EVOKING CHANGE

Lucid work for those hoping to become better leaders or simply better persons.

The author’s own frustrated attempts to "change the world" led her to the realization that she first had to change herself. Christie makes it clear that while changing others directly is often impossible, transformation can be effected in families, communities and even societies by changing oneself. By introducing the concept of "bourns"–realms ranging from the self to the "supernal" or supernatural–she explains that outward change is only possible one level at a time. Christie draws heavily upon living-systems theory in laying out a plan for understanding oneself and how one fits into family and relational systems. Through such understanding, she argues, the reader can better learn to improve his or her "emotional intelligence," which will in turn cause healthier relationships. At its root, this work is a leadership manual. Christie points out that leadership starts with the self and moves outward. Even Martin Luther King Jr. was influential first within his family, then his congregation and eventually within a national movement. Christie encourages readers to identify the "Leviathan" in their lives, which she describes as the fear which each person suppresses at some level. In confronting this fear, perhaps for the first time, people are liberated to improve their own lives. She also provides tools for better understanding the complexities of relationships. Though Christie draws upon several professional sources, her writing is accessible. At times, her use of idiom and vernacular can be distracting (e.g. "flipped a lid," "pretty damn sure"), but on the whole, the book is a worthwhile resource for those wishing to live healthier lives emotionally and socially.

An interesting commentary on leadership.