So Far from Home: Lost and Found in Our Brave New World

Wheatley's words offer encouragement to anyone who longs for a more just world but finds little evidence of hope grounded in reality and not merely in dreams. Yet her hope is severely tempered and comes close, at times, to surrendering to despair. At times, it seems she has been disappointed one too many times. But haven't we all?Her insights are not new but they are fresh. Wheatley reminds us not to succumb to the temptation of perfection but, rather, to be mindful that it is the journey, the path, that matters and in which meaning and peace reside. She writes that "[h]ope is such a dangerous source of motivation." She described the "warriors" weapons, to challenge the power that destroys life, as being compassion and insight. Yet I am a bit uneasy about her reluctance to more boldly embrace love as the primary if not sole source and sustaining power behind those who desire (or who are called) to walk the difficult path of what some would call righteousness.Wheatley cites Trungpa for the proposition that "our strength grows as a consequence of our commitment to serve the world," but the core question is, what is the source of that commitment? Is it merely insight? If so, it is tenuous at best. For reasons not entirely clear to me, Wheatley seems hesitant to name or fully embrace this source. Perhaps it is an attempt to keep distance with faith traditions that have been distorted, misrepresented and, in the eyes of many, discredited. That's understandable, but the substitute seems a bit shallow.I love Wheatley's discussion about systems and organizations. She possesses a deep understanding of the essence of collective bodies and systems and the reasons they are resistant to change and adaptation. Her discussion about the impact of technology (in particular, the Internet) is insightful albeit a bit dismissive of the positive contributions of technology. Implicit in her discussion seems to be the purity of more primitive times. But perhaps I'm reading too much into her words. In any event, I remain skeptical of both explicit and implied criticisms of digital technology and its supposed erosion of human values. Nonetheless, I found Wheatley's discussion of these matters to be both thoughtful and thought provoking.In my mind, the real test of Wheatley's insights, wisdom and words--indeed, her lament--is the extent to which it engenders reflection and action. It is potentially considerable. I find myself reaching for the book repeatedly, and, despite the fact it seems to pull up short in some respects, I suspect it will remain a source of contemplation and reflection for quite some time. It also would be a great avenue for rich group discussion.

Margaret Wheatley's book was recommended by a friend, who stated "Everyone in every industry that serves people needs to read this book." He was right. He stated "without this book, I would not be doing what I do." Since this person helps a lot of people, I immediately started reading. I'm glad I did.Margaret Wheatley repeatedly apologizes for her message--that the world is broken, and we cannot hope to fix it. I see no reason to apologize--she has not caused the brokenness in society. She does, however, discuss the following: 1. The world is broken. 2. We cannot fix it. 3. We do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Somewhere along the way our inner peace and calm will bring solace to those around us.Margaret discusses, in an abundance of detail, the disenfranchisement of the individual from organizations, of leadership from people, and of us from each other. She blames some of this on greed and ambition, and attributes more on technology, which she says has given us the propensity to sterilize our contacts. Her thoughts are necessary. I related to so many of the situations in this book--I did not agree with everything Margaret said on the issue of technology making us totally devolve, but her reminders that we need to be cognizant of keeping personal connections in tact in the face of a society that ever increasingly relies on text and email were timely.Her thoughts on organizational un-effectiveness remind me not to fight windmills and to stay encouraged. Her thoughts on hope being a great evil were shocking at first, but when she paired hope and fear in an ever-present roller coaster of disappointment, she had me thinking of ways to transcend that roller coaster and to improve at bringing peace, tranquility, and balance into my spirit, at being more present in my own life, rather than tangled up things outside my control.As such, I did not find her message depressing at all, I found it validating, inspirational, and encouraging. I'm grateful for this recommendation.

I have always enjoyed Wheatley's writing, but this book is unlike her others. As always, she is profound, challenging, and honest. It is a book worth reading because it will challenge you. Ultimately I rejected the central premise.The backdrop of the book is that the Earth is doomed, and our work is largely fruitless. Society won't get better. By letting go of hope and fear Wheatley tells us that we can become warriors for the human spirit, doing our good work without expectation for any kind of result.I recognize many of the themes in this book as arising from Buddhist philosophy, such as the idea that we should focus on compassion rather than striving.You will be invited to face the reality of our doom and to spend time feeling grief. The author believes that grief is a realistic reaction to the state of the world.The author gives examples on how to be a warrior for the human spirit, but they seem pretty small. One example is working to not get angry when a cashier is on a cell phone and ignoring you. (Being aware of Triggers) Another is visiting people in person to have good conversations.I am glad I read this book, but I admit I came away feeling a bit perturbed. Perhaps Wheatley believed for a long time that her work (and that of others) would create a change in human consciousness. When that didn't happen in one lifetime, she declares the experiment void and decides to focus on not getting angry in the checkout line.Now she invites us to join her there.Who knows? Perhaps the shift in focus is what we need to get on the right track. Perhaps all we can do is live good lives and let everything else sort itself out. But I find her vision based on an assumption I can't quite swallow - that mourning is a healthy reaction to the challenges we face. I'm not so inclined to give up.

this is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the planet but doesnt know where to start. It focuses on doing "the right work", in other words being and doing the best you can do, with commitment and patience even when it is difficult. It is a great reminder that saving the planet is not something you can do, but you can do the right work and by example encourage others to do their right work. Brilliant.

Grounded, mind blowing. Worth reading for anyone involved in social and or environmental activism. Margaret's words are powerful, clear and thought and heart provoking.

When you wish to work in areas of positive change and yet despair at the huge task- this book encourages and gives practical practices. You are not alone in wanting a kinder world.

I enjoyed the book and was left wanting more. I will go back and read it again. Insights for my meditation practice.

beautiful gift, realistic and inviting