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Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time 1st Edition

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Paul Rogat Loeb (Author)
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Paul Rogat Loeb (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 105 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0312204358
ISBN-10: 0312204353
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (March 15, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312204353
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312204358
  • Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsTough Read - Good Message
By Thomas Glover on June 26, 2000
Format: Paperback
First off, I have to say that this was not a light read. It took me twice as long to read this book as most other books do. I found myself reading and re-reading the early parts of the book. Loeb seemed to me to drift in the early chapters, heading in directions that seemed incongruent. I think the book would have been just as good if it were about 100 pages shorter. The last chapters of the book, from the chapter about burnout on, were very good.
However, having waded through it, I found the message that Loeb was trying to get across hit home with me. While I would not consider myself inactive, I would also not consider myself an activist. Paul Loeb has inspired me to become more of an activist. To find a cause that is most important to me and take a stand. If you are not active now, this book can be the spark to ignite your fire.
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5.0 out of 5 starssocial justice is for everyone
By Stephanie Adams on November 22, 1999
Format: Paperback
This incredible book teaches us that everyone can work for social justice and claim their right to participate as a citizen in everyday life. In a time where many small groups of ordinary citizens are choosing to re-engage in American democracy through Salons and Circles, we are grateful for this book to inspire and empower us. Loeb uses storytelling to illustrate how involvement in citizenship is surprisingly powerful and creates a tremendous sense of personal and spiritual growth. This hopeful and transformative book invites each of us to choose to take responsible action instead of choosing the civic apathy that has allowed America's governing bodies to listen to the wishes of the most powerful and profitable over the majority of its people. It is time for each of us to choose a better way -- our children, our communities, our democracy, and our natural world depend on us. This book is a great step in the right direction!
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5.0 out of 5 starsSoul of a Citizen is a great book
By Julie Baka on February 14, 2000
Format: Paperback
My husband and I have always wanted to help improve the world, especially on enviromental and sustainability issues. In the past we have felt overwhelmed to do anything. All issues appeared to big, the gov't too far away and unreachable.

Then we both read the book "Soul of a Citizen" by Paul Roget Loeb, we now know that our efforts do add up and make a difference. We are currently working on a letter writing campaign to get the Children's Enviromental Protection Act passed.
This is an excellent book. Read it today and start changing the world!
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1.0 out of 5 starsMore fluff than substance
By Andre Heizer on October 11, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Idealistic, and when not, just plain obvious points. Could be said in half the amount of pages than it is. I enjoyed the personal stories, but there was no substance to them other than "you can do it." The writing style was childish, and there was nothing interesting going on in terms of language. If you are an extreme democrat/liberal person you might love this book because it is preaches liberal talking points and actually devoted a whole chapter to Obama. Which is fine, but Loeb just really wanted to let you know that he is a democrat. And I don't care. I am a moderate liberal person and I was annoyed, so I can only imagine conservatives. This book is more fluff than substance. Also, Loeb makes the assumption that to stand up for what you believe in, you need some sort of god. He does not blatantly say this, but he implies it through the stories of the citizens he shares. But this is definitely not the case. To have a voice and make a difference in the political system, you don't need to join organizations and be so passionate. It starts at an individual scale, through conversations and day-to-day interaction. If you can educate someone about a social issue by talking to them, that is so much better than just joining an organization and knocking door-to-door to get votes for someone. Finally, In the United States it may be easy to follow this book, but there are places in this world that it is not so. This book was written from the point of view of a first world citizen, who thinks all the problems on Earth can be solved by joining book clubs and getting kids to register to vote. I may be slightly cynical when it comes to politics, and that is a flaw I know I have, but this book is too optimistic and happy-go-lucky about a subject that is not as easy as it portrays.
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3.0 out of 5 starsActivism as self-help
By J. Grattan VINE VOICE on September 19, 1999
Format: Paperback
According to Soul of a Citizen, recognition of the economic and political imbalances in the world will likely result in either cynicism or activism. But only activism, or social involvement, is consistent with our democracy and can result in psychological or spiritual growth. The nature or the scope of the cause to be pursued is basically secondary next to the soul-enhancing nature of activism.
Loeb tells the story of about twenty-five citizens who reacted against some sort of economic or political situation that was thrust upon them by enlisting the aid of other citizens to combat the situation. Loeb is concerned with showing that imperfect knowledge and starting small can effect change. He stresses that activists must be patient, that success may be slow, that support is needed, and that burnout can easily occur.
Loeb trys to link his activists with social movements from the past. But the kinds of systemic change that concerned the Knights of Labor, the Populists, the Wobblies, and the Socialists around the turn of the century are not what the activists that Loeb profiles are all about. In fact, Loeb eschews the detailed critiques of society that those historical groups produced. While Loeb contends that structural changes are needed for our society, he downplays the need to develop the kind of expertise needed to engage in that level of change.
Loeb speaks of the isolating tendencies of television, but says nothing about its potential as a propaganda tool to get across a particular message or to limit the free exchange of ideas. His talk of the village square seems strange in an era of corporate-controlled media and the pseudo village squares of suburban mega-malls.Read more ›
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