Conflict surrounds us and, at times, consumes us. More then ever, we need to find ways to resolve conflict and communicate effectively. Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict is a collection of inspirational stories, practices, and reflections on conflict, communication, and relationship. It teaches us how to turn life’s challenges into life teachers. The book includes a foreword by Thomas Crum, author of The Magic of Conflict, Journey to Center, and Three Deep Breaths. In her workshops and writing, Ms. Ringer employs the martial art aikido as a metaphor and teaching tool. Aikido views the attack as a gift of energy. Unlikely Teachers applies the aikido metaphor to non-physical conflict—what we might call life's "attacks"—such as arguments, everyday hassles, and the more serious problems we all face at some point in our lives. By changing the way we think about what happens to us, we move from reaction to response, become more curious and engaged, and learn that we have more power than we think.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Worth Every Page. Comment: I found the book to be very useful in many business situations. My success in business depends on building relationships and I have benefited from the ideas presented in Judy's book. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to turn negatives into positives and lead a more productive and healthy life. Customer Rating: Summary: Kudos for Unlikely Teachers! Comment: Judy Ringer's "Unlikely Teachers", with it's wit and wisdom, is truly special. This book provides the opportunity to re-examine your relationships and daily encounters. Judy's passion is evident and engaging as she teaches us the power of centering and applies it to the difficult dance of human energies. Read and discover. Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent Conflict Book Comment: Judy Ringer's new book "Unlikely Teachers: Finding Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflicts" is a terrific book for those seeking to discover the magic that lies within every conflictual situation. Written with humility and filled with wonderful stories from the author's life and sprinkled with wonderful quotes from experts, "Unlikely Teachers" is a book that I'm likely to put in my carry-on bag for that quick emotional pick-me-up that we all need from time to time.
Throughout the book, the author provides simple and effective suggestions for the reader to practice. My favorite one (or, at least, the one I seem to need to practice more right now) is the "Thank-you-very-much Game" that Ms. Ringer describes on page 149.
Pop-psychology silliness to the contrary, managing conflict effectively is quite difficult, and I very much appreciated the author's honesty and courage in disclosing the simple fact that even though she has been practicing these skills for many years, "I still lose my center frequently. My buttons get pushed, I advocate instead of listen, and I take life way too seriously."
I highly recommend "Unlikely Teachers" to any interested reader. Thank you, Judy Ringer, for such a wonderful book! Customer Rating: Summary: A Best-Seller For Sure Comment: When I first starting reading Judy's book, I was having a bad day. My mood quickly changed after reading the Foreword and Preface...I hadn't even gotten to the Introduction yet!
Judy has such a soothing way with words, and her humor, although subtle, shines through and is very refreshing. This book really made me re-examine the ways I view and deal with conflict. The practices at the end of each chapter are great!
I highly recommend this book. It's a wonderful, insightful learning experience and a joy to read. Customer Rating: Summary: Basic lessons Comment: Reviewed by Nina Larson for Reader Views (8/06)
As a self improvement book I rate "Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Gifts in Daily Conflict" by Judy Ringer, 3 stars. However, as a book inspiring interest in Aikido, it goes to 4 stars.
"Unlikely Teachers" draws from Judy Ringer's time spent in a dojo learning and teaching Aikido. She uses these lessons as a speaker and seminar leader. I believe this book grew out of those inspirational and training seminars. As such, the book is very organized and each chapter and subchapter is self contained, yet connected to the next. Logical and yet while reading "Unlikely Teachers," I never lost that vision of teacher/ speaker in front of me. This "speaker" vision persisted, even during the Aikido stories that ground each chapter and subchapter and their lesson.
However, while I found the stories fascinating, the lessons are basic conflict resolution skills. So, her lessons are very helpful to someone new to conflict resolution, but a reminder otherwise. And while a reminder of the basics, starting with BREATH, is always useful, it doesn't inspire to read & re-read. She did attach those basic tenants to real life and dojo situations, and the pictures she drew were strong and humorous enough I that can still remember some of them a week later with a smile. I also liked quotes she included. Thanks to those quotes and the resource section in the back, I now have a couple more book titles to investigate. All in all though, this is a good starter book and a great inspiration to investigate Aikido.
I highly recommend this book to people new to conflict resolution or very experienced in conflict. I also recommend this book to students of any martial arts discipline. For Aikido students, it explains clearly how they can apply the dojo lessons to their life. And I would think people studying other types of martial arts would resonate with Judy's experience. It has the basic lessons that are key to peaceful and rewarding interactions with other people.
