My new book Transforming Power

Last night I got a box full of books from Penguin. It's hard to explain what an incredible moment it is to see a book you have written in its final form. Transforming Power: From the personal to the political is my fourth book. It explores new paths to social and political change in the Americas and Europe. In the book I argue that to meet the challenges of the crisis faced by the planet and its people we need to throw out old ideas of politics based on domination and submission, might makes right and winner take all with a different approach that values diversity, dialogue and bottom up community based solutions. I am sure readers of iPeace will find the book interesting/


Most of what I do in life is ephemeral. I teach a class hoping my students will change the way they see the world even just a little. I organize or participate in actions that may or may not have an impact. When they do, it's a joy; when they don't it's on to the next. I participate in meetings that I hope won't be a waste of time. I write an article or a blog post and love it when it comes back to me in a email or on twitter or facebook.

But a book is more tangible, something you can touch and feel. Writing a book is a mostly solitary experience. It takes work and planning and time to think-- all things I have been able to do because of my amazing position at Ryerson. Even though I am the sole author of Transforming Power, it reflects the ideas and activism of thousands of people whom I have met over the last three years on four continents. A new world is emerging in out of the destruction of the old and Transforming Power tries to capture its early growth.

Once the book is out, the collective kicks in. The publisher has to promote it, the media has to pay attention to it, the book store has to put it in a good spot. The author has little or nothing to do with whether any of this will happen. So this is the moment when I feel most trepidation.

What's changed with this book is social marketing. I know my friends and comrades have been promoting word about the book around the web. If you are reading this, you are part of a vast network of people around the globe sharing information, knowledge and wisdom. These networks on and off line form the roots of this emerging new world and I know you won't be shy about telling me what you think.