What 10 most important and must-read books (old and new) would you recommend Wings for Wisdom to set free?

This should be done by keeping in mind that our goal is to allow the content of those books to accelerate the learning of concerned world citizens toward creating a just and sustainable world. We should also put emphasis on the kind of books that have profound educational values for the general public and layman readers. For the near future, we shall concentrate only on books written in english, as english is the de facto international language, is increasingly being mastered by the youngs of the world, and can easily be translated to other languages.

Please list the books in order of importance and provide a brief explanation of what each book is about and why you consider it important and a must-read. Don't forget to write the name of the author, the publisher info and the year of publication (hint: google for info from amazon.com). From this exercise of group thinking, we shall then make a summary of 100 most important books and select the top 10 books as our pilot project. This means that we shall focus our efforts in setting free the content of those 10 books, using a method we shall then consider to be a win-win solution, if not to call it no-one-loses solution, for all stakeholders in the great enterprise of educating humanity.

If you would like to recommend more than 10 books, please feel free to do so, but do it as if the top 10 books on your list will be the ones that must be set free for everyone to learn from. Please use the following template to write the list of your recommended books (No. 1 on the list being the most important book.). If you don't have the time to complete the info for each book, just write the book title and author name, keeping in mind the order of importance.

1. "" by , ()



2. "" by , ()



3. etc. .....


for example:


1. "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization" by Thomas Homer-Dixon, Island Press (2006)

This is a book that explains comprehensively in an easy to understand language about the impending structural stresses signaling the potential breakdown of the world civilization as we know it today. Using metaphors and examples from our daily lives, it grounds the world impending crisis to our day-to-day experience. After describing the grave dangers facing our world, it offers a ray of hope that catastrophe can be the key to the renewal of our civilization. Catastrophe can bring about the kind of civilization that reflects our best ideals. I recommend this book because I consider it to be the most accessible and comprehensive book I know of today that layman readers can read with great interest and understanding. It is a door to understand the real reality of our world. And understanding is key in changing our world for the better.


2. "Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century" by Alex Steffen, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (2006)

This 600-page companion to the eco-friendly website of the same name (www.worldchanging.com) is chock-a-block with information about what is going on right now to create an environmentally and economically sustainable future-and what stands in opposition. Along the way, editor Steffen and his team make the stakes perfectly clear: "Oil company experts debate whether we will effectively run out of oil in twenty years or fifty, but the essential point remains: if you're under thirty, you can expect to see a post-oil civilization in your lifetime." The organization of the hefty volume mimics that of the website, divided into sections on Stuff, Shelter, Cities, Community, Business, Politics and Planet. Typical readers will be introduced to new concepts such as harvesting rainwater, zero-energy houses, South-South science and the use of flowers to detect land mines in entries on everything from "Knowing What's Green" to "Demanding Human Rights." Each entry is brief but comprehensive; for example, the passage on "Better Food Everywhere" focuses on "Where it Matters Most," "Better Restaurants," "Community Gardens," and "Urban Farming." All entries wrap up with reviews of pertinent resources-including books, websites and moves-where readers can get more detailed information. With color photos on nearly every page, and written by a small army of contributors living and working around the world (with biographies almost as fascinating as their contributions), it's hard to imagine a more complete resource for those hoping to live in a future that is, as editor Steffen puts it, "bright, green, free and tough." (This review is taken from the Amazon.com's page of the book)

I believe this book would be a perfect fit with book No.1. In the way that, "The Upside of Down" provide a thorough analysis of the problems of our world, and "WorldChanging" provides a thorough solutions of those problems. Rarely does two books complements each other so nicely. (this paragraph is my opinon of the book)


3. "What Should I Do with My Life?" by Po Bronson, Random House (2002)

