Review 2025.04.012
Reviewers Note: It is the beginning of 2025 and one of the skills I desire to grow in is that of writing book reviews (having never done this before). I am doing this so I can better hone my writing (and reading) skills as I seek to think more critically about the books I am reading. I am sharing on Goodreads for my own personal development. I know this will be something I am always growing in so if you actually read these, please be patient with me as I develop this skill. I will also receive constructive criticism if you desire to help me become a better writer (and reader). I plan to use this disclaimer for the entire 2025 year.
A Failure of Nerve by Edwin H. Friedman
335 Pages
What can I say about this book? It was recommended in another one of my books and I had no expectations for it. This book turned out to be brilliant. So much so that I have a note in my mind map suggesting I read the book again. I know I missed the fullness of the book and a second reading would be very helpful (probably multiple readings which is hard for me).
About halfway through the book, I told both my kids (who are adults now) that I recommended it and might even buy it for them but wanted to finish it to make sure it was that good. I have not bought it yet as I find it unlikely that either one of them will read it at this point in their lives.
I keep trying to figure out what exactly it was that made me like the book so much. I immediately knew this guy was smart. Like smart smart. But not pretentious at all. The book challenged me in a very good way.
One of the major points he makes is we must not get trapped trying to fix symptoms. The author says, “The same is the case when an entire society stays focused on the acute symptoms of its chronic anxiety—violence, drugs, crime, ethnic and gender polarization, economic factors such as inflation and unemployment, bureaucratic obstruction, an entangling tax code, and so on—rather than on the emotional processes that promote those symptoms and keep them chronic.” We must address the emotional processes promoting these symptoms so that we can fix the root of the problem. Unfortunately, it is easier to try to fix the symptoms so that is what our society attempts to do.
There is really so much to process that a short review like this would never do it justice. I would say this is the best book I have read this year (so far). I definitely recommend it for people who desire to grow in leadership.