020 Stephen rated it it was amazing

READ MAR 2020

This is a must-read seminal work for anyone interested in group dynamics and human interaction.

When nosotros talk together, information technology is rarely with depth. For the most function, we see our conversations as either opportunities to trade information or arenas in which to win points. (pg. 14).

Mar 08, 2022 Nilesh Makan rated it information technology was amazing

If you desire to modify your perspective of the world, to be a improve listener, to speak with truth, honey and beauty. If you lot want to meliorate commonage intelligence within your team'due south, organisations or even your personal lives, I would highly recommend this book. If yous desire to modify your perspective of the world, to be a better listener, to speak with truth, beloved and beauty. If yous want to amend collective intelligence inside your team's, organisations or even your personal lives, I would highly recommend this book. ...more

October xix, 2017 Emily rated it liked it

I thought this volume fabricated some expert points, just it was a flake bogged downwards in (I don't want to say hippie, just it was kinda hippie) a lot of really conceptual stuff. I thought this volume made some practiced points, but it was a bit bogged down in (I don't want to say hippie, simply it was kinda hippie) a lot of really conceptual stuff. ...more

Nov 07, 2019 Cindy Kearney rated it it was amazing

This book digs deep into our dialogue and what are our motives when nosotros communicate. Sometimes we don't take a desire to communicate at all, but we are just looking to get our point beyond. This book digs deep into our dialogue and what are our motives when we communicate. Sometimes we don't have a want to communicate at all, but we are just looking to become our signal beyond. ...more

February 21, 2021 Amber rated information technology liked it

I wanted to dear this book only establish it disorganized and duller than a book about communication should exist.

Apr 18, 2021 Seth rated it it was ok

Great subject area; unfortunately the book did not do it for me—would probably work well as a seminar where information technology could be experienced first-manus.

January 23, 2014 Sam rated it it was amazing

Reading Dialogue: The Fine art of Thinking Together by William Isaacs has had reverberating affects on my way of thinking, seeing, and participating with the interconnected earth effectually me. Information technology has left me wondering why nosotros collectively pretend, as a civilisation and every bit a species, to know what we are supposed to exist doing hither in this globe with the time we have been granted. Nosotros stroll through the streets of our brilliantly constructed societies with a contrived sense of ease and understanding that what we a Reading Dialogue: The Fine art of Thinking Together past William Isaacs has had reverberating affects on my way of thinking, seeing, and participating with the interconnected world around me. It has left me wondering why we collectively pretend, as a culture and as a species, to know what nosotros are supposed to be doing here in this world with the time we have been granted. We stroll through the streets of our brilliantly constructed societies with a contrived sense of ease and agreement that what we are doing—whether information technology is going to work, school, or participating in some other cultural norm, is exactly what we are supposed to be doing.

We put on the air that we believe that what we are doing is the natural social club of things, and that this procession of deportment which we take role in and perpetuate is just us playing our office in collectively working towards reaching the zenith of human potential. Nosotros are forging ahead, going farther than any of our ancestors were able to, and embodying what it means to exist a successful homo being within a successful gild. Through our technological advances and with the inventions of our countless machines and artifacts which simplify our lives, we gratuitous upwards precious time that we would otherwise be spending on inane tasks. And with all of this freed fourth dimension, we transcend the previously imagined limits of man potential with our flourishing knowledge, understanding, and participation—right?

Why are we non constantly marveling at this foreign being that we have been given? Earnestly bemusing to ourselves and others the myriad of questions that every facet of our lives should enliven in united states of america? Nosotros are all sick with the parsimonious character of a capitalistic social club which turns u.s. all against each other. This drive to attain the highest betoken of 'success' breeds a competitive spirit which infects usa all, fabricating an unreachable point of prosperity where all of our dreams can come true. In our consumption of pleasures and luxuries on our mode towards this inaccessible apex of achievement, truthful happiness becomes e'er more elusive and faraway. Simply nosotros convince ourselves, when surrounded past our fabric goods and distractions, that we have attained it and continue to achieve it with every newly obtained extravagance. We are trying to own the earth because we cannot even brainstorm to reign our own minds.

