Author: Al Weatherhead
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
ISBN: 1612831699
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 163
Book Description
Misfortune . . . Failure . . . Illness . . . It seems adversity dooms us to lives of frustration. Not so, according to dynamic industrialist and major philanthropist Al Weatherhead. He says adversity is not a curse but a gift--and that when we embrace our problems we temper and empower ourselves to achieve unimagined success. With insight and compassion, Weatherhead helps us understand that the question we must ask ourselves when bowled over by life's troubles is not "Why me?” but instead, "Why not me?” In the process, this pragmatic and profound book reveals the secret to achieving a greater understanding and mastery of life by harnessing the Power of Adversity.
The Power of Adversity
Author: Al Weatherhead
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
ISBN: 1612831699
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 163
Book Description
Misfortune . . . Failure . . . Illness . . . It seems adversity dooms us to lives of frustration. Not so, according to dynamic industrialist and major philanthropist Al Weatherhead. He says adversity is not a curse but a gift--and that when we embrace our problems we temper and empower ourselves to achieve unimagined success. With insight and compassion, Weatherhead helps us understand that the question we must ask ourselves when bowled over by life's troubles is not "Why me?” but instead, "Why not me?” In the process, this pragmatic and profound book reveals the secret to achieving a greater understanding and mastery of life by harnessing the Power of Adversity.
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
ISBN: 1612831699
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 163
Book Description
Misfortune . . . Failure . . . Illness . . . It seems adversity dooms us to lives of frustration. Not so, according to dynamic industrialist and major philanthropist Al Weatherhead. He says adversity is not a curse but a gift--and that when we embrace our problems we temper and empower ourselves to achieve unimagined success. With insight and compassion, Weatherhead helps us understand that the question we must ask ourselves when bowled over by life's troubles is not "Why me?” but instead, "Why not me?” In the process, this pragmatic and profound book reveals the secret to achieving a greater understanding and mastery of life by harnessing the Power of Adversity.
The Power of Adversity
Author: Byron Wesley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781520397757
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Recall the moment when you experienced the most adverse & challenging period in your life, whether it was: Letting go of toxic relationships Losing weight Having a baby Death of a loved one Being adopted Divorce Loss of employment Personal or Business related failure Surviving College Etc.. Now, think about that triumphant feeling you experienced when you overcame that once "unbearable" mountain, that is the feeling of a warrior and a champion. Yes, you are a warrior! We weren't all raised to believe this concept, society conditions us that this term is esoteric and reserved for only the Greats, The Elites and The Gods, but that is not the case. Imagine how life would look if you were to set yourself free from the restraints of self-limiting beliefs about past circumstances and began to accelerate beyond your confines? What can you do each day to active dormant strengths and recharge happiness? Well, The Power of Adversity explores the depths of these these questions and provides practical, yet straightforward guidance. Herodotus, the Greek philosopher once said, "Adversity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a man that would have lain dormant in it's absence." One inevitable fact of life is that adversity will present itself unexpectedly, catastrophically and repeatedly throughout our existence. Overcoming adversity is one of life's greatest skill-sets we could possibly develop. Cultivating this proper mental and spiritual fortitude is equivalent to building physical muscle. Commitment, Repetition and approach are key to obtaining the results you desire, through proven resources like this book. Whether this is your first rodeo of inner exploratory, or you've completely committed your life to the journey inward, this book will ultimately shift your paradigm in the way you perceive and interact with adversity. THE POWER OF ADVERSITY IS THE SELF-HELP BOOK FOR THOSE WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO OVERCOME PAST CHALLENGES, REACH TOTAL SELF-CONFIDENCE, & IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781520397757
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Recall the moment when you experienced the most adverse & challenging period in your life, whether it was: Letting go of toxic relationships Losing weight Having a baby Death of a loved one Being adopted Divorce Loss of employment Personal or Business related failure Surviving College Etc.. Now, think about that triumphant feeling you experienced when you overcame that once "unbearable" mountain, that is the feeling of a warrior and a champion. Yes, you are a warrior! We weren't all raised to believe this concept, society conditions us that this term is esoteric and reserved for only the Greats, The Elites and The Gods, but that is not the case. Imagine how life would look if you were to set yourself free from the restraints of self-limiting beliefs about past circumstances and began to accelerate beyond your confines? What can you do each day to active dormant strengths and recharge happiness? Well, The Power of Adversity explores the depths of these these questions and provides practical, yet straightforward guidance. Herodotus, the Greek philosopher once said, "Adversity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a man that would have lain dormant in it's absence." One inevitable fact of life is that adversity will present itself unexpectedly, catastrophically and repeatedly throughout our existence. Overcoming adversity is one of life's greatest skill-sets we could possibly develop. Cultivating this proper mental and spiritual fortitude is equivalent to building physical muscle. Commitment, Repetition and approach are key to obtaining the results you desire, through proven resources like this book. Whether this is your first rodeo of inner exploratory, or you've completely committed your life to the journey inward, this book will ultimately shift your paradigm in the way you perceive and interact with adversity. THE POWER OF ADVERSITY IS THE SELF-HELP BOOK FOR THOSE WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO OVERCOME PAST CHALLENGES, REACH TOTAL SELF-CONFIDENCE, & IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE.
