In recent decades we have witnessed the creation of communication systems that promise unparalleled connectedness. Now is the time to unleash our collective creativity—social as well as technological— and develop the communication systems that promote community and civic innovation and engagement to address serious challenges like climate change and environmental degradation.

Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution brings together a multitude of ideas and suggestions from a variety of perspectives including activism and social change, education, community informatics, governance, media, development, information science, economics, journalism, arts and culture.

Inspired by the vision and framework outlined in Christopher Alexander's classic 1977 book, A Pattern Language, the book presents a pattern language containing 136 patterns designed to meet current challenges. It proposes a new model of social change that integrates theory and practice by showing how diverse information and communication based approaches can be used to address local as well as global problems.  Each pattern is a template for research as well as social critique and action. And each pattern is linked to other patterns into a single coherent whole.

The pattern language was developed collaboratively with nearly 100 co- authors using an online pattern language management system. The patterns from the book are all online as are approximately 300 other patterns in work.

The goal was to create an intriguing and informative catalog of intellectual, social, and technological innovations, a practical manual for citizen activism, and a compelling manifesto for creating a more intelligent, sustainable, and equitable world.

Selected Endorsements:

"If we keep following the well-trodden paths that have brought us to where we are, we'll never get to where we want to go. Schuler and his colleagues believe that we can get out of these ruts, and better yet, they tell us how. This work goes beyond elections and demonstrations, beyond cynicism and business as usual. It asks the much deeper
questions: what kind of a world do we want and what must we do to get there? Schuler and his colleagues show us that another world is possible and invite everybody to the project. I say, 'Let's get going.'"

—Jerry Greenfield, co-founder, Ben & Jerry's

"In this wide-ranging analysis of the role of information in society, Doug Schuler proposes a grand theory that weaves together disparate information and communication activities into an organized, synergistic fabric. He taps into the collective wisdom of citizens— both theorists and advocates—to develop a pattern language that can be used as a framework for rethinking how we build community and create a more humane, equitable future."

—Nancy Kranich, Former President, American Library Association, author of Libraries & Democracy

"It's a wonder no one has attempted this monumental project before! 
Doug Schuler and his collaborators have produced a visionary manual rich in insights and directly useful in any attempt to connect people and information technologies in the quest for real democracy. This is a crucial book for our time."

—Langdon Winner, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute