Ensemble!

by Jeff Katzman, Dan O'Connor (Author, Reading)

Listening Length: 7 hours and 35 minutes

Using the Power of Improv and Play to Forge Connections in a Lonely World

Drawing on a combined expertise in psychiatry and improvisational theatre, the authors show readers how improv can be the perfect antidote to loneliness and isolation.

In Life Unscripted, psychiatrist Jeff Katzman and actor Dan O'Connor taught us how improv skills can boost confidence, foster growth, and transform one's life. In their new book, Ensemble!, the authors take the next step in exploring the benefits of improv. We are living more disconnected and isolated lives than ever before, with loneliness reaching epidemic proportions. Ensemble! is about becoming unlonely. It's about becoming present to our relationships, deepening them, and creating new ones. Drawing on a combination of narrative improvisational theatre and reflective functioning, mindfulness, mentalizing, and emotional regulation, the authors have created a system they call Ensembling, which uses improv skills as a tool for forging new connections with others. The skills explored in this book can help readers to build a vital life ensemble and come to experience a new connection to our larger community. Ensembling shows us a way to develop self-awareness, empathy, compassion, and attention to the dynamics present in all human interaction. Core concepts such as work, creativity, taking an active stance, embracing adventure and risk, and developing active focus can show us the way to connect with others more actively and more meaningfully. The perfect antidote to loneliness, this book is a roadmap to living an authentic, fulfilled, and interconnected life.

Genres: Nonfiction

8 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so awesome. It is about making connections in the world. Each chapter is very well explained and it has a takeaway page tp recap. What I learned from this book is that we all want to feel like we belong, and this can be different for each person and their interests. We need to be attuned to ourself and understand some one else's perpective also. It is good to show empathy to others and we must be vulnerable (which some people cannot do) with one another to be good together. The art of give and take is very important which I have found to be true in my life. What I have a hard time in life is when an unexpected curveball comes along. I am living in a new place with new family so finding someone who has known me a long time is hard, and I am not sure who I can reach out to. But I am trying to learn to get through hard times and move forward in life. This is a hard thing to learn. We need to keep our sense of who we are. This is a very informational book.

[Caroline Brassard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankly surprising. Well researched , insightful, deep analysis of what it means to be ‘ensemble’ together and how improvisation games are useful ways to reconnect with our selves, our family, friends, and our community. A must for anyone who has some basic knowledge of improvisation and North American culture, as there are many references to the 1990s amd 2000s. I really enjoyed this book and gave it five stars because I want to read it again. So much in the book which can be overwhelming, so I recommend to read it slowly, almost like a reference book.

[Trista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obligatory notice that I got this from a Goodreads Giveaway.

This book is a masterfully written look at how the basic principles of improv theater can be applied to improve relationships in all aspects of life, even for someone with no improvement experience.

Between real world examples and easy to follow takeaways and checklists, this is a fantastic book for anyone looking to improve how they relate to others.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute but i didn't get much out of it