The Power of 3
Author: Robb Hiller
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 1496447301
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Groundbreaking advice from one of the nation’s foremost executive coaches to help you overcome obstacles in your life, find your unique purpose, and achieve more. When faced with adversity, a major decision, or simply the challenges of daily existence, whether it is a difficult boss, a child who is hard to control, or a marriage or career that appears to be stuck, most of us have habitual knee-jerk reactions that hold us back. We find ourselves asking, Why am I working so hard but don’t seem to be getting anywhere? Why do I keep fighting the same battles? When did I lose passion for what I do? Everyone has those questions, and in this book, Robb Hiller unveils the coaching that he has given Fortune 500 executives to answer these same questions. His counsel is encapsulated in a three-fold principle: ask, activate, and advocate. Robb is passionate about teaching these principles because they helped him face the biggest challenge of his life: a devastating cancer diagnosis. In this book, you won’t just discover these principles—you will learn from Robb how to practice them in your daily routines and unleash your passion and purpose, no matter what hurdle you currently face.
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 1496447301
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Groundbreaking advice from one of the nation’s foremost executive coaches to help you overcome obstacles in your life, find your unique purpose, and achieve more. When faced with adversity, a major decision, or simply the challenges of daily existence, whether it is a difficult boss, a child who is hard to control, or a marriage or career that appears to be stuck, most of us have habitual knee-jerk reactions that hold us back. We find ourselves asking, Why am I working so hard but don’t seem to be getting anywhere? Why do I keep fighting the same battles? When did I lose passion for what I do? Everyone has those questions, and in this book, Robb Hiller unveils the coaching that he has given Fortune 500 executives to answer these same questions. His counsel is encapsulated in a three-fold principle: ask, activate, and advocate. Robb is passionate about teaching these principles because they helped him face the biggest challenge of his life: a devastating cancer diagnosis. In this book, you won’t just discover these principles—you will learn from Robb how to practice them in your daily routines and unleash your passion and purpose, no matter what hurdle you currently face.