In this elevated career guide, Bronson (Bombardiers; The Nudist on the Late Shift) poses the titular question to an eclectic mix of "real people in the real world," compiling their experiences and insights about callings, self-acceptance, moral guilt, greed and ambition, and emotional rejuvenation. Bronson crisscrosses the country seeking out remarkable examples of successful and not-so-successful people confronting tough issues, such as differentiating between a curiosity and a passion and deciding whether or not to make money first in order to fund one's dream. Bronson frames the edited responses with witty, down-to-earth commentaries, such as those of John, an engineer whose dream of building an electric car crumbled under his personal weaknesses; and Ashley, a do-gooder burdened by the unlikely combination of self-hatred and a love for humanity. Bronson wants to understand what makes these people-among them a timid college career counselor trapped in his job, a farmer bullish on risk-taking, a financial expert grabbing an opportunity to rebuild her brokerage firm devastated by the World Trade Center tragedy and a scientist who rethinks his lifelong work and becomes a lawyer-tick. He occasionally digresses, musing on his own life too much, and frequently hammers points home longer than necessary, but neither of these drawbacks undercuts the book's potency. The "ultimate question" is a topic always in season, worthy of Bronson's skillful probing and careful anecdote selection. Brimming with stories of sacrifice, courage, commitment and, sometimes, failure, the book will support anyone pondering a major life choice or risk without force-feeding them pat solutions. (From Publishers Weekly, quoted in Amazon.com's webpage of the book)

This book is important because I think it provides the most realistic guide on knowing ourself and finding ourplace in the world. So many people are craving for meaning in their lives and feel disoriented by the complexity of our world. Combined with "The Upside of Down" and "WorldChanging", it could provide an intellectual, moral and spiritual potion that could heal minds, hearts, actions and lives and guide each of us towards our rightful place in healing a world in crisis. (this paragraph is my opinon of the book).


4. etc..... (I will finish my list later on, but these three would definitely made it to the top 10 of my list).


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Remember that though completing the publication info and book summary is a good exercise of group thinking and important to set the foundation for the group's future activities, if that's too much for you, just write the book title and name of the author, keeping in mind the order of importance. Million thanks!

I'll come back to flesh these out and add to the list, Bowo.

1) Process and Reality by Alfred North Whitehead, Corrected Edition, edited by David Ray Griffen and Donald W. Sherburne, Free Press, a Division of Macmillan Publishing Co, Inc., copyright 1978

The core of Whitehead's thinking. Groundbreaking philosophy that opens the mind.

2) The Ages of Gaia by James Lovelock, Oxford University Press, copyright 1988

This book introduces the idea of the Earth as a living organism from a scientific point of view. It has important insights about carbon dioxide that apply to the Global Warming problem.

3) Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, Beacon Press, copyright 1976

The book that all of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) read, that Martin Luther King read, that underpinned the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. in the 50's and 60's. Dr Thurman was challenged on his visit to India -- why are you a Christian? That is the religion of the black man's slave masters. You are a black man. Why have you adopted their religion? You should be a Muslim where you will be accepted. This book is Thurman's answer, and a good one, too.

First draft of List - will flesh out laterwhen I have more time.
... ahh there are so many...

1. "Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker
2. "Escape from Evil" by Ernest Becker
3. "Guns Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond
4. "In Dubious Battle" by John Steinbeck
5. "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller, Jr
6. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
7. "Consilience" by EO Wilson
8. "Cradle to Cradle" by William McDounough
9. "The Future of Money" by Bernard Lietaer
10. "Why sex is fun" by Jared Diamond

... There are a ton of wonderful Noam Chomsky books
While long past copy write: Darwin's Origin of Species - I consider a must read - a deep understanding of runaway evolutionary processes seems especially important today.

Here's my 10. After thinking about it, rather than a list of best books, I find mine to be a list of the best sequential combination of books in the process of my self-education. They cover first and foremost history, philosophy and religion, as I think these three subjects are the foundation of any man's and any civilization's wisdom in progressing through time (No 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The list then covers more concrete and real-life challenges in (1) and solutions (8, 9, 10) for our present predicament.

