Tracing the experiences of three laid-off professionals, this novel follows each person’s search for employment as Baby Boomers. One of them is contacted by a secret online group of activists called Walden 4G. Its mission is to hack investment bankers and hedge funders and destroy their hold on America’s workplace. As they put it, they practice “economic disobedience.” Drawing on the self-reliance of Thoreau’s Walden and the quest for an American utopia in B. F. Skinner’s Walden Two, Walden 4G shows the three job seekers a different way forward—one that offers great potential but also requires great change. Each one of them is confronted with a stark choice: accept a familiar but diminished future or change themselves and reclaim the hopefulness of the American Dream.
A Multitude of Hope
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About the Author
Peter Weddle is the CEO of WEDDLE's, a specialty publisher in the fields of employment and leadership. He has written columns for CNN.com, National Business Employment Weekly, and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author or editor of more than two dozen books, including Work Strong and the WEDDLE’s WizNotes series. He also serves as the executive director of the International Association of Employment Web Sites, the global trade organization for job boards. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Dave Opton
Format:Paperback
The dedication for this book reads: "For the American Middle Class. Men and women deserve better, but not without a fight."
I don't know if Weddle had this in mind before he wrote the book or after it was finished the thought came to him, but either way, it captures the essence of the message and lesson he is trying to convey.
Without reading the book, it would be very easy to simply write off A Multitude of Hope as a modern-day Man of La Mancha. It isn't.
We are a nation questioning ourselves, and rightfully so, on many levels. Unhappily we are constantly deluged by the actions and rhetoric of the extremists of the right or the left. The results of which have left the majority of those of us in the middle with the choice of hoping for the best or wondering if there is any way left to alter a course the outcome of which often feels as both predictable and tragic.
While the media may make us feel that things have progressed to the point where we haven't the strength to turn things around, Weddle's contention that "career activism" has the power to change not just the individual but the nation turns out to be more than a quixotic premise.
There is not just a story here, there are answers.
I don't know if Weddle had this in mind before he wrote the book or after it was finished the thought came to him, but either way, it captures the essence of the message and lesson he is trying to convey.
Without reading the book, it would be very easy to simply write off A Multitude of Hope as a modern-day Man of La Mancha. It isn't.
We are a nation questioning ourselves, and rightfully so, on many levels. Unhappily we are constantly deluged by the actions and rhetoric of the extremists of the right or the left. The results of which have left the majority of those of us in the middle with the choice of hoping for the best or wondering if there is any way left to alter a course the outcome of which often feels as both predictable and tragic.
While the media may make us feel that things have progressed to the point where we haven't the strength to turn things around, Weddle's contention that "career activism" has the power to change not just the individual but the nation turns out to be more than a quixotic premise.
There is not just a story here, there are answers.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By P.J. Spear
Format:Paperback
5 stars
This book is amazing! It is unique in its ability both to depict the plight of working Americans with sympathy and dignity and, at the same time, describe a new pathway to the American Dream that is both compelling and realistic. It is a tale that many in this country will relate to and a plot that is original and engaging.
A superficial reading might see the author's message as an affirmation of Ayn Rand's "you're on our own" philosophy, but a more careful parsing of his theme reveals a very different and more modern concept: individual responsibility melded with "crowdsupport" from like-minded individuals. Weddle has given us a template for re-introducing democracy in the workplace, and the power of that idea will resonate with any American who still believes this is the "land of opportunity."
If you're tired of hearing people say the American Dream has been replaced by the Chinese Dream. If you don't want to read another expose of this fault in our character or that failing in our system, this is the book for you. Weddle is unabashedly patriotic, and I for one find that refreshing and ... well, A Multitude of Hope.
This book is amazing! It is unique in its ability both to depict the plight of working Americans with sympathy and dignity and, at the same time, describe a new pathway to the American Dream that is both compelling and realistic. It is a tale that many in this country will relate to and a plot that is original and engaging.
A superficial reading might see the author's message as an affirmation of Ayn Rand's "you're on our own" philosophy, but a more careful parsing of his theme reveals a very different and more modern concept: individual responsibility melded with "crowdsupport" from like-minded individuals. Weddle has given us a template for re-introducing democracy in the workplace, and the power of that idea will resonate with any American who still believes this is the "land of opportunity."
If you're tired of hearing people say the American Dream has been replaced by the Chinese Dream. If you don't want to read another expose of this fault in our character or that failing in our system, this is the book for you. Weddle is unabashedly patriotic, and I for one find that refreshing and ... well, A Multitude of Hope.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By J. Learn
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a long-time consultant working with individuals exploring career opportunities, I highly recommend this book.
A nation is only as stong as its cultural myths. In these days of a stuttering economy and dispiriting job market, many Americans have lost their faith in the Horatio Alger story- in their ability to participate in the "land of opportunity" and create a better life for themselves and their kids and grandkids.
What Peter Weddle's book, A Multitude of Hope, does is redefine the Horatio Alger myth for the era in which we live. His story is realistic and compassionate, practical and inspiring all at the same time. It is a must-read for every person whether they are in transition searching for a new job or employed and worried about keeping the job they have.
Most importantly, by bringing the Horatio Alger story up-to-date, A Multitude of Hope lives up to its name. It offers a
badly needed jolt of optimism for the many Baby Boomers, mid-career professionals and recent college graduates alike. Get this book for yourself and for those you care about.
A nation is only as stong as its cultural myths. In these days of a stuttering economy and dispiriting job market, many Americans have lost their faith in the Horatio Alger story- in their ability to participate in the "land of opportunity" and create a better life for themselves and their kids and grandkids.
What Peter Weddle's book, A Multitude of Hope, does is redefine the Horatio Alger myth for the era in which we live. His story is realistic and compassionate, practical and inspiring all at the same time. It is a must-read for every person whether they are in transition searching for a new job or employed and worried about keeping the job they have.
Most importantly, by bringing the Horatio Alger story up-to-date, A Multitude of Hope lives up to its name. It offers a
badly needed jolt of optimism for the many Baby Boomers, mid-career professionals and recent college graduates alike. Get this book for yourself and for those you care about.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Difficult to get through
This is not what I anticipated when I purchased the book...very difficult to get through. The setting is back/forth dialogue via emails. Read more
Published 3 months ago by KW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Talent Will Always Reign Supreme
Mr. Weddle does an admiral job of stirring emotions, especially if you are unemployed and over 50. His book relates to the many mad swings of emotions that are part and parcel to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unique & Inspiring
I didn't really know what to expect going into A Multitude of Hope: it's kind of a genre-buster. But I turned one page and then another and quickly found myself engrossed. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the time to read
This is a quick read, but it will leave you pondering the message for quite some time. I work with the unemployed - both blue and white collar workers - and the three central... Read more
Published 11 months ago by BizExec
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read!
This book is engaging and thought-provoking. Highly recommendable! It's easy to relate to, as so many of us have had professional struggles and road blocks. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Xtina88
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth your time
A Multitude of Hope is one of the bravest books I've read in a long time. Its depiction of today's unforgiving, anxiety-inducing world of work is accurate and honest. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Christine Ramsey
1.0 out of 5 stars
Little or No Appeal
(DISCLAIMER: I purchased this book for my husband, who read it and then wrote the following review. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Cindy Holbert
