Getting to the Better Future: A Matter of Conscious Choosing (Paperback)

by John E. Renesch (Author), Anita Roddick (Introduction)
Key Phrases: conscious evolution, Age of Consciousness, San Francisco, Berlin Wall (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
An excellent book, integrating many approaches to doing business in a more conscious manner. -- Peter Russell, author, The Global Brain Awakens and Waking Up in Time

Insightful, provocative, a catalyst for individual and organizational soul-searching . . . John Renesch challenges the mind, heart, and spirit with his new book! -- "BJ" Hateley, co-author, A Peacock in the Land of Penguins: A Tale of Diversity and Discovery

John Renesch argues with great passion and insight that business people can-- and must-- become active participants in designing a better future for the whole human race. He argues with heart, soul, and great powers of persuasion that business and social good can (and will) be reconciled in a 21st Century culture led by a responsible citizenry, responsible parents, and responsible consumers. And he demonstrates why business, as the most thoroughly globalized force on earth, can be a transformative force in creating a new consciousness and a new order. Challenging, well-thought out, and revolutionary. -- Sally Helgesen, author, The Female Advantage and The Web of Inclusion

John Renesch courageously weaves his personal journey into the dynamic pattern of global economic change. This dance between inner and outer realities carries us into the future. -- Patricia Aburdene, co-author, Megatrends 2000

John Renesch has become the lead participant observer of what is surely the most dramatic worldwide transformation in the history of this planet. He gives readers the essence of what we need to know to get through this transition with grace and service to our world and ourselves. He has distilled his personal experience with the wisdom of the thought leaders of our day into an essential guidebook for this historic journey. -- Michael Ray, Professor Emeritus, School of Business, Stanford University; co-author, Creativity in Business

John Renesch has created a work which I can say, from my own reading of it, will most assuredly serve the world--not just the world of business or non-profits or civic communities but, more important, our own personal inner world. I hope everyone will derive the spiritual benefit that I have experienced as a result of reading this book. -- James Autry, author, Love and Profit, The Art of Caring Leadership, and Real Power, Business Lessons from the Tao Te Ching

John Renesch has written a brilliant business book, a powerful and passionate page-turner which must immediately be read by every person who works for a living, from interns to CEOs, in every industry and profession. John's insights and profound prescriptions are as pragmatic as they are inspired, as practical as they are visionary. This book has the power to instantly transform the world, if we allow John's words to penetrate our minds, hearts, and souls. -- Robert Rabbin, author, Invisible Leadership, The Sacred Hub, co-author, Leadership in a New Era

John Renesch weaves a compelling case for why business must lead the transformation to higher levels of consciousness and spirituality needed to solve our global problems in the 21st Century. He provides a practical prescription to bring about a new paradigm for the 21st century as well as practical keys to accomplish it. -- George Starcher, Secretary General, European Baha'i Business Forum

John Renesch's book makes his personal journey into the future, a journey that has meaning and relevance for all of us. A remarkable achievement. -- Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC, and co-author of Co-Leaders and Organizing Genius.

The future is our choice and making that choice is our responsibility, Renesch asserts convincingly. But we need a new mindset to turn crisis into opportunity and overcome our cynicism and sense of helplessness. To prove it, he provides priceless lists of things each of us can stop doing and things we can start doing to bring about a revolution of the spirit. -- Perry Pascarella, author, speaker, and former editor-in-chief of Industry Week magazine.

Product Description
Among the array of global crises facing humanity, the author points out the historic opportunity as we enter the 21st Century - the opportunity to evolve to a new and higher order of consciousness which will allow us to transcend current trends that threaten our humanity. He calls this a "choicepoint" and explains how we are in a window of opportunity presently so we can either continue heading for the "inevitable future" or create a "future of possibility" - the better future.

He demonstrates how paradigms change and how people often respond to these changes, which can be seen as incredibly chaotic and lead to public uncertainty. He then points out the global paradigm shift presently underway throughout the industrialized world and the ways people are reacting to it.

The author contends that the business community dominates society's values and priorities in today's economically-driven world. He also points out that business people are people first; they are human beings who happen to belong to a group or system that operates with certain rules and traditions. But, he emphasizes, they are also have feelings, concerns and a sense of higher destiny that can transcend the conditions in the world and the influences they are subject to as a result of belonging to the business community.

He cites prominent authorities who join him in his call for transformation, including MIT's Lester Thurow, London's Charles Handy, Abraham Maslow, Peter Drucker, sociologist Paul Ray, VISA founder Dee Hock, Interface CEO Ray Anderson, Stanford's Michael Ray, and many others with business credentials. The Body Shop's founder Anita Roddick authored the book's Foreword.

The "better future" is possible with a shift in consciousness, the author writes. He goes further to write that, once they see this possibility, business people will lead the way toward it with enthusiasm - dropping their cynicism and skepticism. As a result of this shift, the most dominant institution on the planet today will become a force for sustainability, economic justice and compassion.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: New Business Communications (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961022809
• ISBN-13: 978-0961022808
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #796,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Perspective of the Future of Business, December 23, 2000

By	Brent N. Hunter "Peaceful Warrior" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the words of an experienced entrepreneur, John eloquently and logically paints a clear picture of the future that business can help create. In this day where ideas can be instantly transmitted across the world at the speed of light and vast changes can be made almost overnight, John's sound logic and reasoning points the way for business to be an integral and in fact critical component of the evolution of humanity. John gently but clearly points out that we are responsible for the creation of our future, we have choices to make based on the information we have, and helps pave a pathway through the chaos and confusion that is so rampant today. John offers nothing less than a clear blueprint for how businesses can help serve society on a worldwide basis and to help create a sustainable, prosperous and abundant future for us all. John's brilliant mind and deep heart offers hope and inspiration to us all. Definitely a "must read" book for the new times that we are living in!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A must for system agents", January 9, 2001

By	Peter Sorg (Basel, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

Highly recommended reading for business leaders! Everybody still in possession of a certain degree of open-mindedness and hope for a better future will acknowledge that this book provides more than food for thought. It's a blueprint for action. The French writer, philosopher, and Nobel laureate (literature) Andre Gide (1869-1951) once said: "I do not know whether it will be better when it changes but I know it must be different in order to be good". John's Book helps all of us to shape the system to become good! Peter Sorg Head Group Relations Member of Senior Management Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc., Basel, Switzerland

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Road Map!, December 23, 2000

By	Sergio Lub (Martinez, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Great tools and ideas for those who feel like helping to improve our present reality and to start building one that works for all. Let's enjoy and use it!