'A careful and thoughtful provocation' (Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury) Ambitiously placed at the intersection of scientific insights and spiritual wisdom, Human Flourishing prompts us to reflect on what constitutes a good life and the choices that can help achieve it. For thousands of years, humans have asked 'Why we are here?' and 'What makes for a good life?' At different times, different answers have held sway. Nowadays, there are more answers proposed than ever. Much of humanity still finds the ultimate answers to such questions in religion. But in countries across the globe, secular views are widely held. In any event, whether religious or secular, individuals, communities and governments still have to make decisions about what people get from life. This book therefore examines what is meant by human flourishing and see what it has to offer for those seeking after truth, meaning and purpose. This is a book written for anyone who wants a future for themselves, their children, and their fellow humans - a future that enables flourishing, pays due consideration to issues of truth and helps us find meaning and purpose in our lives. At a time when most of us are bombarded with messages about what we should or should not do to live healthily, attain a work-life balance and find meaning, a careful consideration of the contributions of both scientific insight and spiritual wisdom provides a new angle. This is therefore a book that not only helps readers clarify their views and see things afresh but also help them improve their own well-being in an age of AI and other new technologies.
'A realistic approach to positive thinking' Sunday Times Do you want to be better at pursuing goals, grasping opportunities and facing set-backs? Do you want to FLOURISH? Psychologist Maureen Gaffney believes that in an increasingly uncertain world it is not only possible for us to flourish but essential that we take steps to do so. In Flourishing she shows you how to: Achieve a deeper sense of well-being, meaning and purpose Use adversity as a positive turning point Train your mind to pay attention Master your emotions and focus on your goals This gripping, stimulating and inspiring book will help you change your life for the better. Get ready to flourish!
In an era of global warming, natural disasters, endangered species, and devastating pollution, contemporary writing on the environment largely focuses on doomsday scenarios. Eben Kirksey suggests we reject such apocalyptic thinking and instead find possibilities in the wreckage of ongoing disasters, as symbiotic associations of opportunistic plants, animals, and microbes are flourishing in unexpected places. Emergent Ecologies uses artwork and contemporary philosophy to illustrate hopeful opportunities and reframe key problems in conservation biology such as invasive species, extinction, environmental management, and reforestation. Following the flight of capital and nomadic forms of life—through fragmented landscapes of Panama, Costa Rica, and the United States—Kirksey explores how chance encounters, historical accidents, and parasitic invasions have shaped present and future multispecies communities. New generations of thinkers and tinkerers are learning how to care for emergent ecological assemblages—involving frogs, fungal pathogens, ants, monkeys, people, and plants—by seeding them, nurturing them, protecting them, and ultimately letting go.
This books taps into the powerful imagery of trees to suggest ways that one may sink roots into God's Word and grow strong branches that bear the fruits of faith.
Explains the four pillars of well-being--meaning and purpose, positive emotions, relationships, and accomplishment--placing emphasis on meaning and purpose as the most important for achieving a life of fulfillment.
This book could not be timelier as it neared completion during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. Flourishing in Uncertain Times is a work that will inspire in a time when the world needs inspiration. It is a fresh look at the power of prayer and faith in a world that changes from day to day. This innovative book creates synergy and challenges leaders to move beyond the fundamentals and stand on the promises of God. You will enjoy this challenging read as you use these principles to lead and teach others to lead.
In this ground-breaking book, pre-eminent thought leader in the fields of sustainability and flourishing, John R. Ehrenfeld, critiques the concept of sustainability as it is understood today and which is coming more and more under attack as unclear and ineffective as a call for action. Building upon the recent work of cognitive scientist, Iain McGilchrist, who argues that the human brain’s two hemispheres present distinct different worlds, this book articulates how society must replace the current foundational left-brain-based beliefs – a mechanistic world and a human driven by self interest – with new ones based on complexity and care. Flourishing should replace the lifeless metrics now being used to guide business and government, as well as individuals. Until we accept that our modern belief structure is, itself, the barrier, we will continue to be mired in an endless succession of unsolved problems.
