The Quickening of America
Rebuilding Our Nation, Remaking Our Lives
Frances Moore Lappé and Paul Martin Du Bois
Reviews
“Democracy, Lappe and Du Bois argue, can solve real-life problems and ‘bring new meaning and effectiveness into our lives [if it] becomes not simply what we have, but what we do.’ In their accessible, emphatically interactive volume, they challenge debilitating myths about democracy, public life, self-interest, and power; describe experiments in practical democratic problem solving at work—in the media, in human services, in government, and in education; and discuss the one-on-one skills (active listening, creative conflict, mediation, and negotiation) and the skills for use in group settings (political imagination, public dialogue, public judgment, celebration and appreciation, evaluation and reflection, and mentoring) that are essential elements in building a ‘culture of democracy.’ In the face of widespread doubt and despair about the future, The Quickening of America offers the encouraging suggestion that, with little fanfare, “regular Americans are applying the lessons we all need to learn in order to create the lives we want . . . and a country that works.”
-- Mary Carroll, in Booklist
`"I highly recommend Quickening as an extremely useful and practical guide. It reaffirms that personal and social change are intertwined; that each of us counts; that our lives do make a difference; and that, through involvement and by developing our skills, we can make an even greater difference.’’ -- Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, president and founder, National Rainbow Coalition
“An antidote to cynicism ... an essential ‘how-to’ manual for anyone interested in translating values into positive results.”-- Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s
“One of the few truly optimistic books about the state of the country today. The book is as much a storehouse of life-changing ideas that work as a you-take-charge manual on how to understand economics, power, teamwork, the media, corporate strategies and ‘living democracy.’ In their accessible, emphatically interactive volume, Lappe and Du Bois challenge debilitating myths about democracy, public life, self-interest, and power; discuss the one-on-one skills (active listening, creative conflict, mediation, and negotiation) and the skills for use in group settings (political imagination, public dialogue, public judgment, celebration and appreciation, evaluation and reflection, and mentoring) that are essential elements in building a ‘culture of democracy. The Quickening of America is as urgent and important as any book published in years but, unlike many, it is also of real use to ordinary people.’’
-- Jonathon Kozol, author of Savage Inequalities
“Fascinating stories and insights from Americans who are learning that democracy is about much more than what happens in Washington. Lappe and Du Bois reveal a new practice of democracy as citizen problem solving in our schools, communities, and workplaces. A powerful antidote to despair, hard hitting yet hopeful.’’ -- Henry Cisneros, secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development
“In The Quickening of America I learned how to move with power, effectiveness, and good humor beyond self-imposed limits.... We regular people can and must make history.’’-- Randy Hayes, director, Rainforest Action Network
“After years of listening to regular women and men at the grassroots, the authors have distilled hundreds of inspiring success stories into a unique `how-to’ book, infusing the concepts of `democracy’, `power’, and `public life’ with vibrant new meaning and challenging us to profoundly rethink our lives.’’ -- Fritjof Capra, founder and president, The Elmwood Institute, and author of The Tao of Physics
“As an elected official who longs for more empowered citizens, I hope thousands of people will read this book, where they will discover again what hard work, but also what satisfying work, democracy can be.’’ -- Daniel Kemmis, mayor, City of Missoula, Montana
`"Lappe and Du Bois are chroniclers of change in the way we think about ourselves and the world in which we live.... [a] convincing and refreshing reaffirmation of the democratic process.’’ -- Patrick J. Leahy, senator, State of Vermont