Beginner's Guide to Changing the World

by Isabel Losada

Tired of being an armchair activist, Isabel Losada decides to take matters into her own hands. From the streets of London to the temples of Dharamsala, in this adventure, Isabel falls in love with a monk, impersonates a member of the Chinese army, starts an activist organization, breaks the law, puts lives at risk (including her own), and appears on the news around the world. In the end, she meets the Dalai Lama to ask him the crucial question, "Can one person make a difference?"

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Activism, Spirituality, Buddhism, China, Asia

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Isabel Losada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Can't believe I wrote it. Stare at it in amazement and wonder how I ever did all that. Honestly I think this is a great book because it has history, geography, politics, a marketing and communication seminar... it has Buddhism, romance, humour and adventure. And, most importantly of all, it has inspired people to go out and change the world in their own way.

If you only ever read one book - this would not be a bad choice. And it takes pride in a book to say that about something that you have written yourself.

I offer it to you with all the love in the title. xxx isabel

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book. It was exactly the right book for me. I almost didn't buy it, though. I'm on a must-resist-book-buying sort of budget, but this book caught my eye at the bookstore. After reading the "Ten Indispensable Things You Need to Change the World" on the back flap, I knew I had to buy this book. (#1 is "A cupboard. To put your TV in." Something I know I should do but don't.)

The book is structured around the author trying to get a better grasp on the serenity prayer, which she has carried with her for years:
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference."

That first bit is where I get stuck. I feel this immense responsibility to devote my life to "changing the world" but I just end up feeling overwhelmed (duh, can you imagine?) and frustrated when I see that there's no silver bullet solution to anything. This book spoke to me in a way that no one ever has. No matter how many times someone has said to me "There is no silver bullet" or "You can't change the world in a day" or whatever, I nodded in agreement but didn't really agree. Deep down, I truly believed that there is a silver bullet and I just had to find it.

But this book taught me that though there may be a silver bullet out there, devoting your life to finding out what it is isn't nearly important as *doing* something that brings you joy and makes you feel as if you're contributing something to the solution. I don't want to ruin the ending, but I will if I say much more than that.

I just really, really loved this book. It's exactly what I needed to read. Thank you, Isabel Losada.

[Mark Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Isabel Losada gives me an unending pleasure and continuing inspiration in life. Her wit makes me feel at home and the beauty and warmth in her writing stays with me always. Professionally, Isabel is forever at hand for help with madcap schemes and ideas a bookseller is forever having to come up with to stand out in the cut throat retail industry, never one to tire of promotion or her brave search for success. Her empathetic approach to the subjects she covers are fresh and unique in a trade that is insistent on producing bulbous hardback parchments of the same thing from the never ending roundabout of celebrity nobodies. Isabel is herself a star, she transcends every other author I have ever met and I feel eternally blessed for having her work by my side at night. I hope that is always the case. I eagerly await the next book with baited breath and an obsessive thirst for her humour and enlightenment.

[Denis Joplin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book: it had an interesting topic and it promised laughs through all the book.

So I was quite disappointed when I didn't laugh a single time and saw how desperately the writer tries to be funny without actually being able to...

I still think the topic was quite interesting, but at times it became boring due to all the mixed information we were provided with; I know all that information and confusion has to be part of the book, but it was a bit too much for me.

And, according to the story, Losada is a super-dooper person liked by every one who crosses her path... sorry, but I don't buy it!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! This is great for any activist that has ever gotten frustrated with the unorganized, bureaucratic nonsense involved with attempting to raise an issue or concern to direct awareness and discussion on a government level. I love the author's unflappable enthusiasm for her cause, the issue of Tibet's occupation by the Chinese. I can relate to her utter committment to positivity, especially in the face of some of the negativity and "you can't do that"-isms of some of the other activists and organizations she attempts to work with. Isabel (you totally feel like you're on a first name BFF basis with the author) manages to travel to Tibet and check out the situation for herself, directly observing and experiencing the chinese oppression. She goes back home to London and attempts to work with some of the local organizations who are working to raise this dicey international political issue, ultimately ends up creating her own organization and staging a big event on her own and is offered a big reward -- an audience with the Dalai Lama himself!
This book is for anyone wondering if one person really can make a difference in the world through positive thoughts and actions-- YES YES and YES!!!

