How to Change the World
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
We all want to live in a better world, but sometimes it feels that we lack the ability or influence to make a difference. John-Paul Flintoff offers a powerful reminder that through the generations, society has been transformed by the actions of individuals who understood that if they didn’t like something, they could change it. Combining fresh new insights from history, politics and modern culture, this book will give you a sense of what might just be possible, as well as the inspiration and the courage you need to go about improving and changing the world we live in.
One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012:
How to Stay Sane by Philippa Perry
How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric
How to Worry Less About Money by John Armstrong
How to Change the World by John-Paul Flintoff
How to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom Chatfield
How to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
It's easy to feel ineffectual amid the much-publicized exploits of the movers and shakers of the world, but broadcaster and journalist Flintoff (Comp: A Survivor's Tale) argues in this installment of the School Of Life series that anyone can make a difference. Using a range of real-life examples from the fall of the Berlin Wall ("when enough people came, the soldiers had to let them through") to the solitary stand of resistance by "Tank Man" in Tiananmen Square the author shows that the secret to making an impact isn't restricted to monumental acts of aid. Rather, Flintoff insists that people must align their passions and values with the greater good, brainstorm about ways to help, and plan ahead. The book also includes practical advice about how to get the most out of your charity dollars, and an appendix of "198 Ways to Act" (excerpted from Gene Sharp's The Politics of Nonviolent Action) will provide plenty of fodder for conversation between burgeoning activists. The optimistic approach is refreshing, but in an attempt to reach a wide audience, Flintoff tends to water down his prescriptions and advice. Still, as a first push toward directing one's energies outward, this is an encouraging primer. Photos.
