Connect

Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues

By: David Bradford Ph.D., Carole Robin Ph.D.

Narrated by: David Bradford Ph.D., Carole Robin Ph.D.

A transformative guide to building more fulfilling relationships with colleagues, friends, partners, and family, based on the landmark Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy-Feely”) course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business

“Carole Robin and David Bradford are masters at helping people bring IQ and EQ together to satisfy both and be successful.” (Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater and author of Principles: Life and Work)

The ability to create strong relationships with others is crucial to living a full life and becoming more effective at work. Yet many of us find ourselves struggling to build solid personal and professional connections or unable to handle challenges that inevitably arise when we grow closer to others. When we find ourselves in an exceptional relationship - the kind of relationship in which we feel fully understood and supported for who we are - it can seem like magic. But the truth is that the process of building and sustaining these relationships can be described, learned, and applied.

David Bradford and Carole Robin taught interpersonal skills to MBA candidates for a combined 75 years in their legendary Stanford Graduate School of Business course Interpersonal Dynamics (affectionately known to generations of students as “Touchy-Feely”) and have coached and consulted hundreds of executives for decades. In Connect, they show listeners how to take their relationships from shallow to exceptional by cultivating authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty, while being willing to ask for and offer help, share a commitment to growth, and deal productively with conflict.

Filled with relatable scenarios and research-backed insights, Connect is an important resource for anyone hoping to improve existing relationships and build new ones at any stage of life.

*This audiobook includes a PDF of graphics and appendices.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 David Bradford (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“It’s never been clearer that meaningful relationships are critical to a fulfilling and healthy life. Connect shows us that by learning to connect with ourselves we can more easily build thriving relationships.” (Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global)

“Connect offers a compelling and highly accessible road map for building relationships that lead to professional success and personal fulfillment. I highly recommend this book.”(Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and co-author of Blitzscaling and The Alliance)

“Carole and David’s classes have been an invaluable resource - what a gift to have their insights and lessons in a book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to feel happier and more fulfilled, and to anyone who wants a better, smarter future for our world.” (Dr. Jennifer Aaker, co-author of Humor, Seriously and The Dragonfly Effect)

WOW

This is a fundamental book on interpersonal relationships. I found it very helpful in improving my communication skills during times of conflict. But there are so many other great bits in this book that will help you become a better person and build better relationships whether they be personal or professional! A+

interesting content

Every chapter in this book offers thought provoking content and I found it to be useful in both my personal and professional relationships

Sanjay

It was districting from the good content by the over use of the name Sanjay. But it was good that the narrator voice switched back and forth.

Substance, Story, Vulnerability

I enjoyed Connect for its substance, storytelling, and the vulnerability displayed by the authors. Thank you!

Excellent content

This book is full of indispensable lessons! Along the way while listening, I have noticed a positive change in how I’m navigating conflict. This book is one for the personal toolkit.

Connected taught me how to really belong

I have many relationships; friends from childhood, business relationships, coworkers, family, etc. While I have been blessed in this area, I still felt very alone. Connected taught me to take those relationships much deeper, and turn them into dependable and life changing connections. If it weren’t for the teachings in this book, I never would have seen those around me as their true authentic selves, and they were have never seen me. Because of its impact, I am buying this book for all of my employees and family so they can have the same teachings. Thank you Carole and David for sharing your life’s work with the world.

Great book with poor choice of narration style

The material presented in this book is very informative, nothing new but can be useful for many but it seems it does repeat a simple concept too many times within the chapters making the chapters longer than necessary.
I found the constant voice switching in the narration between the authors rather annoying and at some cases unlistenable as i had to skip chapters going from calm and soothing male voice to high pitch fast reading coauthor’s female voice did not sit well with my ears.
There is an huge contrast in the delivery of the narration between them, and when as a listened you build a certain relationship with a voice to absorb the materials better, and then it changes few minutes later that triggers one tinnitus has made this audiobook unlistenable after a few chapters for me, again this might not be an issue for anyone else.

Life changing

They manage to put into words the necessary skills to develop and maintain robust friendships. I would recommend this to anyone.

The most wisdom per word

I highly recommend this book to everyone who communicates with other humans. So, pretty much everyone. The best book that helps you explore and understand the art of connectivity on all levels.

great content, had to adjust the speed

This book contains lots of marvelous learnings; I intend to listen again to make sure I get it all. It's performed by the authors/instructors, trading off sections. Dr. Bradford's delivery and pace were very slow and hard to follow until I increased his sections to 1.2x speed, which I recommend.