Deepening Community: Finding Joy Together in Chaotic Times

Author(s): Paul Born

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We have a choice, says Paul Born, between shallow or deep community life. Will we react to the instability of our times by defining ourselves selfishly or out of fear? Or will we deepen our experience of community, reaching out to others and building a life of joy? Using stories from his experience growing up among people displaced by war, insights from his career as a community activist, writer, and speaker, and the results of interviews with 500 people, Born shows how we can deepen community by: sharing our story: achieving unity by opening doors between us; enjoying one another: spendings time together, in person, often; caring for one another: building a sense of belonging through mutual acts of care; and working together for a better world: sharing a belief that creates a benefit for all and that moves from a life of us/them to one of all of us, together.

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"For many years now, Paul Born has been among the most trusted, tender, and practical voices about how to create community. This beautiful book embodies each of those qualities and is a work to be used well and treasured for years to come."--Margaret J. Wheatley, author of seven books including Leadership and the New Science and, most recently, So Far from Home "I listen to Paul Born when I want to know how people get together for the common good. He is a master practitioner and storyteller. If you want to know what lies beyond the radical individualism and collective incompetence that plagues our modern lives, read this book."--John McKnight, Codirector, Asset-Based Community Development Institute, and coauthor of The Abundant Community "Paul Born is a bright light. His commitment to community and celebration of life are infectious. If world leaders were to really embrace the principles of this book, we might be able to divert the social chaos and natural disasters of climate change. Put a copy of this book into the hands of an elected official or government leader near you!"--Nicole Rycroft, founder and Executive Director, Canopy "There is no one writing today who understands more about community: what we miss when we don't have it, why we long for it, how to build it, and the rewards that it brings. Paul Born speaks to all of us in this book, at once touching our hearts and giving us the encouragement and the tools we need to change how we live in relation to those around us."--Dr. Frances Westley, cofounder of SiG (Social Innovation Generation), University of Waterloo, and coauthor of Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed "Deepening community is essential to building healthy societies. Paul Born understands this principle and knows how to put it into practice. His book is an essential resource for everyone who wants to contribute to bringing forth better futures."--Adam Kahane, Partner, Reos Partners, and auth

Paul Born directs Tamarack - An Institute for Community Engagement, which is dedicated to advancing place-based solutions to entrenched problems like poverty. Vibrant Communities, Tamarack's signature work, is active in 12 cities and has so far reduced the impact of poverty for more than 120,000 people in Canada. His work has also been recognized with awards from the Conference Board of Canada, Imagine Canada and the Governor General of Canada. He is the author of three previous books.

General Fields

  • : 9781626560970
  • : Berrett-Koehler
  • : Berrett-Koehler
  • : 0.263
  • : March 2014
  • : 217mm X 143mm
  • : United States
  • : April 2014
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Paul Born
  • : Paperback
  • : 658
  • : 216