The 3rd Alternative

Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems

By: Stephen R. Covey

Narrated by: Dr. Breck England

From the multimillion-copy bestselling 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.

There are many methods of “conflict resolution,” but most involve compromise, a low-level accommodation that stops the fight without breaking through to new and innovative results. The 3rd Alternative introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving, transcending traditional solutions to conflict by forging a path toward a third option. A third alternative moves beyond your way or my way to a higher and better way—one that allows both parties to emerge from debate or even heated conflict in a far better place than either had envisioned. With the third alternative, nobody has to give up anything, and everyone wins.

Through key examples and stories from his work as a consultant, Covey demonstrates the power of 3rd Alternative thinking. His wide-ranging examples include a Canadian metropolitan police force that transformed a crime-plagued community; a judge who brought a quick, peaceful end to one of the biggest environmental lawsuits in American history without setting foot in a courtroom; the principal of a high school for children of migrant workers who raised their graduation rate from 30 percent to 90 percent; a handful of little-known people who are quietly finding new ways to bring peace to the Middle East; and many others. These various groups and individuals offer living examples of how to create new and better results instead of escalating conflict, as well as how to build strong relationships based on an attitude of winning together.

Beyond conflict and compromise, The 3rd Alternative unveils a radical, creative new way of thinking.

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.

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!

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.

Great book, inspiring...

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

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.