The Accordion Player is a compelling account of a remarkable life—an unvarnished view of a man whose decision to recognize the value of change and creative conflict allowed him to love. His story reveals the enduring human ability to turn possibility into reality.
Review by Prof. Yesha Sivan
I just finished listening to the life story of Professor Ichak Adizes. His book is like sitting down for several coffee meetings with the man himself. Each chapter is both interesting and thought-provoking, and each one contains several lessons.
The reader gets a front-row seat to 20th-century history through Adizes’ eyes. He was a Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust, and his story is full of courage, resilience, and hope. He also shares his experiences as a Muslim, doctor, leader, and communist. The latter part of the book is about change and managing change, and it is full of lessons for individuals, families, and organizations.
I took away several key ideas from Adizes’ book, including the importance of leadership, development, and love. He argues that leaders need to balance the four functions of leadership: production, efficiency, innovation, and people. He also emphasizes the importance of personal development, and he provides a number of tools and techniques for helping people grow and change. Finally, Adizes argues that love is the most important force in the world, and he provides a number of examples of how love can overcome adversity.
I highly recommend Adizes’ book to anyone interested in learning more about leadership, development, and change. It is a fascinating and inspiring story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. — Prof. Yesha Y. Sivan
“My heart was in a cage. My life was a long struggle to find happiness, to overcome fear, and to find love I had lost. I did not give up, and that is what my story is about.” — Dr. Ichak K. Adizes