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Switch  By  cover art

Switch

By: Dan Heath, Chip Heath
Narrated by: Charles Kahlenberg
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Publisher's summary

Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives?

The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed best seller Made to Stick.

Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems - the rational mind and the emotional mind - that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort - but if it is overcome, change can come quickly.

In Switch, the Heaths show how everyday people - employees and managers, parents and nurses - have united both minds and, as a result, achieved dramatic results:

  • The lowly medical interns who managed to defeat an entrenched, decades-old medical practice that was endangering patients
  • The home-organizing guru who developed a simple technique for overcoming the dread of housekeeping
  • The manager who transformed a lackadaisical customer-support team into service zealots by removing a standard tool of customer service

In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change

Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.

©2010 Chip Heath (P)2010 Random House

Featured Article: The Audible Essentials—The Top 100 Well-Being Listens of All Time


We assembled our editors, scoured listener reviews, polled our most-trusted colleagues, and listened our ears off to bring you this list of 100 must-listen well-being titles on Audible. Whether you’re looking to get organized, stay motivated, find creative inspiration, or relieve stress, these audiobooks and podcasts are packed with insights from self-development and wellness experts to help you take the next step—or the first—in your personal journey.

What listeners say about Switch

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    4,126
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I made the change

This is such a great book with so much information that you need to listen twice plus the book recommended me to so many great articles

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very thought provoking

One of the most universally relevant books I've ever read. Not perfect, but very well crafted and thought provoking. Practical, down to earth, lots of humor.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Actionable ideas and the logic behind them for making change

Chip and Dan Heath present some interesting ideas for effecting change and offer some convincing reasons why they work.

I've seen some of these techniques in the past,but never took the time to understand why they were so effective.

This book is definitely one to put into the teaching arsenal,because learning is about change.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Mr
  • 08-13-16

A six star listen

These guys make the complex so simple.
Genius work!!!
I can wait for your next book!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great advice for helping to lead change

If you could sum up Switch in three words, what would they be?

motivate the elephant

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's non-fiction, so there are not really characters in the book. The stories and illustrations do a great job of articulating the points of the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me remember the key points really well. Motivate the elephant. Direct the rider. Find the bright spots. Shape the path. Lots of memorable word/sound bytes.

Any additional comments?

Easy "read" on this one. Good to have in the library for future reference.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book!

The Heath brothers break down the change process and present a simple pattern to take on many problems from personal, organizational, to societal. Excellent book and good performance.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book on influencing change

This a philosophy of change and practical methods on how to create it, by appealing to our logical side, our emotional side, and influencing our environment! If you're ready to make a change or trusted to help others make changes this is a great book!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice concepts

If you could sum up Switch in three words, what would they be?

Rider. Elephant. Path.

What other book might you compare Switch to and why?

Nope...

Have you listened to any of Charles Kahlenberg’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but the cat has a nice reading voice!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Interesting, but not a barn-burner!

Any additional comments?

Thank you!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Ready to Switch

This book was a great way to look at how to accomplish change. It gives many examples from all different industries and ties them together through the process of change. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a deeper understanding of why change can be hard to make and keep.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must read

Applies to varies aspects of life and I will be adding it to my annual rotation.

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