Synopses & Reviews
What if kindness were a prerequisite for many of the things we take for granted in this world, like our institutions? Our legal system? Our schools? Our government? With the help of celebrities, soldiers, politicians, homeless street vendors, political prisoners, activists, and entrepreneurs, I asked for new views of kindness to give it an edge and a vitality that this world sorely misses.
The concept of kindness is often perceived as a passive, weak quality. The idea occurred to me to reclaim this word and the meaning of it from those who would suggest that it is merely a quality we should "practice randomly." Kindness should not be random; kindness should be deliberate and bold and aggressive. Real kindness is active and alive. This inspirational gift book seeks to turn the preconception of 'kindness' on its head--to revolutionize our thinking about it and redefine it as a moral and ethical value, and to recognize those unconventional places where it is found.
Featuring original contributions from a wide variety of creative individuals including:
Entertainers: Annie Lennox, Wayne Hemingway, Goldie Hawn, Melanie Griffith, Linus Roache, Angelina Jolie, and more . . .
Contemporary philosophers: David Korten, Ralph Nader, Matthew Fox and more . . .
Activists: John Bird, Charlie Kernaghan and more . . .
Outsiders: political prisoners, homeless people, asylum seekers, native-rights activists and more . . .
Synopsis
Anita Roddick is not only one of the most successful businesswomen in the world, she's also one of the most effective campaigners for social justice of our time. In A Revolution in Kindness Roddick brings together a wide variety of voices speaking on the subject of kindness. Entertainers, philosophers, political prisoners, writers, fashion designers, and rock n' rollers are all represented, along with poignant thoughts from the invisible, homeless, and disenfranchised. This provocative book turns the preconception of kindness on its head. Its entries are deliberate, strong, assertive, and incite action to make the world a better place now. The contributions of Annie Lenox, Antonio Banderas, Lao Tzu, Kahlil Gibran, Fritjov Capra, Angelina Jolie, and many others are presented on individually designed pages with illustrations throughout. "This beautifully designed two-color gift book package is a call to action that will appeal to a wide range of people. "Anita Roddick is one of the most powerful and influential activists for social change. The international chain of stores that she founded, The Body Shop, is known for enacting many of her visionary beliefs of fair trade, environmental awareness, animal protection, and respect for human rights through programs including Trade Not Aid. "Most of the contributors are household names, including rock n rollers, movie stars, and spiritual leaders.