This is a terrific and innovative glimpse at how improv techniques can work in other venues. I am really interested in making this work in my classroom, particularly when trying to engage students at the small-group and discussion-oriented levels. I would also like more collaborative efforts in the workplace and in my church. I think that if we worked TOGETHER as an ensemble, instead of pitting our interests against others', who knows what we may accomplish? This book has given me so much to think about. ( )

I love Second City TV - who isn't terrified of the 3D House of Pancakes? Ooooh, scary!" - but who knew I was building valuable leadership and management skills while cracking up at Rick Moranis and John Candy. Improv is awesome and being good at improv - not just being funny - is a valuable skill for project managers and lawyers.

Anyway, a good book. What would be better is to actually practice improv. Take some improv - it will improve your personal skills. Really. Or just watch 3D House of Pancakes -- and Bob and Doug: Great White North. ( )

√ Improv Method for Creative Breakthroughs

I confess that YES, AND really surprised me. The ideas are far more relevant than I would have ever imagined.

The theme of this book is to use comedy improv training to help people become more creative, more innovative, more open to other ideas. In comedy improv, they call the practice of building up on another person's start the "Yes, And" approach. By using this approach "creative breakthroughs occur in environments where ideas are not just fully explored, but heightened and stretch two levels that might seem absurd at first."

In our work life, when we work in groups, we try to be more willing to listen and to build up on the others ideas. At Second City, the performers did not become great by working as a soloist; instead, they did it by learning to work in groups. The authors call this habit, "The importance of the ensemble." Second city realized after a half of century of doing comedy, that "dialogues push stories further than monologues."

One of the more interesting ideas in this book is the idea of "Follow the follower." What this means is that a group is free to allow any member to be the leader for a time that is when his or her expertise is particularly needed.

There is one part of this book--right at the very end, that is worth the price of admission alone. It is a list of tips on how to communicate with people better. Here's a few:

♠ Look people in the eye when you meet them.
♠ Smile.
♠ Don't check your text or email when someone else is talking. (Oh that one hits too close to home.)

The authors include an appendix that are actually exercises based on the routines of Second City. There is also an extensive NOTES section. as well as an. index.

√ All in all, YES, AND was a surprising book. The ideas suggested are unique and practical. I believe many of the suggestions are worth trying. Highly recommend.

Note: Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss. I do not know the author of this book and no one asked me to write a positive review. Heck, they were too cheap to even give me any free Second City tickets.
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