[Nash Tysmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Isabel's book when I was in high school. It was the summer i felt most infinite but didn't know how to call it that yet because there had not been a Chbosky in my life yet. Anyway, this was her adventure in Tibet. i was drawn to it because she really outlined the ways in which everyone could make a difference.

She has since become a friend and though we've never met face to face, we send notes to each other every now and then. She's truly a mentor and her book is worth the read for anyone who has ever dreamed of doing something crazy positive!

[Lynne Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is way out of my usual genres, but I wanted to ease my ignorance of Tibet and the issues involved in a gentle way. Having read another of Losada's books (The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment), I decided that this was the way to do it. And I was so right. It is an enjoyable read, fun and easy. But it also left a current of disquiet which led me to think far more about the issues of Tibet and China and the people involved.

It also demonstrated the power of the individual. Well worth reading!

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and informative, well written and interesting. An unexpectedly successful find!

[Mills Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love, love, love this book. It was a hard one to put down. If you are at all interested in Tibet this is a not to be missed.

[Liza Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book this was! I loved reading Isabel's descriptions of her travels as well as the path she took in trying to make a difference for the people of Tibet. It's completely raised my awareness on a subject that I knew very little about, and I'm horrified by what I've learned regarding China and Tibet. It's disgusting (though sadly, not surprising) that the world has chosen to turn a blind eye to China's activities and outrageous human rights abuses, and Isabel deserves praise, not only for bringing this subject to the forefront, but also for trying to make a difference.
The horrific earthquake in Haiti occurred while I was reading this book, and this book inspired me to act. Thanks to "A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World", I initiated contact with a local humanitarian organization and am doing what I can to help effect change. This book will inspire you, and if you let it, it can change your world. At the very least, you will never look at China in the same way again.For Tibet, with Love

[Touloulou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
J'ai mis beaucoup de temps à rentrer dans ce livre (commencé en 2022 hum...), mais une fois lancée, j'ai adoré suivre les aventures d'Isabel qui cherche comment avoir un impact et comment se dire qu'elle contribue à changer le monde... Et ce sera par le biais d'actions pour aider les tibétains et le Dalai Lama qui se battent contre la répression chinoise depuis 1959.
Bien qu'elle ait un côté donneuse de leçons qui débarque avec ses gros sabots occidentaux dans une culture éloignée de la sienne, l'autrice m'a embarquée dans ses aventures avec un humour on ne peut plus britannique.
Au delà du divertissement, c'est un livre qui pousse à la réflexion et se révèle assez émouvant. En le refermant, j'ai une furieuse envie de, moi aussi, chercher à changer le monde, à mon échelle.

[Svalbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro di cui non sapevo dell’esistenza, e comprato usato sulla solita bancarella vista l’autrice di cui ho già letto parecchie cose, a volte un po’ perplimenti (tipo la sua proverbiale difficoltà ad accettare che gli uomini possano essere anche non esattamente come lei vorrebbe che fossero, al punto di vivere da single pur di non cercare di mediare tra l’ideale e la realtà) e il brio e l’umorismo nella scrittura.

La Losada è sempre stata affascinata dalle forme alternative di conoscenza. In questo senso il suo libro “Voglio vivere così”, più pragmatico che dogmatico e tutto sommato scritto senza fanatismi, pur affrontando argomenti che a me in buona parte dei casi paiono ciarlatanerie, era decisamente interessante. Non stupisce quindi che a un certo punto della sua vita, forse un po’ sulla scorta di quell’esperienza, decide di perseguire degli obiettivi che sono, oltre che di crescita personale, anche politici: l’impegno a favore del Tibet e per un’autonomia dalla Cina, e lo studio della cultura buddistico-lamaistica.

