The listed books offer many different approaches to coaching. None is applicable to all clients. Each is useful for particular clients. By becoming familiar with many of them, a coach will be able to work successfully with a wide array of people. If you re interested in reading only a few, I recommend the following in the order listed:

1. Educating the Reflective Practitioner, Donald Sch n

2. The Path of Least Resistance, Robert Fritz

3. Shambhala, Ch gyam Trungpa

Adams, James L. The Care and Feeding of Ideas. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1986.

A primer in fostering and supporting creativity and innovation.

Anderson, Nancy. Work with Passion. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 1984.

A practical guide, replete with exercises and examples, that directs the reader in finding a career of passion and purpose.

Argyris, Chris. Overcoming Organizational Defenses. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1990.

The author is a founder of the organizational development discipline. He explains how it s possible for very intelligent people to come together in a group and have their intelligence cut in half. Additionally, he presents many examples of how organizations populated by well-meaning people protect themselves from change. From his own experience, he recommends ways to overcome the defenses.

Beckett, Liana, and Stephanie Covington. Leaving the Enchanted Forest. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988.

A text intended to break the spell that romantic love has cast over many people in our culture. Contains useful exercises. (See also Solomon: About Love .)

Bradshaw, John.