Follow the Yellow Brick Road: HOW TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU ITS WORST Paperback – March 14, 2007

I enjoyed reading this book. It was in good condition when I got it (used). I would definitely recommend this seller. Just as described.

One of the most motivating and clear presentations of self-understanding for growth I’ve seen! Alibrando describes who we are in relation to others, offering everyday examples and strategies for change. I'll be recommending it.

I like the author's theories and the book conveys them well. As the title implies, his ideas are based on the book and the author, in my opinion, quotes from the book way too often. That's good, if you've never read the book. If you're familiar with the book, however, the author's frequent quotes gets boring. It is easy reading, though, and worth the time (and price) to learn from the author's experience and expertise. (The foregoing is just my opinion as a consumer. I am not licensed to practice nor have any expertise in any medical, psychological, physiological, or counseling field.)

As a psychologist who works with individuals and organizations, I often look for resources to share, and in this book, I found a gem, an emerald, even...This book takes the story and characters from the Wizard of OZ as examples of various aspects of ourselves and others, and builds a compelling and easy to understand method for becoming more effective. Each of the main characters from the movie represents important approaches to life (Scarecrow: thinking, Tin Man: emotional connection, Lion: courage, Dorothy: integration). I especially appreciated how Dr. Alibrando used the metaphors of the Wizard, (distractions or false hopes), and the Wicked Witch (the difficult, harsh, unwanted aspects of ourselves) to get at difficult and thorny aspects of personal development.What I most liked was how the book provides a psychologically sophisticated set of approaches and suggestions that are easy to grasp and put into practice. I found myself nodding in agreement while appreciating the clever way Dr. Alibrando made the theories of Karen Horney and Wilfred Bion so accessible and relevant.This book would be very useful for corporate training as well as personal development, as it is instantly relevant and has many examples of workplace behavior.All in all, a fun read that offers hope and help for people looking to be more effective in life and work (while they bring together all their strengths, melt their Bad Witches, and discover the true wisdom of their Wizards).

If you are interested in personal transformation… real growth as a person, then I highly recommend that you read this book. The author provides a framework for making a positive transition during the most challenging times of life, without being overly simplistic. The psychological journey that accompanies the most trying personal transitions are explored through the experience of Dorothy and her loyal companions along the Yellow Brick Road. The best part is, an easy-to-follow road map is presented for you to follow. Are you ready to make the journey, which IS the reward? If so, then read this and get ready to make the shift to a more aware, loving and courageous YOU!

When it was first suggested to me to read this book I did it with some resistance. But I was in a rough patch in my life and I was looking for some help understanding what was going on with me personally. Dr. Alibrando's book was frankly a nice surprise. It helped me understand dynamics of my own choices and relationships in a way that was not condescending and was indeed relevant to what I was going through. If you are interested in making changes in your life and deaing with the inevitable chaos that we all have to deal with, this is a great book to enable personal change. I learned that obstacles are inevitable but how we transverse those obstacles is not. I have a choice in the dynamics of my life and this book helped me recognize that. A great intelligent choice for personal growth.

This is a wonderful, easy read about how to think about leadership, management, and your own personal development. Sam presents a framework, using a fun and well-known story to bring a simple set of concepts to life. While you may be tempted to feel this is an over-simplification of a complex topic, you will find the "Move Toward, Move Away From, and Move Against" model is a very robust paradigm for thinking about dealing with people, managing complex issues, resolving conflict, and address significant challenges and opportunities.His examples are effective in helping you think of your own experiences and how to apply the model to your professional and personal interactions with others. Seeking balance is always a good thing, but Sam provides a simple set of guidelines for what that really means, and how that might change with different circumstances. Whether using this as a tool for a leadership team, a group of peers, or for your own personal growth, it will be time well invested.

This helpful book is rich with vignettes and character descriptions based on L Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was written over a century ago. Since most of us have seen the movie, The Wizard of Oz, we have a common language. Thus the frameworks that Dr Alibrando presents become an easily accessible foundation for insightful reflections that contribute to personal growth and positive interactions with others.Anyone facing a difficult situation will benefit from Dr Alibrando's colorful and inspiring role models. The lion's courage, the tin man's passion, and the scarecrow's awareness are guides for moving from crisis and chaos to success and satisfaction.The learning process he describes for developing communication skills during emotionally charged situations is particularly useful and relevant for both adults and children.The book is intended "to touch people where they live." It offers tools that support mastery and resilience in everyday life. The format is conducive to workshops and discussion groups. It includes questions and suggestions for "homework practice."