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296th out of 596 books
—
474 voters
The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
*Sweeping survey of world history offering a new understanding of the key challenge of our time
*Offers a positive message of hope for a sustainable and just future and a practical strategy for getting there
In The Great Turning, David Korten argues that "Empire," the organization of society through hierarchy and violence has always resulted in misery for the many and fortu...more
*Offers a positive message of hope for a sustainable and just future and a practical strategy for getting there
In The Great Turning, David Korten argues that "Empire," the organization of society through hierarchy and violence has always resulted in misery for the many and fortu...more
Hardcover, 402 pages
Published
April 1st 2006
by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
(first published 2001)
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This book changed my life. Before reading it, I was in despair over the likely future of my twelve grandchildren. Global climate change carries the threat of massive human dislocation, widespread drought and famine, and given the current condition of world politics, the prospect of violent conflict over land and water. Peak oil carries the threat of financial chaos and violent conflict over dwindling fossil fuel resources. Finally the official position of the Bush administration was to ignore cl...more
Korten uses the metaphors of "empire" and "earth community" to signify the essential choice we must make as human beings between relationships based on power (dominance/hierarchy/violence) and those based on partnership (democracy/community/stewardship/). And now, as we reach the global limits of ecological sustainability, it is just as critical that this relationship extend to all living creatures and the living systems that support them. After 5000 years of Empire, our only real hope is to tur...more
Korten provides an excellent overview of Empire and how we've arrived where we are today. He exposes the infancy of America's 'democracy' and encourages the questioning and stretching that has to occur in order for the human race to move forward. A stimulating must-read. My only advice -- don't read this alone! Establish an 'Earth Community' to dialogue with as you move through it.
I actually led a book discussion group on this book last year. The discussions were interesting but the book is, I think, inadequate. For anyone with vaguely leftist inclinations, It's sort of like going to see a romantic comedy starring (oh, say) Meg Ryan. You know what to expect, and you will probably enjoy it, but the plot is predictable and it is not going to really challenge you or add to your knowledge.
He's pretty sharp about social inequality, but less so about the environment. But the w...more
He's pretty sharp about social inequality, but less so about the environment. But the w...more
I wish I could give this book 4 stars, but parts of it were as infuriating as other parts were inspiring. I loved his points that we must encourage cultural as well as economic and political democracy, and emphasizing the importance of stories. I was turned off by the New Agey language and the talk of intelligent design, and disappointed by his lack of acknowledgment that "Empire" will fight tooth and nail to maintain its privileges. Still, I've been reading so much gloom & doom about societ...more
Korten reads like George Lakoff rolling on a tab of ecstasy: American society is gripped by a polarized culture war between Empire (what Lakoff would call the Patriarchal Authoritarians) and the Earth Community (Nurturing Parents) -- and the good guys are definitely going to win, any second now.
Here's the polarized divide as Korten sees it. In the worlview of Empire, life is hostile and competitive, humans are flawed and dangerous, order is maintained through a dominator hierarchy, we must comp...more
Here's the polarized divide as Korten sees it. In the worlview of Empire, life is hostile and competitive, humans are flawed and dangerous, order is maintained through a dominator hierarchy, we must comp...more
Giving Thanks to Inspiration
Alex Knight
David Korten, long-time global justice activist, co-founder of Yes! Magazine, and author of such books as When Corporations Rule the World, lays out the fundamental crossroads facing the world in his 2006 book The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community. In response to global climate change, war, oil scarcity, persistent racism and sexism and many other mounting challenges, Korten argues we must recognize these as symptoms of a larger system of Empire...more
Alex Knight
David Korten, long-time global justice activist, co-founder of Yes! Magazine, and author of such books as When Corporations Rule the World, lays out the fundamental crossroads facing the world in his 2006 book The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community. In response to global climate change, war, oil scarcity, persistent racism and sexism and many other mounting challenges, Korten argues we must recognize these as symptoms of a larger system of Empire...more
I participated in a five-session discussion series on this book. It gives a good overview of how we can respond positively to the many changes that will be brought about in the not-too-distant future by a deteriorating enviroment and peak oil. Korten has a background in international development and has clearly thought about these issues over many years. Drawing on the ideas expressed in The Chalice and the Blade, by Riane Eisler, about dominator and partnership societies, he points out that the...more
Good exposition of the proposition that a "drive to empire" is not innate to humans, rather an historic phenomenon. Coupled with a picture of an evolution of consciousness, well-presented, with most of us in a middle state, on one side or the other of a labile center, the "younger" side being self-centered, the other more actively social.
