A Fuller View: Buckminster Fuller's Vision of Hope and Abundance for All [Paperback]

L. Steven Sieden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

"How do we make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone?"
- Buckminster Fuller

Known as a "Leonardo da Vinci of the twentieth century," futurist, poet, philosopher, engineer, designer, inventor, and architect Dr. R. Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller had a keen awareness that we're all in this together.  Understanding that we humans don't have a clue about how to operate our fragile Spaceship Earth, Bucky provided insightful solutions both personal and global to our most challenging issues, including war, overpopulation, housing, increasing inflation, health care, the energy crisis, and much more. For all its genius, Bucky's legacy has yet to be fully uncovered until the publication of "A Fuller View." The world needs to hear Bucky's voice as it calls upon each of us to shift our focus and resources from  weaponry to livingry.

"If there's anything as rewarding as reading Bucky Fuller, it is opening pages of dialogue with him by some of the heartiest minds of our time. The ongoing dialogue brings ongoing life.  Praise to Steve Sieden for making this happen."
- Joanna Macy, Eco-philosopher, Buddhist scholar and author of: World As Lover, World As Self; Widening Circles

"Buckminster Fuller was  a key guiding light for most of us still engaged around the world and striving to bring forth his vision of a just , peaceful, ecologically sustainable world.  This book is one of the great literary treasures of the 21th Century ."
- Hazel Henderson, Author: Building a Win -Win World  and Ethical Markets:Growing The Green Economy

"Steven Sieden has captured the many facets of Buckminster Fuller in a way that is both understandable and inspiring.  The inclusion of wide array of Guest Commentators allows A Fuller View to provide a unique vision of Bucky's comprehensive strategy and reminds us that we're all in this together on the planet Bucky named Spaceship Earth."
- John Robbins Author: No Happy Cows; The Food Revolution; Diet for a New America;  A New Good Life

"A Fuller View let me see the remarkable man from many new facets of the unique polyvertexion that is Bucky.  As powerful as Fuller's insights will always be, reading the impact his presence had on so many lives helped humanize one of the great minds of my lifetime."
- Foster Gamble, Creator and Host of the THRIVE movie

"Bucky Fuller challenged the system and offered positive solutions to all our challenges - both global and personal.  "A Fuller View" reminds us that each of us can make a difference, and using Bucky's solutions will benefit us all. He's one of my heroes and I'm so very proud to be included as a contributor."
- Robert White, Executive Coach and author, Living an Extraordinary Life

"A Fuller View offers inspiration for how to respond creatively, compassionately and wisely to the myriad of opportunities and challenges of these times.  A brilliant collection of insights from people who have taken Bucky's wisdom to heart!"

-  Dr. Joel Levey & Michelle Levey, Social architects and founders of WisdomAtWork.com.  Authors: Luminous Mind; Wisdom at Work; Living in Balance

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Buckminster Fuller reminded us of the extraordinary things that are possible, and inspires all of us to set about doing them! This book elucidates his thinking, honors his spirit and creates an enthusiasm for continuing his work."
- Marianne Williamson, Author:  A Return To Love and Healing the Soul of America.

"Prepare to have your world turned upside down - or more correctly really right side up. This book of great quotations from Buckminster Fuller shows us how to take evolution's next step as exemplified by the words of 42 guest commentators who are doing just that."
- Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder Apple Computer and Chief Scientist Fusion-io.

"A Fuller View brings Bucky's incredible teachings into full view at a time when we need to hear his clear and wise voice. Everyone alive should read.  It will set you on a path of truth, transformation and integrity. Buy it, read it, tell everyone!"
- Lynne Twist, Author: The Soul of Money and Co-founder The Pachamama Alliance

"Bucky Fuller manifested his dreams in a way that contributed to us all.  Steven Sieden restates Bucky's vision so that we can all follow the path and wisdom of a great man.  I recommend everyone read A Fuller View and recognize it as another message from the universe."
- Mike Dooley, Author: Notes From the Universe; Manifesting Change

"These pages are bursting forth with wisdom, compassion, insight and exuberant discovery.  A book to be read, and re-read, to be shared, absorbed and implemented.  Timely, transformative, and deeply engaging, it opens new doors into the rich and brilliant legacy of Bucky Fuller."
- Velcrow Ripper, Director:  Occupy Love; Scared Sacred

Book Description

“The most important thing about Spaceship Earth – an instruction book didn’t come with it.”
— Bucky Fuller

