My New Book

Mon Sep 1 11:11:39 PDT 2008

Barry,

That  was a wonderful thing you wrote!

Henri

       On n'entend bien qu'avec le coeur
        L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux

On Sep 1, 2008, at 1:43 PM, Barry Owen wrote:

> Of course - No bias here . . .
>
> Over the years, I have collected every book Dad (Harrison) has  
> written begining with Spirit (Which sat on the shelf for @ 5 years  
> before I actually read it to understand). I agree with anyone who  
> charges "Same thing - Different book" but every book is better than  
> all the ones before. The message was pure from the start - and has  
> just gotten simpler and more "practical" through the iterations.
>
> After all, the difficulty for mose people is the concept that Open  
> Space is more descriptive than prescriptive . . . It's not something  
> that the "Practitioner" DOES to an organization . . . It's a simple  
> way to "remember" who we are and that we are all subject to the  
> fundamental "Law of self Organization".
>
> I just finished reading "Wave Rider" (I got a "boot-leg"  
> version) . . . and WOW!
>
> This book brings a level of understanding that is (I believe) as  
> complete as it could be - This is a summation of the "evolution of  
> the understanding of Open Space" and actually captures the true  
> essence of what many of us theorized (years ago) of the potential  
> for Open Space. We all knew of the power - and could see the  
> validity of "Living in Open Space" . . . We could imagine what it  
> would look like for an organization to operate IN Open Space all the  
> time . . . and we could dream of the "High Play - High Achievement"  
> environment this could create.
>
> and we all are "out here" practicing Open Space in a variety of ways  
> and applications - and I speak for myself when I say that Open Space  
> changed my life in a VERY powerful way when I finally released my  
> need to be in control and began noticing the power of organic self- 
> organization.
>
> I think I'm writing mare than necessary . . . Suffice it to say that  
> this book is nothing short of wonderful . . . and that I will be  
> buying a case of'm and distributing them to every "person of  
> influence" in my world including executives and educators . . .  
> along with a note that says: "MUST READ"
>
> I know that each book that Dad Writes is his "Final Book" . . . I  
> hope he keeps on writing because the books are only getting  
> better . . . and I can see his truly final book . . . It's a very  
> simple paperback book - Perhaps entitled something along the lines  
> of "The True Essence of Open Space" . . . with @ 175 BLANK pages.
>
> Dad, I am SO proud of you!
>
> Love,
>
> b
>
> --
> Coaching REALTORS to Success and Balance!
>
> Barry Owen
> Principal Broker & Productivity Coach
> Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills
> 30 Burton Hills Blvd STE 175
> Nashville, TN 37215
> 615.568.2123
> Skype: barryo06
> http://www.theowengroup.net
> Visit my consumer BLOG @ www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com/
> REALTOR Blog @ www.activerain.com/barryo
>
> Keller Williams Realty is a learning-based training & Consulting  
> company supporting our REALTOR partners by offering business models,  
> systems, tools, & support to Build Careers WORTH having, Businesses  
> WORTH Owning, and Lives Worth Living!
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
> On September 12, 2008, Berrett-Koehler will publish my new book,  
> Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self Organizing  
> World. As I explained to my publisher, Steve Piersanti, this is the  
> book I have been waiting to write because it represents my final  
> report on my participation in a grand natural experiment.
>
> The experiment, of course, is that ridiculously simple way to  
> elegant gatherings, Open Space Technology. As you may know, the  
> creation of OST was not a labor intensive activity. In fact it  
> appeared in my mind on the strength of two martinis in the time it  
> took to drink them. That was 23 years ago, and in the intervening  
> period millions of people from 134 countries have discovered that if  
> you will sit in a circle, create a bulletin board, open a market  
> place, and go to work -- some fairly incredible things are likely to  
> happen. Massively complex issues can be dealt with in amazingly  
> short periods of time. Intense conflict can find useful paths of  
> resolution. And it seems to happen all by itself. There are even  
> recorded cases where the sole facilitator took a nap!
>
> I have no way of knowing what all these people thought about their  
> experience, but I found it profoundly mystifying. How could  
> something so simple do so much? Considered against the dominant  
> theory and practice of organization and meetings, such things not  
> only could not happen, they should not happen. But it did and it does.
>
> Over time it occurred to me that the magic was not Open Space  
> Technology, but something infinitely more powerful and profound: the  
> elemental force of Self Organization. For whatever reason, I have  
> had a lifetime fascination with the great cosmic dance of chaos and  
> order. My 1965 thesis could have born the title, “Chaos, Order, and  
> the Creative Process,” for that was the central theme. As the  
> evolving science of chaos and complexity matured I found myself  
> mesmerized by the elegant insights of the physicists, chemists and  
> biologists who were pushing that frontier – particularly when they  
> identified the phenomenon of self organization as a critical player.  
> It all seemed so counterintuitive -- and disturbingly compelling  
> when it occurred to me that something of the same sort could be  
> happening every time we sat in a circle and created a bulletin  
> board. But they were doing High Science, a! nd we j ust convening  
> meetings. And that is where that funny thing called OST became a  
> natural experiment for me.
>
> The question was: If the primal force of self organization lay at  
> the heart of the Open Space experience could we learn to leverage it  
> for our benefit and align our endeavors with its massive power? I  
> think the answer is yes, not just as a theoretical possibility but  
> in very practical ways which might enhance our performance and  
> expand our possibilities in this turbulent, confusing and wonderful  
> world. In a word, we might learn to surf the waves of primal power  
> to become Wave Riders.
>
> The book comes in two parts. The first states the case, and Part II  
> makes the application. If your predilection is theoretical start at  
> the beginning and read forward. On the other hand, if your  
> preference is practical, skip Part I and head straight for Part II:  
> The Wave Rider’s Guide. I make no pretence that this is the “final  
> word” -- indeed I hope it is but a beginning. But it will get you  
> started, and the rest is up to you.
>
> For a preview, go to http://openspaceworld.com/waveriders.htm; you  
> will find the Introduction to the book giving you an outline of  
> direction and content.
>
> If you want the book, Amazon.com is ready. Go to --
> http://www.amazon.com/Wave-Rider-Leadership-Performance-Self-Organizing/dp/1576756173/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220216204&sr=1-3
>
> If you really want to dive in, we will be doing a series of programs  
> around the world. The fun is just beginning! I have done my “Final  
> Report” but the really good part is up to you. Where do we go from  
> here? And only you can say. You will find an outline of the program  
> at http://openspaceworld.com/wave%20rider%20program.htm. This  
> program will be offered in Europe, Asia and the North American  
> Continent. Dates and places will be listed athttp://openspaceworld.com/dates%20and%20places.htm
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
> Harrison Owen
> 189 Beaucaire Ave
> Camden, ME 04843
> 207-763-3261 (Summer)
> 301-365-2093 (Winter)
> Website www.openspaceworld.com
> Personal Website www.ho-image.com
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>
>
>
>
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