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Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future
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"I believe we can change the world if we start talking to one another again." With this simple declaration, Margaret Wheatley proposes that people band together with their colleagues and friends to create the solutions for real social change, both locally and globally, that are so badly needed. Such change will not come from governments or corporations, she argues, but fro
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Paperback, 168 pages
Published
January 11th 2002
by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
(first published January 1st 2002)
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This book was the closest thing to a spiritual renewal I have experienced in a long while. Wheatley argues convincingly that we need to restore the practice of conversation. That our state of exhaustion, frustration, and anxiety are built upon a foundation of quick, dispassionate, joyless exchanges. I would encourage anyone who is feeling a bit disheartened about our world and consider Wheatley's position that human connectedness is the place from which we can find solutions, hope, and faith in
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A must read! I'm so glad I reread this assume book. It's very timely and could have been written today. I'm planning on continuing to use in my work and in helping to make our world a better place a better place.
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Here we go, my first book finished this year. A great book about conversations, reaching out and building relationships as a way to overcome fear, become fearless.
Not a very practical book, but enough food for thought to be interesting till the end. Beautiful words.
Not a very practical book, but enough food for thought to be interesting till the end. Beautiful words.

Meg Wheatley is a gift: clear, wise, kind, warm. Asking us to be our best selves, and giving us a roadmap to get there.
A friend recommended this book, and I picked it up that day from my local store on the way home. The clerk hadn't heard of it, but after looking in two different places (business leadership, self-help) we found it: one copy, their only work of hers (despite it being not her most famous) waiting patiently on the shelf. An omen.
It's a beautiful book, at once an ode and a call to a ...more
A friend recommended this book, and I picked it up that day from my local store on the way home. The clerk hadn't heard of it, but after looking in two different places (business leadership, self-help) we found it: one copy, their only work of hers (despite it being not her most famous) waiting patiently on the shelf. An omen.
It's a beautiful book, at once an ode and a call to a ...more

This book is okay. It is more a collection of themes from many other trending community topics. Each are valid and based in philosophy, physiology, and good community experience. However, how it is tied together made it harder to for me. It lacked a necessary flow or narrative. I felt the assertions are made but there only casual opinion to justify. It was bumpy like running down a railroad track on the ties.
Good collection of themes. Important. But, the narrative and flow was off when compared ...more
Good collection of themes. Important. But, the narrative and flow was off when compared ...more

Lovely book advocating good deep conversations. And suggesting broad topics that can be used as conversation starters. I liked the concept/idea. Just that I don't think I would be able to use them in large groups or with many people.
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Very quick read - I finished the meat of it in a few hours. It's part motivational part reminder about what is possible. It will be particularly helpful for me because it really gets to the "why" of my preferred way of building community. As always I'm looking forward to hosting many conversations.
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I read this on a day when I needed it most. Simple conversations. Let's have more of them.
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Excellent, I love Margaret J Wheatley's books
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Margaret Wheatley believes that we can change the world if we start listening to one another again. I agree with her and liked this book. She advocates real conversation. As she writes:
"Not mediation, negotiation, problem solving, debate, or public meetings. Simple, truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well."
Or as she puts it plainly, "We can turn away, or we can turn toward. Those are the only two choices we have."
Along the way she h ...more
"Not mediation, negotiation, problem solving, debate, or public meetings. Simple, truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well."
Or as she puts it plainly, "We can turn away, or we can turn toward. Those are the only two choices we have."
Along the way she h ...more

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During our Connections Week at TCC, a speaker mentioned this book by Margaret Wheatley. I remembered reading her first edition in 2002, and this one was a nice refresher of her wonderful writing style. This second edition added two new conversations: What is my role in creating change? and Can I be fearless? One of my favorite sections was a poem that Wheatley included by Ina Hughes titled "A Prayer for Children", in particular the last two verses:
"And we pray for those Whose nightmares come in ...more
"And we pray for those Whose nightmares come in ...more