But in keeping with the list of best books, I ordered my list as the following, putting our concrete and real-life challenges as the first on the list, and the great task of education on my 10th. So here they are in brief, and with full explanations afterwards:

1. "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization" by Thomas Homer-Dixon, Island Press (2006)

2. "The Lessons of History" by Will and Ariel Durant, Simon and Schuster (1968)

3. "The Story of Philosophy" by Will Durant, Pocket (January 1, 1991)

4. "The Way Things Are - conversations with by Huston Smith on the spiritual life" by Phil Cousineau, University of California Press (2003)

5. "Gandhi: All Men are Brothers" by Sri Krishna Kripalani, UNESCO World Without War Publications (1958).

6. "A Calendar of Wisdom" by Leo Tolstoy, Scribner (October 14, 1997)

7. "What Should I Do with My Life?" by Po Bronson, Random House (2002)

8. "Voluntary Simplicity - Towards a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, and Inwardly Rich" by Duane Elgin, Quill (Revised Edition, 1993. Origionally published in 1981)

9. "Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century" by Alex Steffen, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (2006)

10. "Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment and the Human Prospect" by David W. Orr, Island Press; REV edition (July 30, 2004)

Before the details, I'll tell you a little secret: I don't have, and haven't read book no (1) and (9) due to changing personal financial situations in the past two years. But I believe these two are or will be among the most important books for me. There are other books that I know must surely be very important such as Ervin Laszlo "Macroshift: Navigating the Transformation to a Sustainable World", of which I have no means of access other than reading reviews of the book and interviews of the author over the internet for now.

That is also one of the reason I started Wings for Wisdom. So others don't have to stop learning their way to lead a better and wiser life, and also to make the world a better and wiser one, just because they have no money to access such books. We must find a way to overcome this through Wings for Wisdom and other complementary methods.

So here's the fleshed out version:

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1. "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization" by Thomas Homer-Dixon, Island Press (2006)

This is a book that explains comprehensively in an easy to understand language about the impending structural stresses signaling the potential breakdown of the world civilization as we know it today. Using metaphors and examples from our daily lives, it grounds the world impending crisis to our day-to-day experience. After describing the grave dangers facing our world, it offers a ray of hope that catastrophe can be the key to the renewal of our civilization. Catastrophe can bring about the kind of civilization that reflects our best ideals. I recommend this book because I consider it to be the most accessible and comprehensive book I know of today that layman readers can read with great interest and understanding. It is a door to understand the real reality of our world. And understanding is key in changing our world for the better.

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2. "The Lessons of History" by Will and Ariel Durant, Simon and Schuster (1968)

Written as a kind of summary to their renowned 11 volumes of "The Story of Civilization", this book was made in the hope to "illuminate present affairs, future probabilities, the nature of man, and the conduct of states." On the book's introduction they wrote about this book, "It is a precarious enterprise, and only a fool would try to compress a hundred centuries into a hundred pages of hazardous conclusions. We proceed." With a glorious legacy and a humble beginning, they fill the pages of this book with witty commentary on the course of human history for each of us to learn. Though a bit old, most, if not all of their insights are very relevant to our predicament today. Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

"Human history is a brief spot in space, and its first lesson is modesty." (Chapter 1: History and the Earth)

"History is a fragment of biology: the life of man is a portion of the vicissitudes of organisms on land and sea." (Chapter 2: Biology and History)

"A knowledge of history may teach us that civilization is a co-operative product, that nearly all peoples have contributed to it; it is our common heritage and debt; and the civilized soul will reveal itself in treating every man or woman, however lowly, as a representative of one of these creative and contributory groups." (Chapter 4: Race and History)

"We conclude that the concentration of wealth is natural and inevitable, and is periodically alleviated by violent or peacable partial redistribution. In this view all economic history is the slow heartbeat of the social organism, a vast systole and diastole of concentrating wealth and compulsive recirculation." (Chapter 8: Economics and History)

"The fear of capitalism has compelled socialism to widen freedom, and the fear of socialism has compelled capitalism to increase equality. East is West and West is East, and soon the twain will meet." (Chapter 9: Socialism and History)

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3. "The Story of Philosophy" by Will Durant, Pocket (January 1, 1991)

