Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Book Round-up: Interactions Between Us







These three books I read all in the past few weeks, they are all unrealted, but carry the common theme of how we interact with our environment, each other, and ourselves. All written with careful thought and wisdom.
Turning To One Another
Simple Conversations To Restore Hope In The Future
BY MARGARET WHEATLEY
"I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again. Not mediation negotiation, problem solving, debate or public meetings just Simple truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard and we each listen well." This book is a selection of One Book, One Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Plain Living
A Quaker Path To Simplicity
BY CATHERINE WHITMIRE
This book is a collection of the sayings of Friends (ranging from Margaret Fell and Isaac Penington to Jan Hoffman and Patricia Loring) which speak to every aspect of living a spiritually centered and simple life. Topics explored include work, plain speech, money and resources, committed relationships, grief, fear, leadings, community, practicing non-violence, spirit-led service and inward simplicity. Each section is followed by queries. An excellent resource for study groups. "Plain Living will be a well-loved, well-thumbed book, touching on every aspect of our personal choices, as ... we try to walk the challenging walk of holy simplicity." - Elise Boulding
Radical Presence
Teaching As Contemplative Practice
BY MARY ROSE O'REILLEY, FOREWORD BY PARKER PALMER
This book is about our lives as well as our work, suggesting that the "secrets" of good teaching are the same as the secrets of good living: seeing one's self without blinking, offering hospitality to the alien other, having compassion for suffering, speaking truth to power, being present and being real. These are secrets hidden in plain sight. But it takes the clear sight and courage of someone like Friend O'Reilly to call secrets of this sort to our attention.

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