What if you were given the ultimatum: Make a radical shift in your life, or lose it all?

This was the question Alan Deutschman posed in "Change or Die," his sensational cover story for the May 2005 issue of Fast Company. Surprisingly, Deutschman concluded that although we all have the innate capability—and fundamental need—to change our behavior, we rarely ever do. Against all warnings and reason, heart patients and smokers continue to lead dangerously unhealthy lifestyles, and many doomed companies stick to the same archaic business practices that routinely destine them for failure.

In this inspiring, revelatory book, Deutschman helps deconstruct and demystify five age-old myths about change, including: small, gradual changes are always easier to make and sustain, and we can't change because our brains become "hardwired" early in life. Introducing breakthrough research and progressive ideas from a diverse selection of medical, science, and business leaders, Deutschman demonstrates how to achieve lasting, revolutionary change. A powerful book with universal appeal, Change or Die addresses every sphere of life—from companies that must remake their corporate culture to survive, to individuals who must force 360-degree changes in their lifestyle or risk stagnation or even death. Each chapter also includes several emotional stories about real people who have succeeded or failed in their attempt to change—and why.

Change or Die is not about merely reorganizing or restructuring priorities; it's about challenging everyone to make drastic transformations in all aspects of life—changes that are positive, attainable, and absolutely vital.

Alan Deutschman is a senior writer at Fast Company and the author of two previous books, The Second Coming of Steve Jobs and A Tale of Two Valleys. He lives in San Francisco, CA.