The Gift of Adversity
Author: Norman E Rosenthal MD
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0399168850
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Now in paperback—this acclaimed book from Norman Rosenthal, the New York Times–bestselling author and research psychiatrist, shows how life’s disappointments and difficulties provide us with the lessons we need to become happier and more resilient human beings. Winner of the 2014 Nautilus Award represents “Better Books for a Better World”—the Silver Award in the category of Heroic Journeys. Adversity is an irreducible fact of life. Although we can and should learn from all experiences, both positive and negative, bestselling author Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, believes that adversity is by far the best teacher most of us will ever encounter. Whether the adversity one experiences is the result of poor decision-making, a desire to test one’s mettle, or plain bad luck, Rosenthal believes life’s most important lessons—from the value of family to the importance of occasionally cutting corners—can be best learned from it. Running counter to society’s current prevailing message that “excellence” must always be aspired to, and failure or mistakes of any sort are to be avoided at all costs, Rosenthal shows that engaging with our own failures and defeats is one of the only ways we are able to live authentic and meaningful lives, and that each different type of adversity carries its own challenges and has the potential to yield its own form of wisdom. Using stories from his own life—including his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa, his years after suffering a violent attack from a stranger, and his career as a psychiatrist—as well as case studies and discussions with well-known figures like Viktor Frankl and David Lynch, Rosenthal shows that true innovation, emotional resilience, wisdom, and dignity can only come from confronting and understanding the adversity we have experienced. Even when life is hardest, there are meanings to be found, riches to be harvested, and gifts that can last a lifetime. Rosenthal illustrates his message through a series of compact, memorable chapters, each one drawn from episodes in the lives of his patients, colleagues, or himself, and concluded with a take-away maxim on the lesson learned.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0399168850
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Now in paperback—this acclaimed book from Norman Rosenthal, the New York Times–bestselling author and research psychiatrist, shows how life’s disappointments and difficulties provide us with the lessons we need to become happier and more resilient human beings. Winner of the 2014 Nautilus Award represents “Better Books for a Better World”—the Silver Award in the category of Heroic Journeys. Adversity is an irreducible fact of life. Although we can and should learn from all experiences, both positive and negative, bestselling author Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, believes that adversity is by far the best teacher most of us will ever encounter. Whether the adversity one experiences is the result of poor decision-making, a desire to test one’s mettle, or plain bad luck, Rosenthal believes life’s most important lessons—from the value of family to the importance of occasionally cutting corners—can be best learned from it. Running counter to society’s current prevailing message that “excellence” must always be aspired to, and failure or mistakes of any sort are to be avoided at all costs, Rosenthal shows that engaging with our own failures and defeats is one of the only ways we are able to live authentic and meaningful lives, and that each different type of adversity carries its own challenges and has the potential to yield its own form of wisdom. Using stories from his own life—including his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa, his years after suffering a violent attack from a stranger, and his career as a psychiatrist—as well as case studies and discussions with well-known figures like Viktor Frankl and David Lynch, Rosenthal shows that true innovation, emotional resilience, wisdom, and dignity can only come from confronting and understanding the adversity we have experienced. Even when life is hardest, there are meanings to be found, riches to be harvested, and gifts that can last a lifetime. Rosenthal illustrates his message through a series of compact, memorable chapters, each one drawn from episodes in the lives of his patients, colleagues, or himself, and concluded with a take-away maxim on the lesson learned.
Coming Back Stronger
Author: Drew Brees
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 1414346883
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 327
Book Description
When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team—and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again—coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 1414346883
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 327
Book Description
When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team—and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again—coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.
The Power of Hope
Author: Tony Ferrari
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
The Power of Hope is a collection of forty-eight case studies into the lives of some of the most influential people to have lived. This includes well-known figures like Christopher Reeve and Helen Keller, as well as lesser known figures like Victor Frankl and Jose Clemente Orozco. In all cases, our main protagonist is faced with a major challenge and has to decide, "Will I let this destroy me? Or will I use this as a catapult for my dreams?" True to the book's title, all forty-eight leaders choose hope over fear, and manage to turn life setbacks into setups for their success. Though these individuals hail from varying backgrounds, they are united in their resolve to overcome significant life setbacks. To this end, I hope that readers of this book take inspiration from these people, and become motivated to overcome their own challenges.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
The Power of Hope is a collection of forty-eight case studies into the lives of some of the most influential people to have lived. This includes well-known figures like Christopher Reeve and Helen Keller, as well as lesser known figures like Victor Frankl and Jose Clemente Orozco. In all cases, our main protagonist is faced with a major challenge and has to decide, "Will I let this destroy me? Or will I use this as a catapult for my dreams?" True to the book's title, all forty-eight leaders choose hope over fear, and manage to turn life setbacks into setups for their success. Though these individuals hail from varying backgrounds, they are united in their resolve to overcome significant life setbacks. To this end, I hope that readers of this book take inspiration from these people, and become motivated to overcome their own challenges.
