Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit (Hardback) By (author) Parker J. Palmer

Full bibliographic data for Healing the Heart of Democracy

Title

Healing the Heart of Democracy

Subtitle

The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit

Authors and contributors

By (author) Parker J. Palmer

Physical properties

Format: Hardback
Number of pages: 256
Width: 161 mm
Height: 233 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight: 446 g

Audience

General/trade
Professional and scholarly

Language

English

ISBN

ISBN 13: 9780470590805
ISBN 10: 0470590807

Classifications

BISAC category code: POL007000
Dewey: 320.973
BISAC category code: POL003000
BISAC category code: POL016000
Dewey: 321.8
Nielsen BookScan Product Class: T7.3
BICMainSubject: JPHV

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Imprint name

John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Publication date

29 September 2011

Publication City/Country

Chichester/GB

Main description

At a critical time in American life, Parker J. Palmer looks with realism and hope at how to deal with our political tensions for the sake of the common good—without the shouting, blaming, or defaming so common in our politics today.In his newest book, Parker J. Palmer builds on his own extensive experience as an inner life explorer and social change activist to examine the personal and social infrastructure of American politics. What he did for educators in The Courage to Teach he does here for citizens by looking at the dynamics of our inner lives for clues to reclaiming our civic well-being. In Healing the Heart of Democracy, he points the way to a politics rooted in the commonwealth of compassion and creativity still found among "We the People.""Democracy," writes Palmer, "is a non-stop experiment in the strengths and weaknesses of our political institutions, local communities, and the human heart—and its outcome can never be taken for granted. The experiment is endless, unless we blow up the lab, and the explosives to do the job are found within us. But so also is the heart's alchemy that can turn suffering into compassion, conflict into community, and tension into energy for creativity amid democracy's demands."Healing the Heart of Democracy names the "habits of the heart" we need to revitalize our politics and shows how they can be formed in the everyday venues of our lives. Palmer proposes practical and hopeful methods to hold the tensions of our differences in a manner that can help us restore a government "of the people, by the people, for the people."Praise for Healing the Heart of Democracy"We have been trying to bridge the great divides in this great country for a long time. In this book, Parker J. Palmer urges us to 'keep on walking, keep on talking'—just as we did in the civil rights movement—until we cross those bridges together." —Congressman John Lewis, recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom"A book born for this moment. Wise, evocative, and pragmatic at its core, this dream for a new politics is grounded in dignity and liberty for all." —Terry Tempest Williams, author, The Open Space of Democracy"The most important manifesto in generations for breaking through the divisiveness that has paralyzed our democracy." —Bill Shore, founder of Share Our Strength; author, The Imaginations of Unreasonable Men"All who harbor concerns about American politics will find in this book a wise and kindred spirit who reminds us of choices we can make to help 'reweave the tattered fabric of our civic life.' You will close this book appreciating how much you can do, and how much depends on you." —Diana Chapman Walsh, president emerita, Wellesley College"Breaks new ground in marrying the capacity of the human heart with the tensions inherent in politics [and] breathes new life into what it means to be a citizen—accountable, compassionate, fiercely realistic." —Peter Block and John McKnight, coauthors, The Abundant Community"The book we need for recovering the heart—the very core—of our selves and our democracy." —Krista Tippett, host, American Public Media's Being author, Einstein's God"Could not be more timely and needed. As one who has been guided through a time of personal reflection with Parker Palmer, I invite you to join in a journey through these chapters." —Congresswoman Lois Capps, grandmother, mother, nurse, and seeker after democracy

Flap copy

"Healing the Heart of Democracy""For those of us who want to see democracy survive and thrive--and we are legion--the heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where we can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life for us and for our nation." --From the PreludeAt this critical moment in American life, Parker J. Palmer looks with realism and hope at how to deal with our political tensions for the sake of the common good.Building on his decades of social activism and inner life exploration, Palmer examines ways to restore the invisible infrastructure of American politics. What he did for educators in The Courage to Teach he does here for citizens by seeking answers to democracy's dilemmas within us and between us. He points the way to a politics rooted in the commonwealth of creativity and courage still found among "We the People.""Democracy...," writes Palmer, "is a nonstop experiment in the strength and weakness of our political institutions, our local communities and associations, and the human heart " The democratic experiment is endless, unless we blow up the lab, and the explosives to do the job are found within us. But so also is the heart's alchemy that can turn suffering into community, conflict into the energy of creativity, and tension into an opening toward the common good."Palmer names the "habits of the heart" we need to revitalize our politics and shows how they can be formed in the everyday venues of our lives. He proposes practical, promising ways to hold the tensions of our differences for the sake of restoring a government "of the people, by the people, for the people."