Known as a “Leonardo da Vinci of the twentieth century,” engineer, designer, inventor, and futurist Dr. R. Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller had a keen awareness that we’re all in this together. Understanding that we humans don’t have a clue about how to operate our fragile Spaceship Earth, Buckminster provided insightful design science solutions to our most challenging issues, including war, overpopulation, housing, increasing inflation, health care, the energy crisis, and much more. For all its genius, Fuller’s legacy has yet to be fully discovered. The world needs to hear Buckminster’s voice as it calls upon each of us to shift our intellectual and technological resources from creating weaponry to creating livingry.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Divine Arts (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1611250099
• ISBN-13: 978-1611250091
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

L. STEVEN SIEDEN has been a student of and advocate for Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller since 1981 when Steven spent three months on a beach studying Fuller's classic "Critical Path." He worked on Fuller's Integrity Days - the last series of public appearances Fuller made, and when Fuller died in July 1983, Steven began working with The Buckminster Fuller Institute to produce events using a portion of Fuller's vast recorded archive. He also began learning more about Fuller's life and ideas, and his research led to the 1988 biography "Buckminster Fuller's Universe" (currently Basic Books 2000).

Since 1981, Steven has continued to study and apply Fuller's wisdom to his own life while writing and lecturing on the lessons we can all learn from Bucky. Following a major "heart initiation" (a.k.a. quadruple bypass open heart surgery), Steven had his own epiphany and got the message that Fuller's ideas needed to be spread more fully, especially among the younger generations. Thus, the impetus for his new book "A Fuller View: Buckminster Fuller's Vision of Hope and Abundance for All" (Divine Arts Media, April 2012) and the volumes to follow.

Steven lives in Seattle, Washington on planet Earth where he continues to receive "downloads" of Buckminster Fuller insights and support while connecting with and supporting others who have access to Fuller's wisdom and experience. For more information go to www.BuckyFullerNow.com or www.BuckminsterFullerNow.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, maybe. Groundbreaking? Not at all. November 28, 2012

By Anon.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is cloyingly inspirational. It suffers from a complete lack of critical commentary about Fuller's work, and instead is like a smorgasbord of tributes and adulations by a large number of Bucky acolytes. As such, it simply continues the hagiographic treatment of Buckminster Fuller without adding anything new to scholarship about him.

"A Fuller View" is like "Chicken Soup for the Soul," except that the anecdotes are centered around Bucky Fuller. Look at how many reviews are stacked in favor of this book, and look too at the large number of authors on this book. Doubtless these gushingly favorably reviews are by individuals who are either friends or relatives of the authors, or hardcore Bucky acolytes themselves. Drinkers of the Kool-Aid, so to speak.

Look, I don't have a problem with inspirational literature, but please take this book for what it is. It doesn't show us the actual effects of Fuller's work on our lives today. The fact of the matter is that none of us live in a geodesic dome, and none of us drive a Dymaxion car, and the world is still spiralling precipitously in the direction of overconsumption. Bucky inspired many people with his words, but he was hardly a miracle worker. In many senses, Bucky's worst nightmares are coming true; we are overconsuming, and the planet is aggressively out of balance.

If you have nostalgia for the 1960s, then delve into this book and consider it your "Chicken Soup for the Soul." Maybe it will rekindle a tiny stirring of that old hippie tree-hugging spirit that baby boomers utterly abandoned somewhere around 1979. If you are one of those Bucky acolytes who is already convinced that Bucky Fuller was the Leonardo of the 20th Century, then this book will be your new "bible" (metaphorically speaking).

BUT, If you are interested in historical fact, critical thinking about Fuller, or environmentalism, then please...read a real book. 'New Views on R. Buckminster Fuller' and 'Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe'; either one of these offers a richer, more nuanced, and more rewarding contextual historical read on Fuller. In terms of environmentalism and green design, the sky's the limit, but 'Natural Capitalism' is a good start.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Introduction April 4, 2012

By Don Schwartz

Format:Paperback

Author L. Steven Sieden has designed a perfect introduction to and journey through the living, ever-growing contributions Buckminister Fuller gave to our world. Sieden -- along with more than 40 guests essayists -- guides our journey. The reader finishing "A Fuller View" will not be the one who began it -- a simple testimony to the power of Fuller's life and work and L. Steven Sieden's devotion to that life and work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of clear air! March 25, 2012

By Sal

Format:Paperback

I can't say enough good about this book!! It can be an easy read because it flows so well and is in meaty little chunks..... Or it can be as deep as any textbook because there is so much to think about. Buckminster Fuller was as much of a spiritualist as he was an inventor, in my opinion. His vision is not only bright and positive .....but he gives us ways to reach that future. I will be sharing my book with all my kids - their generation needs to see the world through Fuller's eyes as well! Everyone would do well to read this.