In questo libro, con il consueto brio racconta il suo cammino di conoscenza, che comincia con la presa di contatto con vari gruppi londinesi di resistenza e sostegno al Tibet (che ovviamente si guardano reciprocamente in cagnesco e si accusano vicendevolmente di velleitarismo, idealismo ecc., cosa che lei, con le sue notevoli capacità scrittorie, rende in maniera decisamente gustosa); prosegue con un viaggio da turista in Nepal, dove prontamente, secondo la sua consueta prassi degli amori impossibili, si innamora di un monaco tibetano che a modo suo la corteggia spietatamente ma senza mai darle la minima possibilità di concretizzare. Poi in Tibet (con conseguenti pesantissimi disagi da altitudine); ancora, l’organizzazione di una manifestazione clandestina di sostegno alla causa tibetana, con scalata dimostrativa alla colonna di Nelson in Trafalgar Square per appenderci uno striscione (avendo appena letto il libro “L’amante del vulcano” di Susan Sontag, in cui Nelson, l’”Eroe”, appare per una persona meschinerrima e squallida, quasi mi spiace che per errore i manifestanti non abbiano buttato giù la statua). Per concludere, un inatteso incontro con il Dalai Lama, a cui la Losada regala un libro di Harry Potter, ritenendo che la storia del maghetto della Rowling abbia molti punti in comune con quella del Panchen Lama, rapito da bambino dai cinesi e allevato nella totale misconoscenza della propria cultura, proprio come Harry Potter in mezzo ai babbani (prima di storcere il naso leggete il libro della Losada, perché il paragone, ben argomentato, sta perfettamente in piedi; e comunque mi colpisce sempre quanto radicalmente e trasversalmente le vicende di Harry Potter siano entrate a far parte della nostra cultura contemporanea - il primo che dice “pop” lo fulmino).

Il libro, nel suo complesso molto interessante e che mi ha spiegato un sacco di cose che non conoscevo, l’ho apprezzato, secondo lo stile dell’autrice, per i numerosi spunti personali e autobiografici. Tre, tra questi, mi hanno colpito in modo particolare.

In Tibet, in un tempio buddista, la Losada si inchina davanti a una statua di Buddha, toccandola con la fronte, e ne riceve una sorta di inattesa folgorazione energetica che le crea uno stato di profonda commozione e benessere. Si tratta di qualcosa di cui anch’io ho avuto esperienza e che viene genericamente definito “energia”, “prana” o simili, che forse ha anche una radice scientifica ma che non è mai stata sufficientemente indagata, ed è propria, oltre che di alcuni oggetti o luoghi (il caso della statua viene adeguatamente spiegato dal monaco) anche di alcune persone. A me accadde lo stesso con una persona, infatti, che conobbi in una palestra-istituto dove si faceva meditazione, aikido e altre cose per la “crescita personale”. Io vi ero stato portato da amici, ero più perplesso che scettico ma quando questa donna, guidando un’attività di meditazione, mi mise una mano sulla schiena provai la stessa cosa, una specie di luce che mi esplodeva dentro e dava senso a me stesso e a tutto. Escludo la suggestione, dato che praticamente non la conoscevo e non mi ero fatto nessuna idea su di lei (me la feci a posteriori; si trattava di una di quelle purtroppo frequenti persone dotate di un’acuta intelligenza naturale ma anche di un feroce disprezzo per gli intellettuali o comunque per le persone che hanno studiato, rectius hanno avuto la possibilità di studiare, sostanzialmente una “laureata all’università della strada”, come si dice, con l’aggravante di avere un moralismo suoresco, credersi una terapeuta e una irredimibile attitudine al “womansplaining”, che è tipo il “mensplaining” ma a sessi opposti, e soprattutto, come molti altri in quell’ambiente, una discepola di Osho Raijneesh - all’epoca si chiamava ancora Bhagwan - in cui continuavano a credere nonostante gli spiacevoli fatti dell’Oregon fossero già accaduti; penserei che anche il credito di questo santone, e forse di altri, dipendesse da una forma simile di “energia” contagiosa, che evidentemente non ha un rapporto causale con la bontà d’animo e di intenzioni, o almeno non esime dal combinare guai a ripetizione. In ogni caso la stessa energia l’ho poi trovata in seguito in un’altra persona molto più corretta e sana, che con ogni probabilità non ne era nemmeno consapevole).

