3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A good start, but finishes weak, 2003-10-21
I had high expectations of this book but was let down. The author starts on the right foot but loses momentum. I got to the middle of the book and felt that the only way to live a congruent life is to leave my job and become a monk! His tone and attitude toward work are VERY negative. The author is also very "preachy". He is pretentious and writes in "holier that thou" language. Awakening Corporate Soul is much better.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Solid prose for life the congruent life, 2002-06-13
C. Michael Thompson does an excellent job with a challenging subject. A challenging book to read because you have to really think through the issues, ideas and concept presented. Very timely book, given the issues of business, life and how to balance the competing demands. Well thought out concepts, good use of example and appropriate use of concepts. I have had this on my bedside and travel bag for the past year, and I am still digesting all the wisdom.Jasper Welch, Durango CO
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
A Catalyst for Change, 2001-09-30
I had the great fortune of meeting Michael Thompson at a Leadership course I was attending, and after spending several hours with him, I realized he had a message to deliver to me and to others. I picked up his book, The Congruent Life, and after reading it and re-reading it, I was able to start to make sense of my place in life. Reading this book has been a catalyst for change in my life.
For the masses out there looking for meaning in their work, for those feeling disconnected and lost, Michael Thompson has crafted a resource that will not only help you find your way, but will help you understand why you were lost to begin with. He not only points you in the right direction, but gives you the map and compass.
The Congruent Life is the single best resource I have come accross addressing spirituality, the meaning of work, developmental theory, and personal growth.
The Congruent Life sits on my desktop, right next to M. Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled. Do yourself a favor, and pick it up.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
A Bold Book, 2000-03-05
In this bold book, courageously written by an author who has tasted business success and found it bland, we are challenged to rethink the values we have been taught since preschool-that "success" is measured in quantitative terms, that "happiness" is having the most toys, and that "making it" in business means you have to sacrifice all other aspects of your life-especially the spiritual aspect. He quickly points out that "spiritual" and "religious" are not the same thing. Then he makes a strong case for the idea that, to be an effective leader of an organization, one must be a "deeply spiritual" person. Instead of seeing how fast we can fly around the light bulb, we must consider the value of solitude, of reflection, of self-knowledge, of acknowledging that the world does not revolve around us. Instead, we can live the congruent life only when we connect with a power beyond our own. He makes it clear that all of the world's great religions-Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, call for this connection. Being spiritually connected does not guarantee business success. Spiritual connection guarantees that, whether or not you are "successful", your life will be richer, more satisfying, more congruent-and the lives of those around you will be enriched as well. You will be a true leader-a servant leader.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
So Helpful, 2000-02-22
I am the co-owner of a growing software supply company. As you may have guessed, my business does not leave much time for private time, much less time for spirtual reflection. However, I attended a business conference and was recommmended this book. I can not stress enough how helpful it has been. My life feels fufilled - it is now "connected." I no longer feel as if I am leading two lives: one at the office,and one at home. I would recommend The Congruent Life to anyone who feels that their business leaves them cold.