Book Review of Necessary Endings review by Sharon Martin, LCSW
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Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward is a useful book by Henry Cloud. I highly recommend the book for anyone who is stuck in a relationship, job, etc. that isn’t working for them.
I did skip some of the early chapters that seemed a bit redundant. I found Dr. Cloud spent too much time at the beginning selling us on the idea that endings are both necessary and good. I guess I already accepted that idea. Dr. Cloud details the change process later in the book. I liked having concrete criteria on which to base a decision about whether to continue to be hopeful about change or whether the evidence is that the person/situation isn’t going to change.
I think this book should be required reading for managers/supervisors. He uses many examples from business. I also anticipate recommending the book to clients who are in unhealthy relationships, but unable to end them and emotionally move forward.