Chip and Dan Heath are back with a follow-up to their bestseller Made to Stick. Their newest release, Switch: How to change things when change is hard, hit bookstores earlier this week. I received an advanced copy in January and thought I would share my response.

Things the book does well. Switch
presents a three part model of personal and organizational change. The
model is based on decades of research on human behavior and is
rigorously researched without all of the dry, third-person academic
jargon. Switch uses lots of interesting case studies to illustrate how
the principles of the model play out in practice. Finally, Switch uses
“clinics” throughout to allow you to self-assess your ability to put
their model into practice.

Things that could be improved. If
you are expecting groundbreaking research on organizational change,
Switch does not provide this. It is a practical book written using
everyday language and metaphor for people who want to change their
situation or those who want to help others create change. This is not a
management book per se. Chip and Dan argue that their model of
emotional and rational motivation can be applied to personal,
relational, social, and business contexts. Thus, in some ways, Switch
tries to be all things to all people without digging deeply into any
one particular social context.

Overall, Switch translates the best of what
scientists know about human motivation for mass audiences. Despite its
simplicity, there is something appealing about Chip and Dan’s writing.
They are conversational, hopeful that difficult changes can occur with
the right approach, and engaging. Whether you are a parent with a
misbehaving teenager or the CEO of a boutique consulting firm, you will
find Switch memorable, useful, and fun to read.

Solving problems in today’s fast-paced world is
tough. Switch teaches to spend less time identifying and solving
problems, and more time copying success. If you’re still interested,
Switch is available for 50% off ($13 USD) today on Amazon.com Cheers!

Read more at www.drgroscurth.com.

Switch: Don’t Solve Problems–Copy Success | Fast Company.