Back cover copy

Praise for "Healing the Heart of Democracy""We have been trying to bridge the great divides in this great country for a long time. In this book, Parker J. Palmer urges us to 'keep on walking, keep on talking'--just as we did in the civil rights movement--until we cross those bridges together." --Congressman John Lewis, recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom"A book born for this moment. Wise, evocative, and pragmatic at its core, this dream for a new politics is grounded in dignity and liberty for all." --Terry Tempest Williams, author, "The Open Space of Democracy""The most important manifesto in generations for breaking through the divisiveness that has paralyzed our democracy." --Bill Shore, founder of Share Our Strength; author, "The Imaginations of Unreasonable Men""All who harbor concerns about American politics will find in this book a wise and kindred spirit who reminds us of choices we can make to help 'reweave the tattered fabric of our civic life.' You will close this book appreciating how much you can do, and how much depends on you." --Diana Chapman Walsh, president emerita, Wellesley College"Breaks new ground in marrying the capacity of the human heart with the tensions inherent in politics [and] breathes new life into what it means to be a citizen--accountable, compassionate, fiercely realistic." --Peter Block and John McKnight, coauthors, "The Abundant Community""The book we need for recovering the heart--the very core--of our selves and our democracy." --Krista Tippett, host, American Public Media's Being author, "Einstein's God""Could not be more timely and needed. As one who has been guided through a time of personal reflection with Parker Palmer, I invite you to join in a journey through these chapters." --Congresswoman Lois Capps, grandmother, mother, nurse, and seeker after democracy

Review quote

"He bravely takes on the current political climate, and this book provides therapy for the American body politic. His insights are heart-deep: America gains by living with tension and differences; we can help reclaim public life by actions as simple as walking down the street instead of driving. Hope's hardly cheap, but history is made up of what Palmer calls 'a million invisible acts of courage and the incremental gains that came with them.' This beautifully written book deserves a wide audience that will benefit from discussing it." ( Publishers Weekly , 8 August 2011) " Healing the Heart of Democracy is a hopeful book that lifts up and hallows the heart as a source of inner sight. Inspired by the efforts to understand and undergird democracy by Abraham Lincoln, Alexis de Tocqueville, Rosa Parks, and others; the author sends us on our way rejoicing with the small portion of hope that he has planted in our minds and souls." ( Spirituality & Practice ) "There is a deep and disturbing cloud hanging over the United States. It is a malaise that is leading to cynicism and self-centeredness. The antidote is to be found in the healing of the heart of our democracy, so that we might emerge from this private focus to a public one, which recognizes our interdependence. I know of no better guide to discerning the problem and the solutions, than this book by Parker Palmer. It is a prophetic book, one that needs to be taken with all due seriousness, if we are to emerge from our malaise stronger and healthier than before." ( Englewood Review of Books , 2011) "[Palmer] has been constantly on the move intellectually and spiritually, a kind of Socratic gadfly in American life... [His] politics is not the politics of despair or...of inevitable progress, but...of people trying to live better lives as they attempt to work together for a better society." ( Christian Century ) "I recommend this book to absolutely everyone-on any side of the political spectrum, and especially to folks like me, who were standing aside, wringing their hands and wishing for a better democracy." (Beliefnet.com) "If you're looking for a way to reclaim the best of democracy to shape our nation's future, this is a book worth spending some time with." ( The Cap Times )

Biographical note

Parker J. Palmer 's writing speaks deeply to people in many walks of life. Author of nine books-including the bestsellers The Courage to Teach, Let Your Life Speak , and A Hidden Wholeness -Palmer is the founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal. His work has been recognized with ten honorary doctorates and many national awards, including the 2010 William Rainey Harper Award, previously won by Margaret Mead, Paulo Freire, and Elie Wiesel.

Table of contents

Prelude The Politics of the Brokenhearted 1 Chapter I Democracy's Ecosystem 11 Chapter II Confessions of an Accidental Citizen 29 Chapter III The Heart of Politics 49 Chapter IV The Loom of Democracy 69 Chapter V Life in the Company of Strangers 89 Chapter VI Classrooms and Congregations 119 Chapter VII Safe Space for Deep Democracy 151 Chapter VIII The Unwritten History of the Heart 175 Gratitudes 195 Notes 199 The author 219 Index 221