Bill recommended this book. I listened to it during a 1600 mile car trip from Detroit, MI to McLean, Va via Toronto; Freeport,ME; and New York City. It was very good. I've been trying to find time to go back and listen to it again ever since. I haven't felt that I could give it the proper attention yet. One day I will!
I appreciate what Korten has to offer to the future world. I also want to believe that we are in the midst of shifting our view points and perspectives on the world. However, his oversimplistic, repetitive, and theory-only writing had me more often pointing out the flaws in his argument over the possibility and inspiration that it was should have had me thinking about. I think Korten is onto a good idea..and I like what he was trying to say, but maybe it was just too much for a 350 page book.
I'm sure the book was written with the best of intentions and some of the material is interesting, though not really new. But the author went on and on repeating himself. In the end I got very annoyed hearing the same things over and over again, sorry.
I'm an environmentalist tree-hugger. It's what I do all day, every day. But this book was too woo-woo for me, if you know what I mean. I believe there are those of us, especially here in Portland that could band together to create Korten's "earth communities". But it's, sadly, going to take a major crisis like declining oil supply or other catastrophe to make it happen. And we're just as likely, given Americans' penchant for guns and self-centeredness, to devolve into Mad Max-style Darwinism.
I t...more
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This book woke me up. Woah our planet is in deep... The wierd thing is there is an optimistic message. What was it again...
One of the most thought changing books I've read in years - this one really has turned around the way I see our planet.
Excellent - I got to see David Korten speak a few years ago, and this book was everything I expected from him.
Korten posits that we're on the cusp of worldwide change. He spends much of the book examining history, focusing on humanity's tendency to dominate others, exploit natural resources and value power over all else. The best part of the book comes near the end, when he describes ways to help your community embrace sustainability and equality. I would recommend this book with the caveat of starting a discussion group to go along with your reading. Your debates and real-world solutions will greatly e...more
Great book!
Yes! I support this book whole heartedly! I feel that it is one of those books that everybody should read... Korten gives a historical review of the last 5000 years in which we have been a patriarchal society. Then he visions about the direction we could be/are going in... which is very hopeful and affected by each of our lives and decisions. Over all, it is just really well written, inspiring, and powerful!
A Road Map for Change. People fear change and politicians are afraid to scare away voters by talking about change. Earth community must lead from below to remove power from Empire. People fear change for the most part, therefore, politicians who promise maintenance of the status quo retain power, even when the status quo is bad for the majority of earth'e people.
Mostly rhetoric, little fact. It articulates some useful lenses for looking at history but otherwise doesn't have very much to offer.
Picked up this book because I liked his last book "The Post-Corporate World." Some interesting points on how we got where we are and some interesting ideas on what a more just world might look like. But, way too simplistic and too heavy on rah rah without any practical ideas.
Aug 20, 2008
Stephanie
marked it as to-read
8/20/08
I have given up on reading this book right now. Will have to return to it later - when I am out of my food stage.
I am very curious to see how we can change the way we have done things the last 5000 years and get ourselves pointed in the direction of Earth Communities...
I have given up on reading this book right now. Will have to return to it later - when I am out of my food stage.
I am very curious to see how we can change the way we have done things the last 5000 years and get ourselves pointed in the direction of Earth Communities...
Awesome!
Oct 30, 2008
Tara
marked it as to-read
I heard this author speak on New Dimensions radio program. He was fantastic. I have the MP3 if anyone wants I could copy it and mail it to them (otherwise it costs $3.95).
Give yourself a healthy dose of optimism by reading this book. Civilization as we know it will soon collapse. Korten offers some hope that something good will follow.
XOXO David Korten!! Thank you for giving the male and modern version of many ideas stewing since Eisler! I STILL want to talk about this book with everyone I know!
Just go to google.video.com and and enter Korten the great turning...see the 45 min. greenfestival video of Korten's summary presentation for free
This book was provocative, and inspiring, but a bit preachy and overly simplistic in spots, in terms of what has to be accomplished.
the book that is inspiring and encourages people to think more about the future of planet from human and societal perspectives.
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Dr. David C. Korten worked for more than thirty-five years in preeminent business, academic, and international development institutions before he turned away from the establishment to work exclusively with public interest citizen-action groups. He is the cofounder and board chair of YES! Magazine, the founder and president of The People-Centered Development Forum, a board member of the Business Al...more
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Jun 12, 2008 07:53am