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Amazon Reviews

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11 of 13 people found the following review to be helpful:

Advice for all,  February 19, 2009

By Edgar H. Schein

I am reviewing my own book to let future readers know that this is advice and analysis for the general audience because we are all in the position of offering and receiving help of all kinds all the time. Giving directions, helping kids with homework, getting advice from a friend, taking care of a loved one all have to be understood and managed to insure that the help will be helpful.

8 of 9 people found the following review to be helpful:

"Helping" helped me to understand, at last.,  March 1, 2009

By Laurie Cook Johnson

Having read Edgar Schein's "Organizational Culture and Leadership", I assumed that "Helping" would follow that influential and enduring work. So,it was with pleasure that I discovered that "Helping" resembles a fascinating conversation with this thoughtful and compassionate scholar.

For anyone who has been a "helper", this book lays out the dynamics of the giving and receiving aspects of relationships on different levels. At a time when courtesy in our society is becoming something of a lost art, I urge you to read Dr. Schein's latest contribution and share it with others.

3 of 3 people found the following review to be helpful:

A helpful book,  March 17, 2009

By Diantha Millott

Being in a profession where I am employed to "Help" others, (Personal Trainer) it is easy to fall into the trap of just telling people what to do without really helping them. This book dissects our relationships with others, both professional and personal, in order to better understand how to approach them in a more productive way.

2 of 2 people found the following review to be helpful:

Helpful Information About Helping,  August 15, 2009

By Larry Underwood

Edgar H. Schein has compiled a helpful guide for those who have difficulty in mastering that somewhat tricky & misunderstood task of (a) giving help & (b) receiving help. Clearly, with personal egos that come into play, there are ways of engaging others in such a way to make the process go smoothly. Of course, so much of that is handled poorly, and good intentions are nullified; the end result is often total chaos.

Typically, people in business who receive "help" from someone who is potentially "career threatening" (aka the boss), may think there are hidden agendas that come into play, and wonder if that person is really trying to help; or set them up for a backstabbing attack. This is an unfortunate, but all too common scenario in many organizations. The key is being able to establish an environment of mutual trust and respect; that creates a common bond between all parties and the spirit of teamwork usually comes into play; the results are usually favorable.

Although the advice given in this book is somewhat pedestrian, it is based on good old-fashioned common sense; and there's not enough of that going on anywhere lately. This book certainly helps!

2 of 2 people found the following review to be helpful:

Toward a Deeper Understanding of Helping,  April 28, 2009

By Dennis Doverspike

Almost all of us have encountered the confusing situation where we offer someone help, but our offer of help is refused. Edgar Schein has written a new book entitled "Helping: How to offer, give and receive help." The book analyzes the difference between effective and ineffective helping across a whole range of human situations. In simple language, Schein explains why it is that help is refused. For example, it could be due to communication problems or the status differentials that helping creates. Schein's points are illustrated with numerous examples.

Edgar Schein is widely known for his seminal academic work on organizational development and corporate culture. He is a Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus and senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

The book should be helpful to anyone interested in the psychology of change and helping others. Given how ingrained helping is in our daily lives, it can really be though of as guide to living. I highly recommend his book. It should be mandatory reading for every Graduate Psychology program.