The Appreciative Organization (2008) Revised edition.
by Harlene Anderson, David Cooperrider, Ken and Mary Gergen, Sheila McNamee, Jane Magruder Watkins and Diana Whitney

In the original version of this book the founders of the Taos Institute pooled their substantial resources to create a vision of a powerful and humanly nourishing form of organization and to share practices for bringing this organization into being. Today, The Appreciative Organization has been revised and updated. Based on the authors' diverse experiences in organizational life, they are unanimous in their view that the appreciative construction of meaning is essential to the efficacy of an organization and the fulfillment of its participants. In clear and direct language, the volume treats the challenges of decision making, leadership, group functioning, personnel evaluation, and the relationship of the organization to its context. Bold ideas are developed, examples described, and multiple suggestions developed for creating the appreciative organization. The revised edition of the book builds upon the ideas, concepts and characteristics of the Appreciative Organization. Now included in the book is a section on helpful resources, a chapter on “valuation”, and much more. You will want to add this new “gem” to your personal library. This volume will be of special significance to consultants and organizational members who wish to see the key elements of appreciative inquiry realized in the everyday working of the organization.

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$14.95 plus shipping and handling (volume discounts at Shopping Cart)
ISBN: 

Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Approach to Building Cooperative Capacity (2005)
by Frank J. Barrett and Ronald E. Fry

The purpose of this book is to provide a concise introduction to and overview of the growing discipline and practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). While the literature on AI is expanding rapidly with texts, handbooks, and case studies, the authors, Drs. Barrett and Fry feel there is a strong call for a "quick read" that will assist curious change agents or leaders in determining if they are interested in learning more about this rapidly expanding field of theory and practice. If you are intrigued by the prospect of mobilizing rapid, positive change with multiple stakeholders in a human system that is important to you, this book is for you.

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$19.95 plus shipping and handling
Paperback, 128 pages, ISBN: 0-7880-2163-X
13-digit: 978-0-7880-2163-3

Dynamic Relationships: Unleashing the Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Daily Living (2005)
by Jacqueline M. Stavros & Cheri B. Torres; foreward by David Cooperrider

Creating positive dynamics and sustained success requires continuous awareness and informed appreciative action. Dynamic Relationships: Unleashing the Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Daily Living invites us to step into the appreciative paradigm where the principles governing our actions and relationships offer a means for increased value and meaning in our lives and our communities of work and play. Dynamic Relationships offers us the opportunity to practice these principles through cycles of reflection and action in ways that empower us to become a force for creating and sustaining life-affirming relationships and success in daily living.

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$18.95 plus shipping and handling
Paperback, 171 pages, ISBN: 0-9714416-6-9
13-digit: 978-0-9714416-6-8

CLICK HERE to download a PDF info sheet on this book; you will need Acrobat Reader to view the PDF.

Social Construction: Entering the Dialogue (2004)
by Kenneth J. Gergen and Mary Gergen

Ken and Mary Gergen present an account of social constructionist thought that will enable students, colleagues and practitioners - as well as those who are simply curious - to gain a basic understanding and appreciation of the drama of constructionist ideas in action - in organizations, psychotherapy, education, conflict resolution, social research, and everyday life. This book outlines in an easy to read format, the underlying theory for the Taos Institute's work and mission in the world.

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110 pages; $16 plus shipping and handling (volume discounts at Shopping Cart)
ISBN: 0-7880-2127-3
13-digit: 979-0-7880-2127-4

Appreciative Sharing of Knowledge:
Leveraging Knowledge Management for Strategic Change (2004)
by Tojo Thatchenkery

True knowledge sharing in organizations occurs less regularly than most of us think. What can be done to help create a system in which people share the internal "know-how" unique to each organization? In this contribution to change management, Tojo Thatchenkery describes a brand new methodology called Appreciate Sharing of Knowledge [ASK] and provides a step-by-step tool kit for anyone interested in knowledge management. Using the most recent research, Thatchenkery shows how "appreciation" is the missing link in facilitating knowledge sharing. By systematically and intentionally creating an appreciative climate in organizations, leaders and practitioners can deal with change with least resistance and leverage the "tacit knowledge" that is essential for competitive advantage. Written in lucid, jargon-free language, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the most recent approaches to dealing with change and creating a robust knowledge management architecture in organizations.

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124 pages; $19.95 plus shipping and handling (volume discounts at Shopping Cart)
ISBN: 0-7880-21-37-0
13-digit: 979-0-7880-2137-3

Appreciative Leaders: In the Eye of the Beholder (2001)
Edited by Marge Schiller, Bea Mah Holland, and Deanna Riley

This 200-page volume presents a model of Appreciative Leadership based on twenty-eight interviews, fifteen of which are included in the book. This small but comprehensive sample reveals the outstanding characteristics of appreciative leaders and their predominant behavioral attributes. The ways appreciative leaders engage in their daily practices are outlined in detail. "This is a landmark book, " according to Jane Watkins, an originator of Appreciative Inquiry. "It is an invaluable contribution to the literature that addresses the critically important question: What kinds of leaders will shape the radically different organizations called for by our constantly changing environment?" Appreciative Inquiry leader, David Cooperrider writes, "Appreciative modes of management may be to our new self-organizing systems what deficit or problem-oriented methods have been to command-and -control bureaucracies."

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$19.95 plus shipping and handling (volume discounts at Shopping Cart)
ISBN: 0-9712312-0-6
13-digit: 978-0-9712312-0-7

Experience AI: A Practitioner's Guide to Integrating Appreciative Inquiry and Experiential Learning (2001)
by Miriam Ricketts and Jim Willis of Executive Edge, Inc.

This volume invites you to share in a conversation around the power and efficacy of embedding experiential learning models, tools and techniques into appreciative inquiry in order to accelerate positive change, motivate teams and individuals, generate buy-in and engage people at all levels. By sharing and learning from experience, people attain the high levels of rapport, empathy, trust and mutual understanding necessary to risk and embrace change together. When integrated into each stage of an Appreciative Inquiry, Experiential Learning supports and illuminates the AI process, making AI "come alive" for all stakeholders. When designed into an AI process, experiential learning allows participants to actually experience "the best of what exist" (Discovery), creates opportunities for organizational "peak experiences" (Dream), provides opportunities to experience, practice and refine provocative propositions (Design), and builds critical mass as change is cascaded throughout the community (Destiny).

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$14.95 plus shipping and handling (volume discounts at Shopping Cart)
ISBN: 0-9712312-2-2
13-digit: 978-0-9712312-2-1