[act-ma] Mon 4/5, talk: Overcoming political demoralization, frustration, and paralysis w author Paul Loeb

[pf soto]

*Lecture: Citizen Activism and Hope*
**

Paul Loeb, author, speaks
First Unitarian Church, 66 Marlborough St, Boston
Monday, April 5th at 7 pm

"/The voices Loeb finds demonstrate that courage can be another name for 
love./"---Alice Walker
 
How do we keep on working for change in tough political and economic 
times, and overcome the political demoralization, frustration, and 
paralysis, that so many people are feeling these days?  Paul Loeb, 
author of the bestselling books on citizen involvement _/Soul of a 
Citizen: Living With Conviction in Challenging Times/_ and _/The 
Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time 
of Fear/_ will explore how ordinary citizens can make their voices heard 
and actions count in a time when we're told neither matter.

He'll talk about how people get involved in larger community issues and 
what stops them from getting involved; how they burn out in exhaustion 
or maintain their commitment for the long haul; what we can learn from 
the citizen movements of the past.  Paul's Soul of a Citizen now has 
100,000 copies in print as an underground activist bestseller, and St 
Martin's Press is publishing [or just published] a wholly updated new 
edition in April 2010. Paul has woven in powerful new stories to address 
our current political landscape, with its mix of political hope and 
disappointment, obstruction and opportunity, and the key role, more than 
ever of citizen action. He's getting great responses to it and we hope 
you'll come to hear him.


Soul has inspired thousands of people to act and take a stand and become 
an activist classic The History Channel and the American Book 
Association named _/The Impossible Will Take a Little While/_ the #3 
political book of 2004, and the Sierra Club selected it one of six books 
year for their common reading program. Jonathan Kozol writes,  Soul's 
new edition is magnificent," Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller 
concludes "Paul Loeb brings hope for a better world in a time when we so 
urgently need it." The late Susan Sontag called Loeb "A national 
treasure." Kurt Vonnegut wrote "A lot of smart people who have some 
influence on the course of history will read and admire you---and learn 
from you." And Bill Moyers writes, "You are part of what's good about 
this world and I admire your work very much"

In addition to spending thirty-five years exploring citizen involvement, 
Paul Loeb ran a campus election engagement project that helped get 
students involved in 15 key states. Loeb explores what it's like to go 
up against Goliath, whether South African apartheid, the iron fist of 
Eastern European dictatorship, Mississippi segregation, or America's 
seemingly intractable political system. His stories don't sugarcoat the 
obstacles. But they replenish the wellsprings of our commitment by 
showing what keeps us keeping on--even when the odds seem overwhelming  
See www.paulloeb.org for information on Soul, The Impossible, Paul's 
three other books, and his lectures, click here to get his monthly 
articles, or become a fan on his Facebook page.
 
If you care about change in a world where most people are told their 
voices don't count, think of Paul's books and the chance to hear him 
speak as a gift to yourself--bread for the journey in a hard political 
time, sustenance to return to again and again when your spirit begins to 
flag.  And please pass on this notice to others, in your city and elsewhere.
 
COMMENTS ON SOUL OF A CITIZEN
"/Rich, engaging, clearly written. An essential book for anyone who 
wants to work for change./"---Howard Zinn
 
"/I stayed up half the night reading Soul of a Citizen, finding it a 
beautiful and morally transcendent work. Paul Loeb is a personal hero of 
mine who gives decency and generosity a political character, in the 
humblest of ways. The new edition is magnificent/."---Jonathan Kozol
 
 "/Soul has been a powerful inspiration to citizens acting for 
environmental sanity, showing how they can take committed stands, even 
if they don't know every last answer. The new edition is even more 
inspirational./" --Bill McKibben
 
 "/Brims with stirring stories of everyday heroes who saw something 
wrong, heeded the voice of their conscience, gathered support and, 
acting in concert with others, changed things and made a 
difference./"---Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"/Should be mandatory reading for anyone over the age of 12---especially 
every woman or man who has traded 'I give a damn' for 'I give 
up./'"---San Francisco Chronicle
 
"/When my daughter asked from college how to be an effective grassroots 
citizen, I gave her Paul's book. The new edition is even more 
powerful./"---Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, United Nations World 
Food Program


 "To really, truly understand why it's important for us all to stand up 
and act, and how to do it, read the new updated edition of Soul of a 
Citizen, an activist classic that belongs on the shelf right next to 
Saul Alinsky."---Thom Hartmann   

"/Soul of a Citizen has inspired countless students, faculty, and other 
readers since its publication a decade ago.  Amazing as that book was, 
this new version is even wiser, deeper, and more inspiring.  Loeb has 
given even more soul to his wonderful work./"
---Thomas Ehrlich, former president Indiana University

THE IMPOSSIBLE WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE: COMMENTS & REVIEWS
"This book can even make one hopeful about the future despite so many 
signs to the contrary."---Bill Moyers
 
"Hopeful, inspiring, and motivating... May well be required reading for 
us all."
---Sierra Club magazine            
 
"This might possibly be the most important collection of stories and 
essays you will ever read."    ---American Book Association & History 
Channel top-10 Fall 2004 political book list
 
"For anyone worn down The Impossible Will Take a Little While is a 
bracing double cappuccino!"---Barbara Ehrenreich

 "Deeply moving and motivating... a retinue to be reckoned with; a 
plethora of commentary from those dedicated to the concept of a better 
world"---Baltimore Sun
 
"A much needed salvo against despair."---Psychology Today
 
"A must read"   ---Teaching Tolerance
 
"A song of hope in these difficult times."---Bonnie Raitt
 
 "A magnificent anthology celebrates hope, guts, and the power of taking 
action." ---The Oprah Magazine [Lead Review]
 
"Stunning insights...educational and inspirational."         ---Seattle 
Times
 
"A stirring collection of essays aimed at people who still want to 
believe that ordinary people can change the world."---Atlanta Journal 
Constitution
 
"Some of the most powerful voices of our time."---Boston Globe
 
"A wonderful book, with some extraordinary folks contributing. It 
reminds us that darkness always comes before the dawn."       ---Reg 
Weaver, president, National Education Association



-- 
"/If you don't take responsibility for what goes in your mind, someone 
else will/" ~Paul McKenna, PhD

pf soto
rule19.org <http://rule19.org>
UPandOUT.org <http://upandout.org>
AZAPOI.org <http://azapoi.org>

	


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