We objectify the cosmos and falsify an agreement of it. The answers all lie in human cognition and the mechanistic and appreciable functions which scientific discipline has uncovered for u.s. all. We have largely solved the great mystery, and tin can now focus on satisfying our ain desires. This shallow, flighty lifestyle is pervading our civilisation, our practices, our beliefs, our minds, and our spirits. We "protect ourselves from intensity by creating intensity. Creating artificial experiences of intensity [i.eastward. entertaining, exciting, risky, and/or emotionally arousing] can shield us from our real, personal intensity. They can keep usa from having to face the pain, anger, guilt, uncertainty, and doubt equally well as the beauty that are deep inside of u.s.a." (Isaacs, 1999). These artificial forces at piece of work keep us ensconced in our ain lives and allow us to see with just our express vision, turning others into possible threats to our cushioned lifestyle rather than potential friends or sources of mutual understanding and insight. The primacy of the whole and the awareness of interconnectedness of everything—our thoughts, behaviors, behavior, cultures, practices, and nature accept virtually been lost. Nosotros are all so distracted by this promise of happiness through personal success that our vision of what is skillful, what is beautiful, and what is true is clouded by this unquenchable thirst for more.

We are constantly distracted; truly living in the moment is a foreign concept to u.s.a., and it is only through true dialogue that nosotros can transform our current systems of thought that at once connect us all and fragment our reality through our current ways of thinking. Dialogue has the transformative power to alter the way we participate in the globe. Participation is seeing yourself always in regards to the natural earth and other beings within it, and dialogue fosters this way of beingness and forces us all to live within the realm of the present, together. We all know that this is the but road to true happiness and to realizing human potential. We accept ever known this, and now is the fourth dimension to seize information technology past dropping this façade of nonchalance in the face of all of this abounding wonder. Instead of proficient answers, we need expert questions, and to muster these questions we must humble ourselves to the perplexity of the universe and lose ourselves in it. We must trust in our collective capacity to truly discover what it means to be a office of this reciprocal and interconnected beingness.

"And what is good, Phaedrus? And what is not skillful? Need nosotros ask anyone to tell us these things?"

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Nov 23, 2015 S. Jay rated it information technology was ok

 If you lot cannot sit all the same and listen to others you may want to skim through this book. Probably the only business book I've read where I asked myself, is this guy high? Listen I'1000 usually a huge fan of explaining the why behind an idea, but he goes on near oneness and the universe and his boy David Bohm's theory on life almost too much. I institute myself proverb, OK, I get it, I meet why you recollect that way but how exercise I apply information technology? What specific things can I do to put this into practice?

I likewise propose

 If yous cannot sit however and listen to others yous may want to skim through this book. Probably the only business concern book I've read where I asked myself, is this guy high? Listen I'm usually a huge fan of explaining the why behind an idea, merely he goes on almost oneness and the universe and his boy David Bohm's theory on life almost too much. I found myself maxim, OK, I get it, I see why you lot recall that manner but how do I apply it? What specific things can I do to put this into practice?

I also propose that the book be called "Dialogue: The Art of Speaking in Groups in a Business organisation Setting." This is not a book about becoming a better conversationalist with one other person but rather how to openly dialogue in a grouping for business purposes. Probably of import you know that earlier giving a read.

 I wasn't too impress with the book because I didn't quite sympathize the purpose (business organisation settings) before ordering (that's my bad), considering I don't recall I accept too much of an event listening to others during a business meeting and finally because fifty-fifty though I concord with the oneness stuff on a philosophical and scientific level that'southward not how modern capitalism functions. I read near half so put it down so if you lot want to borrow it and terminate it and change my mind about it I'm all ears.

