The Quickening of America: Rebuilding Our Nation, Remaking Our Lives Paperback - 1994 - 1st Edition

From the rear cover

From national political campaigns to local community action groups, a grassroots approach to change is taking hold of America today. Ordinary citizens, driven by a desire to go beyond rhetoric and ideology and address problems in a direct, practical way, are changing the way we live, work, and govern ourselves. The Quickening of America reveals how this new approach to solving our problems is indeed working--in local government, education, the workplace, human services, and the media. The authors criss-crossed America in search of democracy in action and found moving stories of ordinary people coming together to make their institutions meet their needs.

From the jacket flap

From national political campaigns to local community action groups, a grassroots approach to change is taking hold of America today. Ordinary citizens, driven by a desire to go beyond rhetoric and ideology and address problems in a direct, practical way, are changing the way we live, work, and govern ourselves. The Quickening of America reveals how this new approach to solving our problems is indeed working--in local government, education, the workplace, human services, and the media. The authors criss-crossed America in search of democracy in action and found moving stories of ordinary people coming together to make their institutions meet their needs. Exploding the popular myths about public life, power, and self-interest that stop individuals from discovering the rewards of public involvement, they offer practical advice from ordinary Americans on how to get more involved. They detail specific guidelines that anyone can use in mastering the skills--the 'arts of democracy' necessary to be effective in public life, including lessons on strengthening personal skills in speaking, listening, conflict resolution, and more. More than a book, this is a hands-on resource that is simply written, uses interactive devices throughout, and has a useful resource section at the And.

Media reviews

Citations

• Booklist, 04/01/1994, Page 1411