There is no pre-requisite to the enjoyment of philosophy, and there is no pre-requisite to the Story of Philosophy. Simply bring a mind that is famished for an injection of joy. "That is very good; but there is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers than all these trees and stones, and even all those stars; there is the mind of man. What is man, and what can he become?" (Durant summarizing Socrates)

Philosophy is the night that you looked up at those 100 billion stars and 100 billion galaxies and realized that you were beginning to ask the right questions. "To know what to ask is already to know half." (Durant summarizing Aristotle) Philosophy is the one great conversation in your past that echoes in every conversation since. When will that time come again? "All excellent things are as difficult as they are rare." (Durant summarizing Spinoza)

That phenomenon of wonder will return when you open the "Story of Philosophy". A further taste of Durant's warming liquor:

"Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art; it arises in hypothesis and flows into achievement."

"How many a debate would have been deflated into a paragraph if the disputants had dared to define their terms."

"Political science does not make men, but must take them as they come from nature."

"The chief condition of happiness, barring certain physical prerequisites, is the life of reason--the specific glory and power of man."

"We often forget that not only is there a soul of goodness in things evil, but generally also a soul of truth in things erroneous." (summarizing Spencer)

"In ourselves, memory is the vehicle of duration, the handmaiden of time; and through it so much of our past is actively retained that rich alternatives present themselves for every situation. As life grows richer in its scope, its heritage and its memories, the field of choice widens, and at last the variety of possible responses generates consciousness, which is the rehearsal of response... Free will is a corollary of consciousness; to say that we are free is merely to mean that we know what we are doing." (summarizing Bergson)

"Sensation is unorganized stimulus, perception is organized sensation, conception is organized perception, science is organized knowledge, wisdom is organized life: each is a greater degree of order, and sequence, and unity." (summarizing Kant)

"The real church is a community of people, however scattered and divided, who are united by devotion to the common moral law." (summarizing Kant)

Within one year of the original printing (1926), the work found its way onto the nightstands of the scholarly and the coffee tables of the middle-class. It inspired a flood of "Story of ..." books whose words are now lost to the past. It was, and still is, the primary text for many university philosophy curricula. For those who have read it, Story of Philosophy is probably their "trapped on a desert island with one book" selection. That the work remains in print and in demand three generations later is a testament to the author and to the subject... both mighty fine creations.

Durant's approach is linear in time, but immense in breadth. Beginning with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, we are not only granted access to their treasure chests of wisdom, we are also given insights into the men. Durant introduces the era before he introduces the philosopher, for humanity inspires humanity, and these giants have benefactors of their own. Durant considers history as important an aspect of philosophy as metaphysics, and here he shines with a polished historian's touch (see Will Durant - "Story of Civilization").

How many of these men have you missed in the crowd of history? And how many days will pass before you make their acquaintance? What will your future be like once you hold their wisdom in your hands? Durant believes it will be a far richer one.

The Story of Philosophy actually contains more summary than quote, and we would normally cringe at such an announcement. Only the bravest of souls would wade into the brine of further philosophical precis. But Durant is the encapsulation of the finest teachers you have met in this lifetime, and his abridgements multiply the reader's comprehension while encouraging cross-referencing with the originals, making the entire experience savory and thoroughly digestible. Durant is the rare case of a man who can interpret wisdom and also construct it anew. The result is maybe the highest ratio of wisdom-to-words of any book in the Library of Humanity.

(From a review by C. Galtenberg in Amazon.com)

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4. "The Way Things Are - conversations with by Huston Smith on the spiritual life" by Phil Cousineau, University of California Press (2003)