 Quotes
For the [ancient] Greeks, dia logos, flow of meaning, was seen equally a cornerstone of civic exercise, inseparable from self-governing. The chapters for talking together constituted the foundation for democracy, far more than fundamental than voting. As ane aboriginal Greek philosopher noted, 'when voting started, commonwealth ended." xvii
Dialogue, as I define it, is a conversation with a center, non sides. It is a mode of taking the energy of our differences and channeling information technology toward something that has never been created before. It lifts us out of polarization and into a greater common sense, and is thereby a means of accessing the intelligence and coordinated power of groups of people. 19
The implicate club is the idea that underlying the physical universe is a sea of energy that 'unfolds' into the visible, explicate world we see around united states of america. In this film, reality unfolds from this invisible body of water and so folds back up over again. Bohm began to speculate that these ideas might serve as a metaphor for understanding other levels of experience, including thought and consciousness itself. 39
The three main value spheres of human being activity: ideals, science, and fine art. In our modernistic world these three accept get completely divided. 54
Dialogue builds from the premise that the world is an undivided whole, and that the key problem we confront is that we do not run across this. 68
To listen is to develop an inner silence. 84
Finding and speaking one's voice requires first a willingness to exist still. Daring to be tranquillity can seem like an enormous risk in a world that values clear speech communication. Simply to speak our voice nosotros may take to learn to refrain from speaking and listen. Non every word that comes to us needs to exist spoken. In fact, learning to choose consciously what nosotros do and do not say can establish a great level of command and stability in our lives. 163

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Sep 08, 2009 Sheehan rated information technology liked it

Well I probably spent the nigh fourth dimension reading this book of any text so far this year...a bit dry, certainly relevant.

Dialogue is an exposition on the ways in which discussions tin can be made more fruitful, philosophies which support and inhibit productive exchanges, and how they can be applied to real-word impasses.

Very basically, a few key aspects of productive dialogue are examined and played with throughout the book: voicing, listening, respecting and suspending/suppression. All seemingly intuitiv

Well I probably spent the nearly time reading this book of any text and so far this twelvemonth...a scrap dry out, certainly relevant.

Dialogue is an exposition on the ways in which discussions can be made more fruitful, philosophies which back up and inhibit productive exchanges, and how they can be practical to existent-discussion impasses.

Very basically, a few key aspects of productive dialogue are examined and played with throughout the volume: voicing, listening, respecting and suspending/suppression. All seemingly intuitive and easily overlooked in just about every interaction most of us engage in.

I found the discussions about setting and making stiff "containers" for dialogue to be very insightful and approachable. It was less well-nigh the ane on i interactions that I was hoping to apply to my work, and more about creating space for existent substantive interaction. Which sadly, I don't run into happening at work...

Information technology's really proficient if y'all are interested in the topic, or liked Ury'due south "Getting to Aye"; otherwise information technology might be a bit of a bog down for many.

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Apr 22, 2016 Tina rated it actually liked information technology

Dialogue is "a conversation with a center, not sides."

Based on the research and work of MIT-based group "The Dialogue Project" and his consulting business, author Bill Isaacs outlines ways to consider the event of the chat amidst people who may or may not have the same perspective on a topic. Giving reflection and response time in a conversation is critical. Dear the quote, "People don't listen; they reload."

While the principles are universally applicable to all conversations, personal a

Dialogue is "a conversation with a center, non sides."

Based on the enquiry and work of MIT-based group "The Dialogue Projection" and his consulting business concern, author Beak Isaacs outlines ways to consider the outcome of the conversation among people who may or may non have the same perspective on a topic. Giving reflection and response fourth dimension in a conversation is disquisitional. Love the quote, "People don't heed; they reload."

While the principles are universally applicable to all conversations, personal and professional, I found them peculiarly helpful for addressing values-based disharmonize--one of the most difficult conversations to attempt to take in a healthy and productive way.

Splendid thoughts for slowing down the speed of our conversations toward real, meaningful, whole relationships. Timely? Always.