Strength of a Champion
Author: O.J. Brigance
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 069814175X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
As the Baltimore Ravens made their improbable march to victory in Super Bowl XLVII, they turned to their senior advisor of player development, O.J. Brigance, for inspiration each and every Sunday. Following a stellar twelve-year career as a linebacker, including a Super Bowl win with Baltimore in 2000, O.J.Juice Brigance joined the Ravens front office. But in 2007, O.J. was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and told he had only three to five years to live. As a player, he'd battled hundreds of injuries and setbacks. None of them prepared him to face ALS. With faith and determination in his heart and his wife, Chanda, praying by his side, O.J. fought back against the debilitating disease, even as ALS robbed him of the ability to walk and speak. He kept working, smiling, and touching his players lives all the way through their remarkable Super Bowl run more than five years after his diagnosis. Now, O.J. shares his incredible story, offering lessons in resilience and reflecting on the championship team that inspired him in turn. Along with his own journey, O.J. recounts the struggles and successes of Ravens players, including Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and Torrey Smith, as well as the strength of head coach John Harbaugh. Having watched their season from the best seat in the house, O.J. highlights their perseverance, confidence, and leadership, and the best that sports can bring out in people. Full of profound revelations and never-before-told anecdotes, Strength of a Champion is a celebration of the human spirit from a man who left everything on the field. O.J. Brigance never asked to be a hero. That's what makes his story so courageous.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 069814175X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
As the Baltimore Ravens made their improbable march to victory in Super Bowl XLVII, they turned to their senior advisor of player development, O.J. Brigance, for inspiration each and every Sunday. Following a stellar twelve-year career as a linebacker, including a Super Bowl win with Baltimore in 2000, O.J.Juice Brigance joined the Ravens front office. But in 2007, O.J. was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and told he had only three to five years to live. As a player, he'd battled hundreds of injuries and setbacks. None of them prepared him to face ALS. With faith and determination in his heart and his wife, Chanda, praying by his side, O.J. fought back against the debilitating disease, even as ALS robbed him of the ability to walk and speak. He kept working, smiling, and touching his players lives all the way through their remarkable Super Bowl run more than five years after his diagnosis. Now, O.J. shares his incredible story, offering lessons in resilience and reflecting on the championship team that inspired him in turn. Along with his own journey, O.J. recounts the struggles and successes of Ravens players, including Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and Torrey Smith, as well as the strength of head coach John Harbaugh. Having watched their season from the best seat in the house, O.J. highlights their perseverance, confidence, and leadership, and the best that sports can bring out in people. Full of profound revelations and never-before-told anecdotes, Strength of a Champion is a celebration of the human spirit from a man who left everything on the field. O.J. Brigance never asked to be a hero. That's what makes his story so courageous.
Adversity Quotient
Author: Paul G. Stoltz
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0471344133
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 358
Book Description
Praise for Adversity Quotient. "With AQ, Paul Stoltz has done something remarkable: He synthesizes some of the most important information on how we influence our own future and then offers a profound set of observations which teaches us how to thrive in a fast-changing world!"-Joel Barker, President, Infinity, LTD, author of Paradigm Shift. "Adversity Quotient will show that you have more control over events than you think. The key is changing your beliefs. Believe it or not, that can usually be done in One Minute." -Ken Blanchard, co-author, The One Minute Manager. "Paul Stoltz's AQ explains why some people, teams, organizations, and societies fail or quit, and how others in the situation persevere and succeed. With this book, anyone or or organization can learn to reroute their AQ and hardwire their brain for success." -Daniel Burrus, author, Technotrends. "AQ is one of the more important concepts of our time. Paul Stoltz's book provides the direction and tools necessary for putting this idea into practice. It is a must read for anyone interested in personal mastery, leadership effectiveness and/or organizational productivity." -Jim Ericson, Program Director, The Masters Forum.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0471344133
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 358
Book Description
Praise for Adversity Quotient. "With AQ, Paul Stoltz has done something remarkable: He synthesizes some of the most important information on how we influence our own future and then offers a profound set of observations which teaches us how to thrive in a fast-changing world!"-Joel Barker, President, Infinity, LTD, author of Paradigm Shift. "Adversity Quotient will show that you have more control over events than you think. The key is changing your beliefs. Believe it or not, that can usually be done in One Minute." -Ken Blanchard, co-author, The One Minute Manager. "Paul Stoltz's AQ explains why some people, teams, organizations, and societies fail or quit, and how others in the situation persevere and succeed. With this book, anyone or or organization can learn to reroute their AQ and hardwire their brain for success." -Daniel Burrus, author, Technotrends. "AQ is one of the more important concepts of our time. Paul Stoltz's book provides the direction and tools necessary for putting this idea into practice. It is a must read for anyone interested in personal mastery, leadership effectiveness and/or organizational productivity." -Jim Ericson, Program Director, The Masters Forum.
