Most white southerners believed in the 1950s that they lived in a humane racial system; their myth was that they treated black people wel. They also believed that black people accepted segregation, except for a few malcontents.
It was shocking for them to see nicely dressed black college students reading their textbooks while sitting at a lunch
counter waiting for coffee, when they could get takeout coffee
at the back door. Doubly shocking to see white men beating them up. Two secrets were exposed at once: black people want freedom, and segregation requires violence.
Millions of slogans on picket signs could not do what a simple sit-in could do. Campaigns have power when we get beyond words-when we show rather than tell.
"In car-clogged urban areas across the world, the humble bicycle is enjoying a second life …
Groningen adopted a hierarchy of prioritization for transit infrastructure decision-making. Pedestrians over cyclists, cyclists over public transit, public transit over cars. Whenever modes of transport don't work together smoothly, this hierarchy helps decision-making.
A powerful movement is happening in farming today—farmers are reconnecting with their roots to fight …
Hope in Soil
5 stars
This book gave me hope. The path towards regenerative agriculture is not hidden from us, it's just not broadly known how various communities (Black, indigenous, latin) are practicing them every day. The knowledge we need is held by these people. To appropriate Gibson's message, "the future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed."
Yet.
There's also plenty to learn, and unlearn, about the history of the U.S. treatment of nonwhite people who worked the soil.
With no water, no air, and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The …
Good Feelings
5 stars
This book is like an Agatha Christie novel where an ensemble cast of characters gather together, but instead of someone getting murdered they just form bonds and make each other happy.
"Traditional economics measures the ways in which we spend our income, but doesn't attribute worth …
Economics and Buddhism made tangible together
5 stars
I've recently tried to correct two mistakes I made in college. The first was in assuming that economics was a) esoteric and b) only for "money people" - business school types, in other words. The second was in failing to pay significant attention in a class I took on Buddhism (my teacher once called me out on the fact that my copy of our class' sole book had clearly never been opened). Clair Brown's "Buddhist Economics" approaches both of these reputedly ineffable subjects with simple, clear, and powerful language.
Simply put: the tenants of Buddhism - the acknowledgement that we are interdependent beings, that much of our suffering is derived from our desire to gain more wealth, more possessions, more status, more experiences - are shown to be relevent when making decisions at a personal and societal level to promote happy, full lives.
Meanwhile, the book stresses that economics is …
I've recently tried to correct two mistakes I made in college. The first was in assuming that economics was a) esoteric and b) only for "money people" - business school types, in other words. The second was in failing to pay significant attention in a class I took on Buddhism (my teacher once called me out on the fact that my copy of our class' sole book had clearly never been opened). Clair Brown's "Buddhist Economics" approaches both of these reputedly ineffable subjects with simple, clear, and powerful language.
Simply put: the tenants of Buddhism - the acknowledgement that we are interdependent beings, that much of our suffering is derived from our desire to gain more wealth, more possessions, more status, more experiences - are shown to be relevent when making decisions at a personal and societal level to promote happy, full lives.
Meanwhile, the book stresses that economics is not, and should not be, the sole domain of wonks and businesspeople. Commerce, the flow of resources, our value for labor - all of these things matter to everyoneregardless of socioeconomic status. Our economic decisions directly impact the quality of our lives and the health of our planet, and it's reasonable for us all to be engaged in economic decisionmaking.
"Buddhist Economics", then, applies Buddhist principles to economic policy and describes steps we can take to create a more pleasant and sustainable world. Brown discusses everything from indicies for measuring economic growth to tax structures, as well as steps we can personally take to realize this goal.
I'll also add that I appreciate the focus on climate and sustainability. I've spent the past few years obsessed with climate, sustainable development, regenerative agriculture, and any number of other "green" issues. The health of the environment is a major focus of the book, and is discussed both from a Buddhist perspective (the acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of all living things) and an economic perspective (descriptions of "natural capital", for example.)
Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled …
Incredible
5 stars
This book washed over me. I loved the story and the way it made me feel about family, about time. The way the different stories knit together, the moments of realization that the author flawlessly sets up and executes... all of it. Lovely.
Good Omens meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in this defiantly joyful …
A lot in here!
4 stars
Faustian bargains, aliens, the love of music, and the journey of a transgender woman. It all fits together pretty well. I understand the comparisons to Becky Chambers, in that a chosen family supports one another.
This book looks at the work that goes into ecosystem restoration, exploring case studies from across north-central china, the Sinai, Yemen, New Mexico, Spain, and many others. What's striking is that the work is not simply planting trees or protecting animal species. Each story is deeply focused on the humans who need to come together, collaborate, resolve conflicts or plan for a complex future.
This reflects the reality that humans are not "outside" of nature, or separate from it. We are deeply enmeshed in our ecosystems, and the damage we see to the world stems from our failure to recognize that fact. In many places, our conflicts over water (see the story about New Mexico) as much result from our own land management policies as the broader trends of climate change. I really appreciated book's focus on the humans involved in ecosystem restoration, looking …
This book looks at the work that goes into ecosystem restoration, exploring case studies from across north-central china, the Sinai, Yemen, New Mexico, Spain, and many others. What's striking is that the work is not simply planting trees or protecting animal species. Each story is deeply focused on the humans who need to come together, collaborate, resolve conflicts or plan for a complex future.
This reflects the reality that humans are not "outside" of nature, or separate from it. We are deeply enmeshed in our ecosystems, and the damage we see to the world stems from our failure to recognize that fact. In many places, our conflicts over water (see the story about New Mexico) as much result from our own land management policies as the broader trends of climate change. I really appreciated book's focus on the humans involved in ecosystem restoration, looking at the movements to preserve reindeer herds in Norway and regenerative agriculture in Hawaii as culural, justice-oriented campaigns.
On a personal note, it was a pleasant surprise to see my organization's partners Commonland in The Netherlands and AlVelAl in Spain featured in the final chapter. A principle character featured is Dietmar Roth, a very kind German man who was an adopted son of his community in Vélez Blanco Spain. Dietmar generously spent several hours with me early on when I started working in my conservation-oriented job. He passed away in July 2021, and it was pleasant to see the work he loved held up as an example in the story.
