The Half-Full Book Review: Seeing David in The Stone, by James B. and Joseph E. Swartz

It’s truly fitting that I chose to review “Seeing David in The Stone” for the 2007 JJL Love Affair With Books, because one of the core concepts of the book, about how 70 great leaders and thinkers achieved their successes, is what the authors call “powerful learning”.

Yes, learning – the process of acquiring and absorbing knowledge, is one of the 12 core actions that the authors identified as necessary to effectively recognize and successfully act upon opportunities.    Their 20 years of research examining the successes of people throughout human history, like Abe Lincoln, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Bill Gates, uncovered a consistent pattern of behavior, which they distilled into the 12 actions.

The learning comes in as part of the recognition process. As Francis Bacon is quoted in the book, “knowledge is power”. These successful people developed valuable expertise in their areas of success by targeted and effective learning. The authors call it “high-leverage” focus – the smallest amount of time to produce a maximum gain.

To be able to successfully achieve this type of learning, discipline of thought is certainly necessary – the book cautions us that the time we spend must be of high “quality”, free of distractions.  The ability to manage thoughts “one at a time” is considered critical. “The great ones”, say the authors, “could focus ---choose to have only valuable thoughts in their minds”.

A concept of “deep processing” is also introduced, and how the great ones were able to “process information deeper into their brains than less successful people did”. How?  By looking at the information from many different perspectives, by asking many questions about it, forming powerful mental images, and talking and writing about it often.

There was one other key ingredient too – passion.  We have to care about what we are learning.   This point resonated with me the most.  The best kind of learning occurs while in passionate pursuit of opportunity. There is quite an elegant simplicity to that.

What about the other 11 actions?  I’ll leave that to you to find out when you read the book, but suffice it to say that you will find them enlightening and useful.   

In the end, it’s still that passion, creativity and focus that allow us to see David in the Stone, just like Michelangelo did when he looked at that big piece of marble so long ago.  James and Joseph Swartz have done a great job of showing us how to put those three elements into action.

Enjoy this book!

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Terry Starbucker is an operations executive for a service company who lives in Connecticut, loves business trips to the Rocky Mountain west, and posts his musings and observations about "the optimistic side of the daily grind" in Ramblings from a Glass Half Full.  He's going to be at SOBCon07 in Chicago on May 11-12, and would really love to see you there.

Comments

[Rosa Say]

Ooooh, this one is a must-have! Terry, I’d first put this book on my wishlist after hearing about it from Dwayne Melancon at Genuine Curiosity (as I know you did), and now your review has propelled it to next-buy status for me – great review!

I love the phrase, “high leverage focus” and the way you describe “deep processing” here makes me think about how it can foster such open-mindedness, wading through our personal biases while learning.

A link to Dwayne's review for those interested:
http://www.genuinecuriosity.com/genuinecuriosity/2006/10/whats_inside_yo.html

[Blaine Collins]

Terry, this is sentence that struck me:

"By looking at the information from many different perspectives, by asking many questions about it, forming powerful mental images, and talking and writing about it often."

I sometimes think that a blog topic has to be new; that repetition is a bad thing. This sentences suggests that writing about the same subject matter (repetition), is valuable because it allows us to keep revisiting and learning about the topic. Great stuff.

P.S. Come on... just a hint about those other 11 core actions! :-)

[Steve Sherlock]

Thanks Terry! I agree that "passion, creativity and focus" is a key success determinant. I am curious about the other 11 so I geuss this book joins the "to be read" listing.

[Terry Starbucker]

Thanks Rosa, Blaine and Steve for your comments!

Rosa, let me know what you think of the book.

Blaine, I'll take you up on revealing one of the 11 - "find common meaning with and negotiate with opposers". I found this section very helpful in getting tips in getting everyone "on the bus", so to speak.

Steve, see my note to Blaine - you won't be disappointed with the other 10!

All my best to the three of you - thanks again for your support!

[Rosa Say]

Hmmm... when I came back here to read the new comments, it struck me that I truly wasn't left with curiosity about the "other 11." It's another of the fabulous things about JJL's ALAWB- the credibility of our reviewers and trust in their picks, knowing how much they read and had to choose from, is enough for me. Don't need the list.

On the other hand, if the other 11 are as insightful as the one you've already talked about Terry, this will be a book I return to again and again - with 'just one at a time' as a great approach for me.

[Blaine Collins]

Rosa's right that the added core action was not necessary, but I'm oh so glad you shared.

Ever have one of those days when you feel you are seeking something, then suddenly you find a pointer, which leads to a search, which leads to a discovery. "Find common meaning and negotiate."

Thanks for the pointer, Terry! The book is in my shopping cart.

[dave]

I feel exactly the same as Rosa about the other 11. And Rosa, I have such a visual of you "wading thru personal biases" :-)

I think the greatest complement that one can give to a reviewer is, "I gotta get that book."

Terry: I gotta get this book!

[Rosa Say]

Dave, it's a messy affair that "wading!" Take the link I offer with this comment and you'll see what Dean thought of it up close and personal ... I've been caught in the act.

[I eventually 'arrive' somewhere positive though...]

Terry, you may be propelling this book into JJL Book Clubbing status.

[Terry Starbucker]

Rosa, Blaine and Dave - this is so interesting; it was a conscious decision not to reveal that much of the book. I felt my role was not to provide the "Cliffs Notes" on this one. Sounds like I did the right thing! PS: It IS a good book! All the best.

[Chris Owen]

Discipline of Thought!
Oh Starbucker THAT sounds like hard work! Are you sure?
Alright if you say so! I'll trust you on this one!!

[james b swartz]

Terry, Thank you for the great review of our book.
When someone is kind to us we wonder what we can do to respond in kind.

Jim Swartz

[Terry Starbucker]

Thank YOU Jim for a book I truly enjoyed. I think there may be something that you could do to help the JJL cause; I'll send you an e-mail shortly with more details. In the meantime, all the best!