The Adversity Hack
Author: Meg Poag
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
ISBN: 1632994208
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
What if you could experience more joy in your life and work through your challenges, so you wouldn’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again? In The Adversity Hack, CEO and leadership coach Meg Poag shares a powerful and effective personal development tool to help you shed the old beliefs that are holding you back and learn how to work to create real and positive change in your life. The system she introduces, called The Adversity Cycle, shows you how to begin to look at your circumstances with a fresh perspective and find a new way of moving through the world. This book offers practical, down-to-earth lessons that will take you on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. As you practice and apply the steps of The Adversity Cycle, you’ll start to see changes right away: Things that used to bother you suddenly lose their importance. You have increased capacity for other ideas and points of view. And old patterns and mindsets that have kept you back in the past no longer seem to have a hold on you. The Adversity Hack teaches you how to find balance and flow in your life by confronting the hard truths about your relationships, unfulfilled dreams, bad habits, and, ultimately, your ego-self. In using this essential life hack, you’ll make better decisions, get less upset by events throughout your day, and experience more joy and less pain—and you’ll know exactly how you want to live and what you need to do to get there.
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
ISBN: 1632994208
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
What if you could experience more joy in your life and work through your challenges, so you wouldn’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again? In The Adversity Hack, CEO and leadership coach Meg Poag shares a powerful and effective personal development tool to help you shed the old beliefs that are holding you back and learn how to work to create real and positive change in your life. The system she introduces, called The Adversity Cycle, shows you how to begin to look at your circumstances with a fresh perspective and find a new way of moving through the world. This book offers practical, down-to-earth lessons that will take you on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. As you practice and apply the steps of The Adversity Cycle, you’ll start to see changes right away: Things that used to bother you suddenly lose their importance. You have increased capacity for other ideas and points of view. And old patterns and mindsets that have kept you back in the past no longer seem to have a hold on you. The Adversity Hack teaches you how to find balance and flow in your life by confronting the hard truths about your relationships, unfulfilled dreams, bad habits, and, ultimately, your ego-self. In using this essential life hack, you’ll make better decisions, get less upset by events throughout your day, and experience more joy and less pain—and you’ll know exactly how you want to live and what you need to do to get there.
Bending Adversity
Author: David Pilling
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143126954
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
“[A]n excellent book...” —The Economist Financial Times Asia editor David Pilling presents a fresh vision of Japan, drawing on his own deep experience, as well as observations from a cross section of Japanese citizenry, including novelist Haruki Murakami, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, industrialists and bankers, activists and artists, teenagers and octogenarians. Through their voices, Pilling's Bending Adversity captures the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Japan. Pilling’s exploration begins with the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. His deep reporting reveals both Japan’s vulnerabilities and its resilience and pushes him to understand the country’s past through cycles of crisis and reconstruction. Japan’s survivalist mentality has carried it through tremendous hardship, but is also the source of great destruction: It was the nineteenth-century struggle to ward off colonial intent that resulted in Japan’s own imperial endeavor, culminating in the devastation of World War II. Even the postwar economic miracle—the manufacturing and commerce explosion that brought unprecedented economic growth and earned Japan international clout might have been a less pure victory than it seemed. In Bending Adversity Pilling questions what was lost in the country’s blind, aborted climb to #1. With the same rigor, he revisits 1990—the year the economic bubble burst, and the beginning of Japan’s “lost decades”—to ask if the turning point might be viewed differently. While financial struggle and national debt are a reality, post-growth Japan has also successfully maintained a stable standard of living and social cohesion. And while life has become less certain, opportunities—in particular for the young and for women—have diversified. Still, Japan is in many ways a country in recovery, working to find a way forward after the events of 2011 and decades of slow growth. Bending Adversity closes with a reflection on what the 2012 reelection of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his radical antideflation policy, might mean for Japan and its future. Informed throughout by the insights shared by Pilling’s many interview subjects, Bending Adversity rigorously engages with the social, spiritual, financial, and political life of Japan to create a more nuanced representation of the oft-misunderstood island nation and its people. The Financial Times “David Pilling quotes a visiting MP from northern England, dazzled by Tokyo’s lights and awed by its bustling prosperity: ‘If this is a recession, I want one.’ Not the least of the merits of Pilling’s hugely enjoyable and perceptive book on Japan is that he places the denunciations of two allegedly “lost decades” in the context of what the country is really like and its actual achievements.” The Telegraph (UK) “Pilling, the Asia editor of the Financial Times, is perfectly placed to be our guide, and his insights are a real rarity when very few Western journalists communicate the essence of the world’s third-largest economy in anything but the most superficial ways. Here, there is a terrific selection of interview subjects mixed with great reportage and fact selection... he does get people to say wonderful things. The novelist Haruki Murakami tells him: “When we were rich, I hated this country”... well-written... valuable.” Publishers Weekly (starred): "A probing and insightful portrait of contemporary Japan."
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143126954
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
“[A]n excellent book...” —The Economist Financial Times Asia editor David Pilling presents a fresh vision of Japan, drawing on his own deep experience, as well as observations from a cross section of Japanese citizenry, including novelist Haruki Murakami, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, industrialists and bankers, activists and artists, teenagers and octogenarians. Through their voices, Pilling's Bending Adversity captures the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Japan. Pilling’s exploration begins with the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. His deep reporting reveals both Japan’s vulnerabilities and its resilience and pushes him to understand the country’s past through cycles of crisis and reconstruction. Japan’s survivalist mentality has carried it through tremendous hardship, but is also the source of great destruction: It was the nineteenth-century struggle to ward off colonial intent that resulted in Japan’s own imperial endeavor, culminating in the devastation of World War II. Even the postwar economic miracle—the manufacturing and commerce explosion that brought unprecedented economic growth and earned Japan international clout might have been a less pure victory than it seemed. In Bending Adversity Pilling questions what was lost in the country’s blind, aborted climb to #1. With the same rigor, he revisits 1990—the year the economic bubble burst, and the beginning of Japan’s “lost decades”—to ask if the turning point might be viewed differently. While financial struggle and national debt are a reality, post-growth Japan has also successfully maintained a stable standard of living and social cohesion. And while life has become less certain, opportunities—in particular for the young and for women—have diversified. Still, Japan is in many ways a country in recovery, working to find a way forward after the events of 2011 and decades of slow growth. Bending Adversity closes with a reflection on what the 2012 reelection of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his radical antideflation policy, might mean for Japan and its future. Informed throughout by the insights shared by Pilling’s many interview subjects, Bending Adversity rigorously engages with the social, spiritual, financial, and political life of Japan to create a more nuanced representation of the oft-misunderstood island nation and its people. The Financial Times “David Pilling quotes a visiting MP from northern England, dazzled by Tokyo’s lights and awed by its bustling prosperity: ‘If this is a recession, I want one.’ Not the least of the merits of Pilling’s hugely enjoyable and perceptive book on Japan is that he places the denunciations of two allegedly “lost decades” in the context of what the country is really like and its actual achievements.” The Telegraph (UK) “Pilling, the Asia editor of the Financial Times, is perfectly placed to be our guide, and his insights are a real rarity when very few Western journalists communicate the essence of the world’s third-largest economy in anything but the most superficial ways. Here, there is a terrific selection of interview subjects mixed with great reportage and fact selection... he does get people to say wonderful things. The novelist Haruki Murakami tells him: “When we were rich, I hated this country”... well-written... valuable.” Publishers Weekly (starred): "A probing and insightful portrait of contemporary Japan."