Customer Reviews

Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A fascinating, well-made, beautifully-printed gem of a book! Stuffed with color photos, eye-catching graphics, and the kind of quotes and data that makes you think, "Ooh, I gotta paperclip this page!" I'd like to buy a copy for many other people, if I knew they'd read it.

Unfortunately, the only criticism I have is also fairly severe: the sub-title is "How to make conscious choices to change the world." Sorry to say, but the book never really goes very far into that aspect. There's meticulous detail on the nature and origins of globalization, social injustice, environmental crises, and human rights, but actual guidance to make a difference is fairly slim.

That's too bad, too, because the book excels in its ability to outrage the reader and convert you to the agreement that "this stuff really matters! It's more important than I thought!", and yet I find myself dissatisfied with the few suggested answers against the many overpowering wrongs. It's not "an action guide," but rather a fascinating and invaluable textbook.

Wonderful book.I strongly agree with the comments from one of the reader regarding information/media activism. We have to move from thinking and talking to real action. As a young activist, I would love to be coached ( like so many others ). We need a system where we could share, get support and empowerment. We learn by action not by information. Sometimes I feel kind of upset, because I feel that people that have the power, network and interest in global issue are doing this for their own ego. Bono from U2 is doing a good effort but why is he not spending his money to help young leaders ? We should invest in those people that will have a tremendous impact localy and abroad. Why not using technology to create a powerful leverage. A place where people like me could get support, coaching in my project ?
It was a great book to read, but I felt more discouraged than emporwered...

Ms. Roddick has managed to put together some important issues, outstanding commentators, and good information design in one place with this book. I read it through from cover-to-cover (I seldom do this) and found myself both enlightened and inspired. I recommend it highly.

The title pretty much sums it up. This book was...superb and it doesn't sugarcoat, either. What shocked me most was the chart on page 70 of this book showing minimum wages in other countries (4 cents an hour in Burma!!!!) versus some figures of the head honchos of the corporate world (Walmart's Walton family, according to this, is worth 67.5 billion). It will definitely make you look at the brand names in a different way. I know for sure I will not buy anything from Victoria's secret anymore, nor will I set foot in Walmart anymore unless I'm absolutely desperate for something I don't think I can get anywhere else. So be smart, pick up this book, learn a thing or two, and fight this corporate crap. You'll be much happier you did.

I am rating this book a 5, as it is a handy, compact summary of the biggest problems facing our globe and human race today. Ms. Roddick cannot cover everything on this earth, plus all of it's sources, but this is a valuable collection of material. (There are no footnotes because it is not an encyclopedia, but an eye-opener. If you want history, read a college text.) This book was designed to attrack people by it's creative looks, and to show people complex problems quickly in today's frantic and hurried world. Most of her claims I have heard before, either in college (as a recent Political Science graduate), or in a credible alternative news source. Any educated person with a sensible mind would find this book a beautiful collection of our most pressing issues. The point of the book is not to give you easy facts (if you want that, get a book like, "Idiot's Guide To Saving the Environment"), but it DOES list many helpful resources: web addresses, organizations, and places to start your own research of valuable information. There is simply too much information (too many things wrong) in the world to ever put it in one book. But this book is truly a good place to start changing the world.

Anita Roddick has put together a collection of essays from herself and other luminaries in "Take It Personally." Through the judicious use of statistics, images, and thoughtful prose, Ms. Roddick has made a creditable go at giving people practical advice on how to change things they disagree with in the world. Bravo!

This book is amazing. It's perfect for any activist office. There are about a dozen pages that I'd like to photocopy & post everywhere. & the text is a really good collection of quotes, facts, & perspectives. I strongly recommend everyone read this book!

Roddick is a businesswoman with the sense to know that responsible globalization is in the hands of businesses...and she helps give that responsibility to consumers. The color shots, brief esays, and commentary give any reader a sense of what is going on in the world, and what he/she can do about it. I do not agree that this is one more celebrity just writing a book...this is a businesswoman writing from experience, and giving that expereince to the reader. Roddick is using her status to educate, and I say bravo!

This is a well put together book for pulling at some of the major threads of social activism. The photography and graphic layout is attractive and makes the book accessable, approachable, and engaging. However, I woud put it more to mature 14-17 year olds than to Adults. There is not enough depth in the reading and it often reads like a sound bite. Fun for friday night reading but not enough if I want to learn more. Great for getting me hungry from the first bite!

To take it personnaly, we need more. Anita Roddick offers us a reminder of important global issues. We all know what we have to do. But like kids, we need more than being told what to do, we need handholding, support etc...By very far, the most important section of the book is written by Randy Hayes, founder of the Rainforest Action Network. Like he's saying:" As great as Activism is, it is insuficient to get real behavioral changes." We need program, support even coaching !
And this has to be done on a regular basis. We need to move from media/information ( like this book ) to programs put in place to really "take it personnaly". There has to be something, an idea that will create a leverage to get the social and ecological changes to happen as quickly as we need.