The 3rd Alternative

Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems

By: Stephen R. Covey

Narrated by: Dr. Breck England

Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A legacy work from the multimillion copy best-selling 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. One of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, Dr. Stephen R. Covey has helped millions transform their lives. In The 3rd Alternative Covey turns his formidable insight to creative problem solving, presenting a powerful new way to resolve professional and personal difficulties and create solutions to great challenges in organizations and society.

The 3rd Alternative transcends the traditional solutions to conflict - my way or your way - by forging a path toward a creative solution - a third option - that is far better than what either party proposes. Covey profiles in this work a wide range of innovative 3rd Alternative thinkers in fields including business, politics, law, education, policing, health, and family. Through stories and examples, Covey tells listeners how to build strong relationships with diverse individuals based on the notion of winning together and demonstrates how this can generate innovative solutions and growth.

Beyond compromise, beyond mediation, The 3rd Alternative represents a radical, creative new way of thinking. Dr. Covey considers this his legacy work - a groundbreaking, but practical work that demonstrates why 3rd Alternative thinking represents the supreme opportunity of our time.

©2011 Stephen R. Covey (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

excellent

required reading for anyone who is or wishes to become part of a modern prosperous society that has well being as the core fabric.

Great book, inspiring...

Really good book, good examples and insights into practical cases, long book but with the listern.

either of us could review this book....

but together we could write a review better than either of us could have ever thought of in the beginning.

listen with the intent to understand, not with the intent to reply.

Good text, Poor performance

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. As a follow up to Seven Habits, this book is a deep dive on working in a synergistic way. It touches on a lot of the same themes as habits 4,5,6; but gives a specific technique and several strategies for putting it into place.
Unfortunately the text is a bit over-written; Covey's concision is missing and this book could probably be trimmed by about 15%.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Covey has a wide range of examples of his technique and strategies. While most were interesting, some of them were a bit redundant. In my opinion, it would have been better to have more detail on fewer examples.
There was also a good deal of lauding of the technique, which I found superfluous.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Breck England?

Breck speaks slowly, but not clearly. His tone was a bit too dramatic for this text. As the text seemed a bit over-written, Breck's performance underscored these flaws.
It was odd to hear Scott Brick read non-fiction, but he brought an efficiency and weight to "Salt Sugar Fat" that would work wonders here.

Did The 3rd Alternative inspire you to do anything?

I have incorporated Covey's technique in conversation and strategy sessions at work. It has been useful in conflict resolution.

Any additional comments?

Breck England would be much better doing true crime non-fiction or something with dramatic heft.

Let's find middle ground

The overall theme and vignettes were great...the habit of releasing the tag line phrases got a little annoying though.

Hard to listen to.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator tried to sound like Stephen Covey but his lows were too low and I found myself adjusting the volume throughout.

Another Covey success.

Once again Mr. Covey does a wonderful job of explaining his philosophy. He cites known and unknown examples of his philosophy in practice.

Great motivational and practical book.

I enjoyed listening to this book. I think i will lisyen to it a few times. There is do much for me to learn.

This book teaches you how to be a better person, a better coworker, a better manager, a better citizen, a better husband or wife, a better student. This book shows you how to proceed when you are not satisfied with the appearent dilemas.

By far, the best book I've ever read!

This book is so inspiring, practical, positive, thought provoking, important. It describes a life journey that if adapted - can make all the difference in world!

Principles to know and use.

Lots of good information to reflect on and live by. It would be great to have the main principles printed on a poster to hang on my wall and to send to our leaders.