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that he would gladly walk 100 miles through a snowstorm for one good conversation. Fortunately, readers don't have to trudge through a blizzard or even leave their armchairs to listen in on these 22 fascinating conversations with renowned religious scholar Huston Smith. Kudos to editor and accomplished author Cousineau (The Art of Pilgrimage) for gathering these interviews that span more than 30 years. Readers will find themselves ravenously eavesdropping on captivating discussions, such as Smith's humorous story of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time or his soothing anecdote of how he became spiritually reconciled to the death of his eldest daughter to cancer. When Smith speaks about religious violence, his insight could be relevant to any era of humanity: "First of all, my persuasion is what really breeds violence is political differences. But because religion serves as the soul of community, it gets drawn into the fracas and turns up the heat." Indeed, a lifelong career of studying the world's religions has made him especially gifted in illuminating the dialogues that are timeless. As a result, his conversations touch upon many Big Questions: what is the meaning of God? Where do science and religion meet? How can we teach children about the sacred in everyday life? Why do we move toward the light? Incidentally, Cousineau's stunning preface is worth the price of admission alone. (From Amazon.com)

"Beware of the blindness to the unity that binds us." For Huston Smith, the wisdom of religion is a unifying force that holds the world together. (From the book's Introduction).

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5. "Gandhi: All Men are Brothers" by Sri Krishna Kripalani, UNESCO World Without War Publications (1958).

A great teacher appears once in a while. Several centuries may pass by without the advent of such a one. That by which he is known is his life. He first lives and then tells others how they may live like-wise. Such a teacher was Gandhi. These Selections from his speeches and writings compiled with great care and discrimination by Sri Krishna Kripalani will give the reader some idea of the workings of Gandhi's mind, the growth of his thoughts and the practical techniques which he adopted.

'All my actions have their rise in my inalienable love of mankind.' 'I have known no distinction between relatives and strangers, country-men and foreigners, white and coloured, Hindus and Indians of other faiths whether Mussulmans, Parsees, Christians or Jews. I may say that my heart has been incapable of making any such distinctions.' 'By a long process of prayerful discipline I have ceased for over forty years to hate anybody.' All men are brothers and no human being should be a stranger to another. The welfare of all, sarvodaya, should be our aim. God is the common bond that unites all human beings. To break this bond even with our greatest enemy is to tear God himself to pieces. There is humanity even in the most wicked.'

We live in an age which is aware of its own defeat and moral coarsening, an age in which old certainties are breaking down, the familiar patterns are tilting and cracking. There is increasing intolerance and embitterment. The creative flame that kindled the great human society is languishing. The human mind in all its baffling strangeness and variety produces contrary types, a Buddha or a Gandhi, a Nero or a Hitler. It is our pride that one of the greatest figures of history lived in our generation, walked with us, spoke to us,
taught us the way of civilized living. He who wrongs no one fears no one. He has nothing to hide and so is fearless. He looks everyone in the face. His step is firm, his body upright, and his words are direct and straight. Plato said long ago: 'There always are in the world a few inspired men whose acquaintance is beyond price.'

(From the book's Introduction)

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6. "A Calendar of Wisdom" by Leo Tolstoy, Scribner (October 14, 1997)

Tolstoy's last major work reflects his desire to proselytize the moral faith and ideals he struggled to put into practice in his later years. Tolstoy believed that reading daily from the world's great literature was imperative for both his own spiritual edification and that of his readers, so he set himself the task of gathering a wide range of wisdom for every day of the year. He translated, abbreviated, and in many cases expressed entirely in his own words these "quotations" from diverse sources such as the New Testament, the Koran, Greek philosophy, Lao-Tzu, Buddhist thought, and the poetry, novels, and essays of both ancient writers and contemporary thinkers. An important book now released in English for the first time. (Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"I cannot understand how some people can live without communicating with the wisest people who ever lived on Earth? . . . I feel very happy every day, because I read this book." (Leo Tolstoy)

"To create a book for the masses, for millions of people . . . is incomparably more important and fruitful than to compose a novel of the kind which diverts some members of the wealthy classes for a short time, and then is forever forgotten. The region of this art of the simplest, most widely accessible feeling is
enormous, and it is as yet almost untouched."

