Friedman's Fables

Title

en_US Friedman's Fables

Description

en_US This is a hardbound book (hard cover)

en_US This book has a dust jacket (book cover)

en_US Edwin H. Friedman

Creator

en_US Friedman, Edwin H See all items with this value

Contributor

en_US Illustrations by Joseph Cavalieri and Stephen Wilder

Date

2016-01-25T19:03:33Z

en_US 1997-06

en_US 1990

Date Available

2016-01-25T19:03:33Z

Date Issued

en_US 1990

Abstract

en_US This book contains twenty-four case studies, stories meant to provoke questions, discussion, and reflection. They are not fables in the traditional sense I urge. But they are excellent stories for raising questions. Friedman's prologue describes the four illusions these fables aim to shatter: first, that communication is a cerebral phenomenon rather than emotional process; second, that insight will work with people who are unmotivated to change; third, that resistance to your message can be overcome by trying harder; and fourth, that seriousness is deeper than playfulness. The first two sections are dedicated, respectively, I believe, to #2 and #3. The third section, Bonds and Binds, has to do with commitment and tolerance for ambiguity, as far as I can tell. The fourth seems to focus on #4. I find the stories good. Among the best are The Bridge, 'Round in Circles, The Power of Belief, An American Holly, Soaring, Net Results, Metamorphosis, Attachment, Jean and Jane, The Magic Ring, Caught in Her Own Web, The Wallflower, Burnout, and Narcissus. Three of the literature-based studies seem to me tedious: Raising Cain (on the Adam and Eve family); Interlude (featuring Oedipus, Faust, and Cassandra); and Tradition (featuring Moses, Freud, and Marx). Cinderella does much better. The book comes with a pamphlet of discussion questions. Its introduction begins This is a paean for ambiguity. I have long believed that questions are more important than answers… (1). The pamphlet gives a helpful moral for each fable, though that moral too is up for discussion….

Identifier

en_US 0898624568

en_US 4314 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/79587

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US The Guilford Press

en_US NY/London

Subject

en_US PS3556.R5187 F33 1990 See all items with this value

en_US Title Page Scanned See all items with this value

Type

Pamphlet