Necessary Endings

Publisher's Summary

End Pain.
Foster Personal and Professional Growth.
Live Better.

While endings are a natural part of business and life, we often experience them with a sense of hesitation, sadness, resignation, or regret. But consultant, psychologist, and best-selling author Dr. Henry Cloud sees endings differently. He argues that our personal and professional lives can only improve to the degree that we can see endings as a necessary and strategic step to something better. If we cannot see endings in a positive light and execute them well, he asserts, the "better" will never come, either in business growth or our personal lives.

In this insightful and deeply empathetic book, Dr. Cloud demonstrates that, when executed well, "necessary endings" allow us to proactively correct the bad and the broken in our lives in order to make room for the professional and personal growth we seek. However, when endings are avoided or handled poorly - as is too often the case - good opportunities may be lost, and misery repeated.

Drawing on years of experience as an executive coach and a psychologist, Dr. Cloud offers a mixture of advice and case studies to help listeners:

• Know when to have realistic hope and when to execute a necessary ending in a business or with an individual
• Identify which employees, projects, activities, and relationships are worth nurturing and which are not
• Overcome people's resistance to change and create change that works
• Create urgency and an action plan for what's important
• Stop wasting resources needed for the things that really matter

Knowing when and how to let go when something, or someone, isn't working - a personal relationship, a job, or a business venture - is essential for happiness and success. Necessary Endings gives listeners the tools they need to say good-bye and move on.

©2010 Henry Cloud (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Better editing required

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Necessary Endings?

The basic premise of the book is good and correct, however the metaphors used by the author to illustrate his points are carried on long after their usefulness has expired. This is basically true in every chapter, but is most apparent in the first few chapters where the analogy of pruning a rose bush is examined from every conceivable angle. In addition there is a paucity of real psychological data to support some of the recommendations in the book, and only the mental constructs of the author, which I personally found unconvincing, to explain why it is difficult to for many of us to achieve necessary endings. A related and IMO far more useful book is

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great for any large or minor life changes.

I kept finding myself relate to this book almost too much. It made me realize a lot about myself and how I have never dealt with endings, either with jobs, relationships, or personal choices. The way he describes things makes it easy to understand and apply to your own life. I've recommended this book to several of my friends and every one has come back thanking me for introducing them to it. Also, I would recommend "Integrity" as well by the same author.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Made a Profound Effect on my Life!

Would you listen to Necessary Endings again? Why?

Yes, there are time tested truths here.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love that the AUTHOR is reading the book.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Necessary Endings?

That life is full of life cycles/seasons.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this when I struggled with work issues after having a baby. I was overcome with guilt about not keeping up with everything as before. This book helped me to let go and see the the "necessary endings" as well as the bright beginnings laying before me. This book can be applied to everyone.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Good One

What made the experience of listening to Necessary Endings the most enjoyable?

Sometimes you need to let go to move on

What was one of the most memorable moments of Necessary Endings?

The explanation on

What about Henry Cloud’s performance did you like?

The way he communicates each of the ideas and scenario

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Evil People, avoid them, but if you are in a relationship with them, neighbor, Business partner, Colleague, or any toxic individual you are in a relationship with--- they are not going to get better, protect yourself with the law, money, etc. I used to try and change people, sometimes it is better to let go for your own sake. The longer you stay, the higher the cost.

Any additional comments?

It is amazing how one book from a particular author lead to the next. I started with

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

This book is key to break-forward thinking/acting.

What did you love best about Necessary Endings?

The freedom of release. Finishing / moving on is a necessary part of having a creative and constructive life.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Helpful for overall life evaluation

Lived how this will help me personally and with the clients I coach. This is a book I will certainly recommend.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Pull the band-aid off fast!

Would you consider the audio edition of Necessary Endings to be better than the print version?

2nd book I read by the author and the 1st one "Boundaries" was life changing. Big question I got was for a problem area of your life was "Is there any reason to expect your tomorrow to be any different than today?" If not, you need to make some changes. Bad Jobs, acquaintances, etc need to be run through the filter.
I quit my job about 10 days after listening to the book but was teetering on quitting beforehand. I may try to hand out copies to business prospects b/c it is really powerful.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

The Most Compelling & Engaging Yet!

Dr. Henry Cloud goes into the psychology of why we often put off ending things that are holding us back or even hurting us in some way.

This book is very thorough in it’s approach. It covers how to narrow down if something should be encouraged to try again or stopped. It also explains the hurt we feel about that change, the many reasons behind it and how to address those blocks in our path to a better life.

If you’re even suspicious that you might be putting some things off that need to be done, read this book. Not only will it give you encouragement and methods on how to make that ending possible and less painful, but it also supplies many examples of how well things go when the ‘dead weight’ has been removed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good teaching book.

What did you love best about Necessary Endings?

I am able to follow along with the books flow and learn a lot from it.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Necessary Endings?

That necessary endings are not a bad thing and should be welcomed in all situations of life.

Any additional comments?

I would suggest reading it to anyone especially if you find your self stuck in a rut and desire to find a way out. Well written book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A must read if you want to learn about endings

What did you love best about Necessary Endings?

This book gives you a different perspective on endings, and how they must happened strategically for your life to move forward.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Incredible wisdom, doable advice, relatable, fantastic!

I think this book is a life saver and changer. I couldn’t stop listening and have watched it get light again. There is a reason I listen to so many self improvement and business audio book, escapism from a dull and frustrating existence, earphones and positive learning breaks the negative conversations in my head which keeps me going, the desire to break free and be better and happier achieve more, but stumbling on this title instantly grabbed my attention as I found myself stuck again moaning about the same things I’ve nagged about for the last 17 years. This one book is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you so much Henry, You’re a star! xx

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Great Audio Book For Letting Go Of The Past.

It was an interesting audio book which focuses on 'moving on' in life and business. However the focus is mostly on the context of business life more than personal life itself. I like the way the author wrote this book in such a way that it can be heard by anyone, even though the author is a Christian. I recommend other audio books by the same author. The wisdom that comes from his writings are amazing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A little repetitive, but superb

Struggling to unlock a situation? For yourself?A friend or colleague? This study provides keys and permissions to go forward.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic, insightful, awesome

A truly insightful book which has brought so much clarity to my life. Highly recommended.

Transformative book

Many aha moments, often scrabbling for a pen. Excellent to hear over and over, with great illustrations and analogies, and penetrating questions to help ground it.

Bloody brilliant

We all hate change and letting go of things even I think when we realise we should.
I have held on to employees, friends, even love that was not best for me.
How brave do I now feel having listened and understood this! some endings are necessary. Thank you Henry Cloud for reading your work to me. So grateful and I'd recommend this 100%