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7. "What Should I Do with My Life?" by Po Bronson, Random House (2002)

In this elevated career guide, Bronson (Bombardiers; The Nudist on the Late Shift) poses the titular question to an eclectic mix of "real people in the real world," compiling their experiences and insights about callings, self-acceptance, moral guilt, greed and ambition, and emotional rejuvenation. Bronson crisscrosses the country seeking out remarkable examples of successful and not-so-successful people confronting tough issues, such as differentiating between a curiosity and a passion and deciding whether or not to make money first in order to fund one's dream. Bronson frames the edited responses with witty, down-to-earth commentaries, such as those of John, an engineer whose dream of building an electric car crumbled under his personal weaknesses; and Ashley, a do-gooder burdened by the unlikely combination of self-hatred and a love for humanity. Bronson wants to understand what makes these people-among them a timid college career counselor trapped in his job, a farmer bullish on risk-taking, a financial expert grabbing an opportunity to rebuild her brokerage firm devastated by the World Trade Center tragedy and a scientist who rethinks his lifelong work and becomes a lawyer-tick. He occasionally digresses, musing on his own life too much, and frequently hammers points home longer than necessary, but neither of these drawbacks undercuts the book's potency. The "ultimate question" is a topic always in season, worthy of Bronson's skillful probing and careful anecdote selection. Brimming with stories of sacrifice, courage, commitment and, sometimes, failure, the book will support anyone pondering a major life choice or risk without force-feeding them pat solutions. (From Publishers Weekly, quoted in Amazon.com's webpage of the book)

This book is important because I think it provides the most realistic guide on knowing ourself and finding ourplace in the world. So many people are craving for meaning in their lives and feel disoriented by the complexity of our world. Combined with other books in the list, especially "The Upside of Down" and "WorldChanging", it could provide an intellectual, moral and spiritual potion that could heal minds, hearts, actions and lives and guide each of us towards our rightful place in healing a world in crisis. (this paragraph is my opinon of the book).

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8. "Voluntary Simplicity - Towards a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, and Inwardly Rich" by Duane Elgin, Quill (Revised Edition, 1993. Origionally published in 1981)

This book, a gift from a friend, was a simple read - I am surprised by some of the reviews that confuse the thoughts in here with Marxism, since I didn't find much of that. In fact, Elgin's book is filled with quotes from world religions, citing the reasons we truly need to live a simpler life. I sat reading this book, surrounded with my stacks of books and clothing - "things" I do not need but want - and can afford to get. Halfway through reading, I felt supported in my firm desire (and so far feeble efforts) to continue unloading my home of excesses while downsizing my "wants."

Elgin offers this support in a gentle and convincing way - he offers no directions, for he says "Because simplicity has as much to do with each person's purpose in living as it does with his or her standard of living, it follows that there is no single, "right and true" way to live more ecologically and compassionately." His goal is to move his readers to live more simply because it makes more sense, not because we are told we 'should' do so, or because it is a trend. He hopes to move us from within. He offers compassionate, thoughtful reasons to live with less "things."

It makes more sense, according to Elgin, for the good of the planet, of other human beings, of our children's future, of our own quality of life, now. And the reasons are many - not economical OR spiritual OR environmental OR community - but any and all of those (a reader can focus on one that moves the individual) He offers information on ways of thinking and acting that lead to a simpler life, and though I fall way short in my own actions and behaviors, I never felt judged. I did feel moved. In his final section on revitalization, he offers ideas for how we might make simplicity happen. Most of what he says I liked, though I'm not fond of his idea that "voluntary" changes in consumption would be made if a higher tax was applied to "luxury goods, gasoline, alcohol and cigarettes." While that might make changes, they would certainly not be "voluntary." However, that is one small suggestion, not a fixed line. I especially liked his People Living the Simple Life chapter, with bits from people who found easy ways to simplify their lives. This book goes on my gift list for friends who need encouragement, not specific 'how-to directions', in living the simpler life.

