Possible by William Ury Summary
Overview of Possible
In "Possible," negotiation legend William Ury unveils transformative conflict resolution strategies tested at Harvard. Co-author of 15-million-copy bestseller "Getting to Yes," Ury's methods have prevented nuclear disaster and earned praise from "Good to Great" author Jim Collins. What's your impossible conflict?
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Key takeaways
From Impossible to Possible: The Art of Transforming Conflict
In a world increasingly fractured by conflict, William Ury's insights arrive like a beacon of hope. Drawing on fifty years mediating some of history's most challenging disputes - from Cold War nuclear tensions to Colombia's decades-long civil war - Ury presents a revolutionary framework for transforming seemingly impossible situations. The central question driving his life's work emerged in post-war Europe: How can we deal with our deepest differences without destroying what we hold dear? Today, with unprecedented polarization and many Americans fearing civil war, this question has never been more urgent. The problem isn't conflict itself - we need constructive conflict that challenges injustice and stimulates growth. Rather, it's how destructively we handle our differences. Like navigating rapids, the only way out is through - transforming conflicts from destructive fighting into productive negotiation. The path to possible consists of three interconnected victories that unlock our full human potential. First, "going to the balcony" represents a victory with ourselves - stepping back to gain perspective in heated situations. Second, "building a golden bridge" creates victory with others by establishing pathways from confrontation to cooperation. Third, "engaging the third side" achieves victory with the whole community by activating the surrounding social ecosystem to help transform conflict. These victories aren't separate steps but interconnected dimensions that work together. The balcony unlocks potential within us, the bridge unlocks potential between us, and the third side unlocks potential around us. This framework isn't just theoretical - it's been battle-tested in some of history's most intractable conflicts.
Going to the Balcony: The Power of Perspective
Building Golden Bridges Across Divides
The Power of the Third Side: Community Engagement
Unlocking Our Conflict Transformation Superpowers
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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