There’s a growing pattern of not just individual leaders, but entire cultures rebelling against old and ineffectual ways that have long defined what it means to lead. At the heart of rebel leadership is the emergence of five patterns seen in leading organizations across sectors. Together, these patterns outline a framework for how to successfully meet this turbulent new century and thrive. Rebel Leadership will not only reveal these patterns, but will teach the reader how to tap into the power of this framework and make it their own. More precisely, Rebel Leadership will teach readers: • What lies at the heart of success, no matter how much the environmental conditions might change • How leadership is counterintuitively at its most powerful when it moves across individuals and cultures • That, inevitably, there is only one truly sustainable competitive advantage in uncertain times • Where leaders can find the best source for lowering risk in a changing world • Why a long-term view has less to do with the long-term and far more to do with this moment than you’d ever imagine “There are few skills as important as leadership—a skill we must constantly relearn, every one of us, now more than ever. This book is your guide and compass.” Kevin Guskiewicz, Chancellor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “There is no more timely or more important book for those who lead in these uncertain times. Uncertainty is our new normal, or as Robertson writes, our new abnormal—leaders either accept it or they perish. This brilliant, forward-thinking book, its vivid examples, and deep insights, will help you to not only survive uncertainty, but to thrive in it.” Tom Koulopoulos, author, Revealing the Invisible and The Gen Z Effect “We live in times of change and rapid adjustment. Many aspects of how we do things will require sensible and well-thought-through revisions. Our approach to leadership must change as well. The question is how. Larry Robertson’s newest book gives that question the needed time and attention it deserves. The result is at once insightful, revealing, and instructive. The lessons are relatable and powerful. The stories make you feel a part of them. And when you finish, you don’t just feel prepared to lead in a new way, you realize he’s already launched you on your journey. Read this book.” Milena Z. Fisher, Ph.D., President, Co-Founder, The Creativity Post “Bob Marley was a Soul Rebel. Ruth Ginsburg was a Gender Rebel. In his new, must-read, book, Larry Robertson challenges us all to embrace ‘Rebel Leadership.’ In the post-Covid era, we’ll need to run toward new ideas about how to create lasting change, and as usual, Larry charts a course we can follow with daring and audacity.” Robert Egger, Founding Board Member, World Central Kitchen “Rebel Leadership offers a refreshing approach to leading in an environment where we can no longer wait to ride out the waves of uncertainty. With a blend of surprising insights, actionable ideas, and vivid storytelling, it’s a must-read for leaders looking for new ways to navigate an ever-changing business landscape.” Teri Evans, former Columnist Desk Editor, Inc. Magazine “Whatever role you fill, whatever game you play, to be at your best, you’ve got to take a bigger view. Seeing beyond your own position, but also beyond the game itself, is so important—never more so than today. When that’s your habit, you see more options, make better decisions, and set yourself up to lead with excellence—no matter what role you play. In Rebel Leadership, Larry Robertson takes the meaning of all this to a whole new level. You’ll come away inspired and wiser for the read. It’s a book worthy of your time and attention, no matter what game you play.” Terry Malone, Football Coach, New Orleans Saints, Michigan Wolverines, Bowling Green Falcons “Leadership isn’t a title needing to be filled. More than ever, it is a true responsibility, both individual and collective. The ripple effects of the choices we make matter as never before. Larry Robertson’s Rebel Leadership reflects this understanding, and opens our minds up to a new and necessary way to approach leadership. He sheds important light on why some organizations are thriving in this new and deeply unpredictable landscape, and offers important and rarified insights into the true sources of organizational power and adaptability. The book will change your view, but more importantly, it will increase your return on leadership.” Janeen Gelbart, CEO, Co-founder, Indiggo/Return on Leadership® “As change and uncertainty accelerate, today’s organizations risk being engulfed by chaos or denying reality. Rebel Leadership gives us the framework to actively engage and build a more adaptable and agile culture in which to thrive. With page-turning prose and compelling stories and examples, Rebel Leadership gives you a new, better, and more impactful view of leadership.” Tripp Eldredge, President, CEO, DMR/Interactive