Un altro episodio: in Nepal la Losada si avvicina a un monaco (non quello di cui si innamora, un altro) che sta tenendo una specie di seminario. Questo la guarda, le dice “Lei è molto bella, come i fiori in quel vaso, ma torni fra due settimane a vedere come saranno quei fiori”, e poi ai discepoli “Vedrete che riesco a farla arrabbiare”. Lei risponde “non ci riuscirà, a meno che non le conferisca io il potere di farlo”, ma nello stesso tempo si rende conto che ci è riuscito. Mi chiedo che razza di saggezza sia quella di fare dispettucci dialettici a una persona che manco si conosce. Personalmente avrei risposto al monaco che la riflessione sulla caducità della bellezza paragonandola ai fiori che appassiscono non è esattamente una scoperta dell’ultimo minuto e non è nemmeno un monopolio della cultura orientale, e che comunque se sono bella non è colpa mia.

Un terzo episodio: in Ladak, dove è andata a incontrare il Dalai Lama, la Losada ha un incontro con altre persone (occidentali) che le spiegano che l’impegno ad agire è poca cosa, bisogna piuttosto cambiare sé stessi e farlo con la meditazione. Lei, che è un’attivista di prima grandezza, si arrabbia. Condivido quest’arrabbiatura; la meditazione potrebbe essere una buona cosa (fermo restando che ci sono migliaia di cose che possono diventare meditazione, volendo, se fatte in un certo modo) e in via “esperienziale” in questo piccolo incontro si vede in controluce la differenza tra mentalità occidentale del fare e quella orientale dell’essere (o non essere, dato che la meditazione spesso viene spiegata come una sorta di “annullarsi”). Nonché la tendenza che hanno molti a spiegarti che loro sono migliori perché hanno capito le cose, e non è che abbracciare culture, religioni e filosofie orientali renda automaticamente migliori..

[Rebekah Byson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you read Eat, Pray, Love? This is similar. Privileged white woman explores an Eastern spirituality, travels to Tibet and India, flirts with the natives, assumes she somehow has the means and answers to solve all their problems; and to top it off she meets the Dalai Lama and spends that time going on about Harry Potter.
I found her perspective to be a tad racist as well; at one point she's happy to find "white faces" in India, she is derogatory towards the Chinese and insulting to those who don't speak "perfect English". The moment I started to dislike this was when she digressed to tell a racist joke about Native Americans' names.
This "memoir" was one long example of virtue signaling.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this very fast, over three days, as I got it to send to one of my charity recipients and a friend on Bookmooch. It is a stunning book, managing to discuss difficult and tragic issues and yet still be light and humorous too. I am still digesting its content and really do not want to say much about it, except READ IT!

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Losada is a great storyteller and can put together a great sentence, but I found the whole premise (white person feels guilt so decides to write a book about helping poor brown people who serve as bit characters to further the story of said white protagonist) tiresome and rather offensive.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Losada explores the difficult question of "what can one person do to make a difference?" Her particular focus is on Tibet and her moral struggles to do something to make a positive change are funny, thoughtful, and heartfelt.

[Marzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this book and it is particularly painful thinking of the protest going on in tibet.

Every person who fancies themselves an activist should read this before they go out to save the world.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit oddly written, but captivating and very real. Much more of a delight to read than I'd expected.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister recommended this to me and I'm so glad I read it! It is one of those books that is hilarious in a very real-life comedic way. I loved it and highly recommend it.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned much about the Tibeten cause from reading this book. It was slow in parts, but the chapter about her trip to Tibet was interesting.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice read. Losada's personal odyssey kept me engaged and added to my sense of Tibetan issues.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read - eye opening, humbling, awesome and just a brilliant Isabel Losada book yet again.

[Sally McRogerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep on banging my head against the wall! Another reason not to support the Chinese regime. If only Britain had done the right thing when they originally took over......

[Daniel Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of the innocence and enthusiasm we should all have in abundance - a remarkable telling of the Tibetan tale.

[Noodles · Rating 2 out of 5]

got bored, stopped reading part way through

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, quick, and easy read. Losada comes across charming and passionate if odd & naive.

