Change or Die

The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life

By: Alan Deutschman

Narrated by: Brian Keeler

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

What if you were given the ultimatum: make a radical shift in your life, or lose it all?

This was the question Alan Deutschman posed in "Change or Die", his sensational cover story for the May 2005 issue of Fast Company. Surprisingly, Deutschman concluded that although we all have the innate capability and fundamental need to change our behavior, we rarely do. Against all warnings and reason, heart patients and smokers continue to lead dangerously unhealthy lifestyles, and many doomed companies stick to the same archaic business practices that routinely destine them for failure.

In this inspiring, revelatory book, Deutschman helps deconstruct and demystify five age-old myths about change, including the notions that small, gradual changes are always easier to make and sustain, and that we can't change because our brains become "hardwired" early in life. Introducing breakthrough research and progressive ideas from a diverse selection of medical, science, and business leaders, Deutschman demonstrates how to achieve lasting, revolutionary change.

A powerful book with universal appeal, Change or Die addresses every sphere of life, from companies that must remake their corporate culture to survive, to individuals who must make 360-degree changes in their lifestyle or risk stagnation - or even death. Each chapter also includes several emotional stories about real people who have succeeded or failed in their attempt to change and why.

Change or Die is not about merely reorganizing or restructuring priorities; it's about challenging everyone to make drastic transformations in all aspects of life - changes that are positive, attainable, and absolutely vital.

©2007 Alan Deutschman (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"The book lays out some principles for change that might apply not only to companies but to many facets of life." (U.S. News & World Report)

Good but not great

Good elements in the book to learn from but not the best written structurally and lots of wasted time. Wanted to expect a lot more from the author considering his background but just wasn't a smooth transitioning book

Excellent book, excellently narrated.

The author knows how to craft and build a story. There was no sagging middle and the ending was outstanding. This is a vital topic (indeed) and the treatment (so to speak) is worthy of the topic.

The narrator is one of the best I have heard on Audlble.

I arrived at this book because I enjoyed another book by the same author ("The Second Coming of Steve Jobs") and I decided to investigate all of his inventory. The title was a bit strange but I took a chance and I'm glad I did. He saves his "book title" punch line until the end, so I won't spoil it for you.

I look forward to more books by Alan Deutschman.

Good Stuff

Great insights into changing Those whom seemingly cannot change. This book validates through scientific methods that intimidation never works or at least doesn't work for long when you are trying to motivate others to make changes in their lives!

Quickly turned to a criminal reform audiobook

Went on and on about prison reform. Started out interesting. 2 hours in, it went to crap.

excellent guide to change

unfortunately the author is a bit behind on nutrition and drug science but it was still a very fun and entertaining listen. lots of strange and very counter intuitive lessons to learn here. worth your time.

Change and Thrive

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The examples the author provided exhibited his points and explained why change is important to our health, our communities and to our overall success.

Reframe Change with this book

This a very practical book with lota of examples for how to change along with a 3 step approacj to change. A must read

Fantastic info

I bought this as a sales/professional development book. It is not that... well, not exactly.

The author talks about different psychiatric principles and then gives some extreme examples of different situations in which people went against conventional wisdom and made changes to better their lives and the lives of the people around them. He then takes these examples and dissects them into basic elements and relates them to the psychiatric principles.

The first half of the book is mainly 3 case studies which are very interesting and motivational. The rest of the book is how these relate to the principles and how they relate to you.

Much to my chagrin, the book has absolutely nothing to do with sales (and little to do with business directly) but it does make you step back and think about different things and how you may approach them differently.

Bottom line: entertaining & thought-provoking

Gripping

This book helped me to realize the need in all of us to cope, get beyond coping and change for the better. Read this book. It will show you how to change your life.

Outstanding!

This book is life changing because it breaks down how to really change your life. No hype, just the real life practical steps on how to change your life. I’m very happy I got this book and will continue to re listen and re read the information in this book until it’s second nature.