This book is about is about communicating with one another. Wheatley writes how talking, face to face, is the easiest way of communication. This book is a great conversation starter. It inspires you to want to talk more, to make a difference. She explains how most of this world problems can be solved, by simply talking.
I liked this book, because it inspired me to want to talk more when working out problems. After reading her book, it changed the way that I start conversations, and the content w ...more
I liked this book, because it inspired me to want to talk more when working out problems. After reading her book, it changed the way that I start conversations, and the content w ...more

This is a book that everyone should read. Meg Wheatley writes about human behavior and communication. This book, originally written in 2002 and augmented in 2008, speaks to the need for us to slow down, spend time in conversation and dialogue, and thereby build community.
Like Margaret Mead, she argues that great change happens when two or more people engage in meaningful conversations.
The book is short and full of inspirational ideas, poetry and 10 conversation starters.
Very highly recommended.
Like Margaret Mead, she argues that great change happens when two or more people engage in meaningful conversations.
The book is short and full of inspirational ideas, poetry and 10 conversation starters.
Very highly recommended.

This book shares some of the author's ideas about community and conversation, and promotes the concept that by changing how we think and engage with others we can change the world for good. While I did enjoy the book--particularly the collected stories, quotes, and poems on the subject--there was really nothing here that I haven't read elsewhere. If you don't mind a little repetitive writing it does provide the reader an opportunity to consider their own mode of thinking and communication.
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It's a good read to really spark up some conversations with others as well as yourself. I especially recommend sitting with the question of Am I Willing to Reclaim the Time to Think and What it means to be fully human.
At parts, I found myself getting a little bored because it can be repetitive. ...more
At parts, I found myself getting a little bored because it can be repetitive. ...more

Jan 22, 2016
Melissa
added it
I really appreciate Meg Wheatley's writings. I didn't realize when I'd first heard of her that she was such a fan of Paolo Freire. I am too!
I found this book to be a great resource to take into some devotional time by myself. I plan to keep it close by for easy reference and self-directed reflection activities. ...more
I found this book to be a great resource to take into some devotional time by myself. I plan to keep it close by for easy reference and self-directed reflection activities. ...more

An excellent and practical book for reflecting on how to make change in communities.
Margaret Wheatley is one of the foremost thinkers about "emergent culture." She is on the board of the Berkana Institute (www.berkana.org) which works worldwide for positive change. ...more
Margaret Wheatley is one of the foremost thinkers about "emergent culture." She is on the board of the Berkana Institute (www.berkana.org) which works worldwide for positive change. ...more

Looking to use this with my cfg...
The majority is really great! There are parts that didn't move me, but maybe will at some other part in my life. I really look forward to using this with groups at school. ...more
The majority is really great! There are parts that didn't move me, but maybe will at some other part in my life. I really look forward to using this with groups at school. ...more

Full of great thoughts about how talking to each other can change the world. Unfortunately, it's not a very compelling read. It loses momentum frequently. Thus, though it is an enjoyable book for the most part, it has been returned to the shelf for now.
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“ผู้คนยังคงมีจิตใจงดงามและมีความห่วงหาอาทร
เราอาจทุกข์ตรม จับต้นชนปลายไม่ถูก ด้านชาและหวาดหวั่น
แต่ลึกลงไปภายใต้ความรู้สึกเหล่านี้ เรายังคงปรารถนาที่จะเรียนรู้ ปรารถนาในอิสระภาพ ความหมาย และความรัก”
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เราอาจทุกข์ตรม จับต้นชนปลายไม่ถูก ด้านชาและหวาดหวั่น
แต่ลึกลงไปภายใต้ความรู้สึกเหล่านี้ เรายังคงปรารถนาที่จะเรียนรู้ ปรารถนาในอิสระภาพ ความหมาย และความรัก”
“ความรักเรียกร้องเรามากมายเสียยิ่งกว่ากฎหมาย”
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