The Power of Partnership: Seven Relationships That Will Change Your Life

Riane Eisler knows a lot about struggle and growth. She's been a Jewish girl in Nazi Europe, an early advocate for women's equality in America, a world-renowned visionary scholar, and not least, a grandmother. Drawing on her experience, plus that of hundreds of other great souls, she presents the spiritual journey as a process of building and deepening relationships. It's a process of reaching over the boundaries between ourselves and others, and turning fear into partnership at each level of our lives. Eisler describes this journey like an elder telling real stories. First we grow to accept and love ourselves, and then to relate as a full partners in ever widening circles of creation -- to our families, communities, nations, to humanity, the planet, and the ultimate spirit underlying it all. In comparison with other maps of the human adventure, Eisler's goes far beyond the goal of psychological normalcy. And in describing the higher range of human potential she never imposes sectarian ideas or engages in mystical visions. You cannot tell what religious background she comes from, save that for her the quality of relationships is central. This book does more honor to the social dimension of spirituality than any other I've read. Giving it to a friend would be great.

This book chews on a big chunk of food for thought. But be forewarned. There are political generalities in The Power of Partnership that will please Progressives and turn off Conservatives. However, regardless of your leanings, read it anyway. Many of the greatest business minds use the power-of-partnership concept to maximize profits. Can we even count the number of effective partnerships that a wildly successful company like Microsoft has going for it? It's certainly hard to count all of Bill Gates' money. Understanding partnerships is definitely good for business. It's also good for much much more. Eisler insightfully guides us through seven key relationship areas that highlight the great value of building strong partnerships. This book may very well frustrate you, but it also might change the way you think about almost everything.

The Power of Partnership is a readable, "doable" book! It starts with the individual, moves to intimate relationships, relationships in organizations, workplaces, and communities. For all of life is relationships and until we learn how to live them out in a respectful (partnership) mode, we are stuck in the control (dominator) model.Eisler's guide at the end of each chapter tells us where to go from here: from thinking to next steps action and even more.Great for book study groups, peace and justice groups and even for an individual who is ready to take a leadership role, or even just one next step.

This book is inspirational and practical at the same time. As a therapist it is proving to be a powerful tool that helps my clients place what is going on in their lives in a greater context. This awareness facilitates the development of a wider range of choices about how to live their lives in a way that honors relationships and connectedness. Check lists at the end of each chapter which encourage the reader to begin making the changes that Eilser talks about in a step by step approach ease any anxiety about how to begin the process. I have found it an invaluable adjunct to the therapeutic process as well as a book I will refer to again and again for my own personal development.

"There are two basic types of relationships, explains Riane Eisler in "The Power of Partnership: Seven Relationships That Will Change Your Life." The "dominator model" is based on intimidation, while the "partnership model" is based on mutual respect. Most people have some of each in their lives, and Eisler explains how to effectively adopt partnership models for all relationships, whether with family, colleagues, the "international community" or with nature. Written in a simple, no-nonsense style, Eisler's book offers a new paradigm for looking at the way we interact with the world around us."...