VOTE! In the run-up to the election, that message is everywhere from billboards to social media. Sometimes it seems like a routine exhortation. Other times it feels like voting has been weaponized, a way to reward people we like and … Read More
Cooperative Wisdom can show up in the most unexpected places. Recently, I had to make two customer service calls. Nobody enjoys these calls. They happen only when something has gone amiss. In one case, a radio that was supposed to … Read More
Small towns exercise a particular hold over the American imagination. Many people imagine life would be idlyllic in a place where you run into people who knew your parents or even your grandparents whenever you stop in at the hardware … Read More
Every New Year is an opportunity to renew our sense of purpose. For us, that means thinking about how we can become more compassionate, discerning, imaginative, integrated and courageous in practicing Cooperative Wisdom. After a little brainstorming, we came up … Read More
Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Wildfires. This has been a season of extreme events. The media present graphic images of destruction, and heartbreaking stories of people who have lost everything. Often, we also hear stories of first responders, professionals and people-on-the-scene who act … Read More
“Most people try to do the right thing most of the time.” That’s the first line in our book, Cooperative Wisdom. Recent events in Charlottesville force us to be explicit about the corollary: Sometimes, some people don’t try to do … Read More
(Photo first appeared on Elephant Seal Notes. Used by permission of nature4peace.) The little seal didn’t look good. The first time I passed it on the beach, I didn’t even see it because it resembled one of the many rocks … Read More
No matter what happens next week, one thing is certain. After the election, our country will need Cooperative Wisdom to recover from an especially corrosive campaign. Regardless of who wins, there will be a change in the political environment, and … Read More
In Cooperative Wisdom, one of the essential social virtues is Intentional Imagination. When we face problems that are likely to result in conflict, we can often change the dynamic by challenging premises. One of the practices we recommend involves “what … Read More
Cooperative Wisdom starts with the understanding that environments, both natural and social, are always changing. The changes may be rapid and obvious; they may be slow and subtle. In both cases, Cooperative Wisdom directs us, “Be alert for opportunities and … Read More