The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community | 
|  | | | Title: | The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community | | Author: | David C Korten | | Publisher: | Berrett-Koehler Publishers | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 01 April, 2003 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 1887208089 / 9781887208086 | | List Price: | $19.95 | | You Save: | $6.38 | | Amazon Price: | $13.57 | |
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Product Description
*Sweeping survey of world history offering a new understanding of the key challenge of our time
*Offers a positive message of hope for a sustainable and just future and a practical strategy for getting there
In The Great Turning, David Korten argues that "Empire," the organization of society through hierarchy and violence has always resulted in misery for the many and fortune for the few, but now it threatens the very future of humanity as Empire has become unsustainable and destructive.
Korten traces the roots of Empire and charts the evolution of its instruments of control, from absolute monarchies to the multinational institutions of the global economy. He describes efforts to develop democratic alternatives to Empire, such as the founding of the United States and shows how elitists with an imperial agenda have undermined the "American experiment."
Empire is not inevitable, and we can turn away from it. Korten draws on evidence from evolutionary theory, developmental psychology, and religious teachings to show that a life-centered, egalitarian, sustainable, democratic "Earth Community" is possible.
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Customer Reviews:
• Fantasizing 30 January, 2008
The Great Turning is a horribly naive account of what steps are necessary in order to save the planet. Based on fairly arbitrary essentializing and an unfortunate dose of anthropocentrism, he does a fair job criticizing our current predicament but his goals are largely absurd. He talks of those in power being psychopaths, and yet believes that people could just walk away from that system to create some imaginary utopian society he has detailed down to his preferences. He doesn't account for details such as that the planet can't maintain the developed and technologized society he wants, and ignores the role of technology in breaking down the community values he wants. Nor can the planet maintain 6.5 billion people as he seems to think it should, as we far past our carrying capacity of (optimistically) 1 billion. The Green Revolution, built on chemicals derived from natural gas and petroleum, make up most of the difference, and those are being quickly depleted.
Do yourself a favor and read Derrick Jensen's Endgame instead.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A6SNQRP62PLJR
• Into The Mess, Out Of The Mess 11 September, 2008
The planet's in trouble. That means we're in trouble. Korten gives us a history lesson, then describes our current context and ends by pointing toward a sustainable future. Rape of the environment and practicing highly distorted forms of capitalism and globilization must end.
The author's scenarios are accurate and his conclusions sound. Some reviewers have been disappointed that The Great Turning is short on solutions. I think that a critical first step is to wake up. Korten succeeds in helping us do that (or we've been awake but thought we were alone). For what it does accomplish, I feel compelled to give The Great Turning five stars.
--Jack H. Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3NEL387HPSOF9
• Life Beyond Recession 01 December, 2008
The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community (BK Currents)An excellent analysis of how we came to where we are, and how we might move to a more swustainable and satisfying future for human kind.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1QQ1UGPPEH6HG
• Turning The Great Ship Of Human Civilization 17 March, 2008
This is an important book, one that I wish everyone could read. It is a well written synthesis not just of what is wrong with our civilization but what is hopeful and what could be changed. So many books are given over to a pessimistic litany of what we have done wrong that I find many people don't care to pick up a book like this out of frustration and hopelessness.
This book is the exact panacea to that condition. Korten is a true "elder" with a very impressive resume including professor at Harvard, military service, work in the private sector and heading NGO and aid organizations through out the world. He has a unique perspective in analyzing our history, culture and present predicament and showing what is wrong and revealing how it could be corrected.
I did feel that at times he oversimplified his criticism of all large corporations as bad and all small local business, organization and government as good when evidence and experience often shows the opposite.
I often think of times when there is a strong national concensus to protect resources over a local source of opposition.
Despite the slight flaws in his grand picture the overall impression is clear, thought provoking, novel, and important to consider. This is an inspiring book and should be widely read. Hopefully this will help to turn the ship.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3JNK8I4IC8KV1
• Essential Reading For Our Time 08 May, 2008
This is the essential read of our time. David Korten lays out the backgroud and the gameplan in full detail. If you want to have the perspective to understand just what has been going with our society just sit down and digest this book. This work certainly represents the culmination of David Korten's research and deep thinking on just how we got ourselves in to such a mess and how to solve the problems facing us.
It's not an easy read, but it is an essential read if you want to be part of the resolution. If you can initiate just a few of his suggestions, we will be on our way.
J. Marshall Gilmore
Attorney
Winter Park, FL, USA
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1L9S1VBN3V46N
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