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May 01, 2015 Kris Muir rated it really liked information technology

"Dialogue" is a contemplative volume that questions how picayune we truly engage in dialogue when we encounter in groups and markets dialogue as disquisitional to our companies and our lives. Providing 4 crucial capacities to develop--listening, suspending, respecting, and voicing--also every bit indicating how we can spot structural traps in conversations, the book as well serves as a guide to improving our dialogues. Using mostly research by physicist David Bohm, family systems therapist David Kantor, and experienc "Dialogue" is a wistful book that questions how footling we truly engage in dialogue when we meet in groups and markets dialogue every bit critical to our companies and our lives. Providing iv crucial capacities to develop--listening, suspending, respecting, and voicing--as well as indicating how we tin spot structural traps in conversations, the volume likewise serves as a guide to improving our dialogues. Using mostly research by physicist David Bohm, family systems therapist David Kantor, and experiences consulting with Fortune 500 companies such as Shell and Ford, Isaacs crafts an statement, admitting woven unclearly at times, that we can and should use the concept of dialogue as a powerful ways to strip away agendas and engender an understanding that is both accurate and collective. ...more

Sometimes my book reviews take on a life of their ain. While preparing for my review of Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together, I started to gather some thoughts on 1 of the key aspects of dialogues, which is the impact of defensive routines. Earlier I knew it, defensive routines had enough content for its ain blog – thus this post. So the review for Dialogue will terminate up in 3 parts. We'll encompass ii specific topics get-go so tie it together with the "official" review.

Click hither to read the

Sometimes my book reviews accept on a life of their own. While preparing for my review of Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together, I started to get together some thoughts on i of the central aspects of dialogues, which is the impact of defensive routines. Before I knew it, defensive routines had plenty content for its own blog – thus this post. So the review for Dialogue will end up in three parts. We'll cover 2 specific topics first so necktie it together with the "official" review.

Click here to read the total review

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February 05, 2012 Stuart Reid rated it really liked it

A very impressive book. Weaves together a lot of different strands of theory into a coherent whole. A lot of the thinking in here resonated with me, and I liked Isaacs' warnings against turning dialogue into a holy grail - he suggests dialogue is a process of moving betwixt different types of conversation, and is non simply something that we accomplish only rarely when weather are perfect. A very impressive volume. Weaves together a lot of unlike strands of theory into a coherent whole. A lot of the thinking in hither resonated with me, and I liked Isaacs' warnings confronting turning dialogue into a holy grail - he suggests dialogue is a procedure of moving between different types of conversation, and is not merely something that we achieve only rarely when weather are perfect. ...more

Feb x, 2016 John Gillis rated it it was amazing

This is a wonderful volume that is probably 100 years before its time. If yous at all have a job that requires disarming people, moving the needle, or negotiating serious collaborative stuff, you should read this. It is a straightforward read, simply dense with reality and very deep, and resourced in the seminal resources of psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

Many new interesting and relevant concepts, just many of them seem to be withal incomplete in the author's mind. Possibly too much deviations from the main idea of the book; information technology could accept been written in simply ane third of the pages. Many new interesting and relevant concepts, only many of them seem to be still incomplete in the author's mind. Perhaps too much deviations from the master idea of the book; it could take been written in simply one third of the pages. ...more

One of the most important books I've read in my life. Past changing the mode we talk and mind, things do not have to be as they are. One of the most important books I've read in my life. By changing the way we talk and listen, things do not have to be every bit they are. ...more than

I similar the way William defines and breaks apart words. The group dynamics and explanation of how we create as nosotros speak is fascinating.

Jun x, 2013 Hoa rated it really liked it

Good for anyone to sympathize how a meeting should run to work efficiently and effectively. Useful information to seeing how your actions can assist or cripple new ideas in a meeting.

Jun xiv, 2014 Sean rated information technology it was astonishing

A most idea provoking volume and one I have consciously taken my time to read so as to get the nearly from it.

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Sometimes it tin be fun just to scan the incoming books in any given month and ponder the wild variety of human experience on display....

"The intention of dialogue is to reach new understanding and, in doing then, to form a totally new ground from which to think and act. In" — three likes

"The capacity for talking together constituted the foundation for democracy, far more than central than voting. As one ancient Greek philosopher noted, "When voting started, republic ended." — 2 likes

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