I learned a fair amount about the history of Tibet and Buddhism but this isn't, nor is intended, to be a comprehensive introduction or discussion of the subject. Instead it's the tale of Losada's valiant determination to do something about the situation in Tibet - to tackle apathy and support the struggle for autonomy and/or independence. Although coming across a little immature, I greatly respect Losada's determination to go beyond working on oneself (inner improvement) and actually act to make a difference. There's something inspiring about how Losada never gives up on the cause, educates herself thoroughly, & approaches all tasks with innocence but also diligence. She also seems to have an innate capacity for things falling into her lap: through just asking, she somehow gets 30 minutes with the Chinese ambassador to the UK on the topic of Tibetan independence. Similarly, she gets 30 minutes with the Prime Minister just by asking...

I also fully empathise with Losada's exasperation when, as she tries to help, she mostly experiences obstacles: "I felt totally exasperated. As if Tibet didn't have enough problems with the Chinese without the organisations that are supposed to be supporting it failing to communicate effectively with one another". She feels let down by a system that doesn't seem to actually allow her to help, often bogged down by bureaucracy and petty disagreement.

When answering her ultimate question - how to know when to serenely accept one's situation and when to have the courage to act - she ultimately comes to the conclusion: "my serenity to accept the things that I can't change comes now from knowing that I will not cease to take action. My courage to continue to take actions that may change something is no longer attached to my judgements about what counts as worthwhile."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Dalai Lama's wisdom proves my biggest takeaway: that Marxist concerns and economic theory are good and positive, but due to a lack of "inner value, compassion, [&] sense of concern", Marxism ends up a ruthless system where fear and suspicion rule.

Well written but not especially beautiful, this is the writing of a journalist more than an author. I enjoyed the book but I am glad I picked up this rather than some of Losada's other books - anchored by the serious subject matter and her very genuine concern and passion for the Tibetan cause, one can look past the cringey 'self-discovery', New Age-ism, and her naiveity - just.

[Lost And · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange reading this book in the wake of the recent scandal surrounding the Dalai Lama. I enjoyed the clever partitioning of the book into three - corresponding to the three lines of the serenity prayer: 'Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference'.

I did roll my eyes at some portions of the book - the glorification of both Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, the author's exasperation at people who weren't immediately willing to humour her (and her inability to understand their perspective?), her dismissal of the Tibetan politician who didn't speak english, her romanticisation of the schooling system in the Tibetan refugee camp and her occasional sense of self righteousness and imo uniquely white sense of entitlement.
I do, however, admire the author for her perseverance, for DEMANDING change - for sticking to an impossible cause and actually doing things about it. This book is very different from my usual reads, but overall I'm glad to have stumbled across it - there's a lot of reading I want to do on Buddhism and Tibetan history, and strangely I do feel inspired to go out and bring about the change I want to see in the world. So mission accomplished I guess?

[Heidi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It’s a very informative, inspiring and entertaining piece written about the author’s personal experience participating in activism for Tibet. The storytelling was often times humorous (which worked well in keeping the reader engaged) and it was undeniably evident in the warmth of her narration that the author had sincere respect for Tibetan culture and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was fascinating and I adored every moment of it, I just couldn’t put it down! 👏 so glad I picked this up, it far exceeded my expectations- don’t hesitate to read this!

[Barbara M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really thought-provoking, inspiring, yet funny read. I like Isabel Losada`s way of fear-ignoring exploration of unknown territories and dedication once she has set her mind on something. The book is really honest, too, when it comes to judging her own successes and failures. She takes her readers along on all parts of her journey, the exciting ones as well as the tedious ones. The book values friendship, curiosity, and the power of knowledge - a typical Losada, it would say!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read about this most depressing situation. What can we do? Not a lot apart from bring awareness and be the change. I don’t see that changing the minds of the Chinese authorities any time soon. The Dalai Lama can’t live forever and the Panchen Lama, who will recognise him in his next reincarnation, was kidnapped by the Chinese when he was 5. They will likely replace him (and who would know) with their own version. No prizes for guessing what will happen then