(From a review by Dale A. Blanchard at Amazon.com)

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9. "Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century" by Alex Steffen, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (2006)

This 600-page companion to the eco-friendly website of the same name (www.worldchanging.com) is chock-a-block with information about what is going on right now to create an environmentally and economically sustainable future-and what stands in opposition. Along the way, editor Steffen and his team make the stakes perfectly clear: "Oil company experts debate whether we will effectively run out of oil in twenty years or fifty, but the essential point remains: if you're under thirty, you can expect to see a post-oil civilization in your lifetime." The organization of the hefty volume mimics that of the website, divided into sections on Stuff, Shelter, Cities, Community, Business, Politics and Planet. Typical readers will be introduced to new concepts such as harvesting rainwater, zero-energy houses, South-South science and the use of flowers to detect land mines in entries on everything from "Knowing What's Green" to "Demanding Human Rights." Each entry is brief but comprehensive; for example, the passage on "Better Food Everywhere" focuses on "Where it Matters Most," "Better Restaurants," "Community Gardens," and "Urban Farming." All entries wrap up with reviews of pertinent resources-including books, websites and moves-where readers can get more detailed information. With color photos on nearly every page, and written by a small army of contributors living and working around the world (with biographies almost as fascinating as their contributions), it's hard to imagine a more complete resource for those hoping to live in a future that is, as editor Steffen puts it, "bright, green, free and tough." (This review is taken from the Amazon.com's page of the book)

I believe this book would be a perfect fit with book No.1. In the way that, "The Upside of Down" provide a thorough analysis of the problems of our world, and "WorldChanging" provides a thorough solutions of those problems. Rarely does two books complements each other so nicely. (this paragraph is my opinon of the book)

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10. "Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment and the Human Prospect" by David W. Orr

"Much of what has gone wrong with the world is the result of education that alienates us from life in the name of human domination, fragments instead of unifies, overemphasizes success and careers, separates feeling from intellect and the practical from the theoretical, and unleashes on the world minds ignorant of their own ignorance." (David W. Orr)

"The problem of education, as opposed to the problem in education, can be attributed in large part to the fact that all too often schools, colleges, and universities have been uncritically accepting of, and sometimes beholden to, larger economic and political forces. Not always, not everywhere, and not anywhere all of the time, but all too often." (David W. Orr)

"Students learn, without anyone ever telling them, that they are helpless to overcome the frightening gap between ideals and reality." (David W. Orr)

"Those now being educated will have to do what we, the present generation, have been unable or unwilling to do: stabilize world population; stabilize and then reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, which threaten to change the climate, perhaps disastrously; protect biological diversity; reverse the destruction of forests everywhere; and conserve soils. They must learn how to use energy and materials with great efficiency. They must learn how to utilize solar energy in all of its forms. They must rebuild the economy in order to eliminate waste and pollution. They must learn how to manage renewable resources for the long run. They must begin the great work of repairing, as much as possible, the damage done to the earth in the past 200 years of industrialization. And they must do all of this while they reduce worsening social and racial inequities. No generation has ever faced a more daunting agenda." (David W. Orr)

"We must realize, however, that the crisis we face is first and foremost one of mind, perception, and values; hence, it is a challenge to those institutions presuming to shape minds, perceptions, and values. It is an educational challenge. More of the same kind of education can only make things worse. This is not an argument against education but rather an argument for the kind of education that prepares people to care for each other and for the greater community of life, and that prepares people for lives and livelihoods suited to a planet with a biosphere that operates by the laws of ecology and thermodynamics." (David W. Orr)

The author begins by establishing the grounds for a debate about education and knowledge. He describes the problems of education from an ecological perspective, and challenges the "terrible simplifiers" who wish to substitute numbers for values. He follows with a presentation of principles for re-creating education in the broadest way possible, discussing topics such as biophilia, the disciplinary structure of knowledge, the architecture of educational buildings, and the idea of ecological intelligence. Orr concludes by presenting concrete proposals for reorganizing the curriculum to draw out our affinity for life.

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Here is another one for me - this makes 5 so far, I think.

A Force More Powerful, A Century of Nonviolent Conflict by Peter Ackerman and Jack Duvall, St Martin's Press, copyright 2000

This is the bible for 20th century nonviolent movements, showing the power of an aroused citizenry that yet refuses to take up arms.