Recession. Terrorism. Global warming. There's no doubt that countless dire crises consume the world. And yet, positive change is also all around us, under the media's radar. Here is evidence of history's true trend: a convincing picture of declining war, advancing health, equal rights, revolutionary technology, and more, including the surprising reasons why peace is unfolding. This powerful shift in perspective-not trite "positive thinking" but a realistic look at a hidden truth-is needed now more than ever. The Secret Peace isn't an excuse to pat ourselves on the back, but a powerful call to action to step up our efforts to spread peace to all corners of the earth. ... Esther Dyson, author of Release 2.0 and expert on emerging technology, says, "I love the thesis, and believe it. Jesse Richards makes the case forcefully. ... It cheered me up!"
The Secret Peace
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jesse Richards has always worked at the intersection of culture, design, writing, and technology. For over a decade, he has examined thousands of sources to research the world's positive trends. Jesse is now a manager with Meetup, a web site that helps millions of people self-organize into local community groups. He is an experienced public speaker on topics such as critical thinking, democracy, peace, and technology. Jesse is also a member of Mensa and a professional artist. He lives with his wife in Manhattan.
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More About the Author
Jesse Richards has always worked at the intersection of culture, design, writing, and technology. For over a decade, he has examined thousands of sources to research the world's positive trends. Jesse has been a manager with Meetup, a web site that helps millions of people self-organize into local community groups, and now is the Product Manager for Proust.com, a social network for sharing life's stories with your loved ones. He is an experienced public speaker on topics such as critical thinking, democracy, peace, and technology. Jesse is also a member of Mensa and a professional artist. He lives with his wife in Manhattan.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By vivzan
Format:Paperback
There's always a chance that when reading a book with as much statistics as this one contains that it's going to be a boring read, but this book is not. The author manages to convey the information in an interesting, engaging way and even with humor at appropriate times. With 351 pages excluding the endnotes and index, this is no easy feat!
While I didn't always agree with the thesis, for example, I am highly against Genetically Modified Crops and think it poses a danger to our world food supply, I appreciate the amount of evidence the author put forth to show why he was for it.
There were times reading where I argued out loud with the author and I think that's part of the experience of reading The Secret Peace. Why am I, and so many others, resistant to the idea that the world is becoming better? Why do I see decline all around when, as the author points out over and over again, there's improvement to be seen?
We each need to find the answer to that question and the Secret Peace, if it doesn't convince you that the world is getting better all the time, will at least force you to question and challenge your own worldview.
While I didn't always agree with the thesis, for example, I am highly against Genetically Modified Crops and think it poses a danger to our world food supply, I appreciate the amount of evidence the author put forth to show why he was for it.
There were times reading where I argued out loud with the author and I think that's part of the experience of reading The Secret Peace. Why am I, and so many others, resistant to the idea that the world is becoming better? Why do I see decline all around when, as the author points out over and over again, there's improvement to be seen?
We each need to find the answer to that question and the Secret Peace, if it doesn't convince you that the world is getting better all the time, will at least force you to question and challenge your own worldview.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Secret Peace: Exposing the Positive Trend of World Events
This book is a dose of realism that actually feels good. Jesse Richards has scoured hundreds of credible sources of the world's data and painted a picture that realistically looks positive. He picks out data and facts that paint a picture of trends that are on the upswing. As obvious as it sounds, he points to the rising rates of literacy, how knowledge doubles before our very eyes, how plagues are averted and diseases exterminated, the rise of democracy (especially electronic) and the demise of poverty. In his artistic patchwork of forward leaning data he shows us a humanity that may be leaving its very violent and destructive adolescence, and entering (Hallelujah!) an adulthood that is bringing us closer and closer to actual, honest to God, universal peace.
His collection of quotes by itself is a powerful reason to own this new and fresh book. One of my all time favorites from a man who was a very realistic visionary, Dr. M.L. King: "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice..."
Jesse Richards holds a realistic mirror up to humanity and says "you have a dreadful history, but, you have done better in the last one hundred years than you have done in the previous 5,000 years, and the future could be much, much brighter. Keep up the good work."
This book makes me feel good about what is coming up in the future! But it is not a feeling that comes from anesthesia or some mind-altering drug. It is a future that looks mega-watts brighter than our very troubled past. It makes me want to discover some positive trend that can become a source of encouragement . . . or, maybe even help some newborn trend gain traction.
Don't be afraid of the future! Chances are, according to Richards, it will surprise us: "I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life." George F. Burns (American comedian 1896-1996)
This book is a dose of realism that actually feels good. Jesse Richards has scoured hundreds of credible sources of the world's data and painted a picture that realistically looks positive. He picks out data and facts that paint a picture of trends that are on the upswing. As obvious as it sounds, he points to the rising rates of literacy, how knowledge doubles before our very eyes, how plagues are averted and diseases exterminated, the rise of democracy (especially electronic) and the demise of poverty. In his artistic patchwork of forward leaning data he shows us a humanity that may be leaving its very violent and destructive adolescence, and entering (Hallelujah!) an adulthood that is bringing us closer and closer to actual, honest to God, universal peace.
His collection of quotes by itself is a powerful reason to own this new and fresh book. One of my all time favorites from a man who was a very realistic visionary, Dr. M.L. King: "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice..."
Jesse Richards holds a realistic mirror up to humanity and says "you have a dreadful history, but, you have done better in the last one hundred years than you have done in the previous 5,000 years, and the future could be much, much brighter. Keep up the good work."
This book makes me feel good about what is coming up in the future! But it is not a feeling that comes from anesthesia or some mind-altering drug. It is a future that looks mega-watts brighter than our very troubled past. It makes me want to discover some positive trend that can become a source of encouragement . . . or, maybe even help some newborn trend gain traction.
Don't be afraid of the future! Chances are, according to Richards, it will surprise us: "I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life." George F. Burns (American comedian 1896-1996)
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By monalisabw
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My mother opines that the world is worse than it has ever been and shakes her head at the state of modern affairs. That's because she hasn't read Jesse Richards' treatise on how the world has improved through time. I guess people could argue both sides in the ongoing debate about whether progress is progress or regress, but The Secret Peace isn't just rhetoric, it backs up the premise of optimistic half-full with lots of examples, details, and specifics in areas as diverse as politics, economics, medicine, and environment. The writer must be a prolific reader, and he's not looking under rocks for the facts. His sources are credible and apt, as a glimpse at the extensive bibliography and endnotes will attest. So, Grouches of the world peruse, you have nothing to lose but your pessimism. The world is a better place seen from the positive lens through which this writer views it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
IndieReader Review
Despite wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing conflict in the Middle East, and such horrendous events as 911 and other terrorist acts, author Jesse Richards presents the boldly... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Amy Edelman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Must read for those who believe in a brighter future.
This book has been a fantastic resource for my quest to better understand the state of the world... For years I've been studying positive trends, emergence, social change, etc that... Read more
Published on November 15, 2010 by Joshua D. Foss
