Tory Burch on Shopbop
Buy used:
$7.28
FREE delivery January 8 - 13. Details
Or fastest delivery January 7 - 9. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All Paperback – January 1, 2010

by Tom Atlee (Author), Rosa Zubizarreta (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
See all formats and editions
With compelling real-life stories, innovative ideas and hands-on guidance, this book shows how to engage the combined wisdom of citizens to solve complex social problems.It describes how powerful new forms of dialogue and deliberation enable diverse ordinary citizens to work together developing sophisticated public policy recommendations -- even on technical issues. Demonstrating that groups, communities and whole societies can be more intelligent and wise collectively than most brilliant individuals, Tom Atlee shows how "collective intelligence" could revolutionize politics and governance, bringing wise common sense to every issue -- from city budgets to terrorism to global warming.Readers will find descriptions and links to over a hundred proven approaches to this new form of democracy -- organizations, participatory practices, innovations, books and more. The most powerful innovations -- citizen deliberative councils -- have been used hundreds of times around the world -- from Denmark to India, from Brazil to the U.S.The 2500-year-old Tao Te Ching says that leaders should govern so the people say "We did it ourselves." The Tao of Democracy shows how.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    344 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Writers Collective
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    193213347X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1932133479
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
12 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Norlyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fuel for the Transpartisan Movement; Steps toward a Wise, Deliberative Democracy
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Tom Atlee wrote this a full decade before his 2012 manifesto for empowering a "wise democracy", Empowering Public Wisdom. It is a wonderful complement to that book, providing background on "using Co-intelligence to create a world that works for all", which phrase is indeed the subtitle to this important book.

    I just reviewed Empowering Public Wisdom, and much of what I said there applies here as well. Tom Atlee always draws from an astounding range of thought leaders who are painting the complex path to a peaceful, socially just, and ecologically sustainable world.
    Helpful
     Report
  • peter wright
    3.0 out of 5 stars If you don't like the basic term that the author uses as his ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    If you don't like the basic term that the author uses as his premise for the book - "co-intelligence", then it is pretty hard to continue reading, even though his research is interesting and there are some good resources offered in places. But I had to force myself to continue to find those gems.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Retired Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Way Out
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    The premise of this book is that the intelligence generated by a group of collaborative individuals no matter what their individual cognitive abilities, always will be greater than that of a solitary individual no matter how intelligent. This is `co-intelligence' as understood in this book.

    Central to the concept of co-intelligence is the role of open, respectful dialogue that explores rather than confronts different ideas and thinking. In this sort of dialogue no idea is rejected as wrong or lunatic as long as it is relevant to the topic at hand. It is Atlee's firm belief that in this sort of non-confrontational exploration of ideas that must produce in the wisest decision making process and the best solutions to any problem. A group of individuals exercising this approach to problem solving creates a synergy of shared intelligence that must be greater than that of any individual within the group. In support of this concept, Atlee offers some impressive examples of co-intelligence in action. The best example being the so-called Canadian Experiment in which a group of average Canadian citizens, randomly selected to represent the cultural and social diversity of Canada, spent a weekend in intense dialogue over such complex and emotion charged issues as Quebec separatism. Objective and neutral moderators (or facilitators) served to keep the dialogues on track and open to ideas. In the end the group came up with apparently brilliant proposals that could have indeed solved what many Canadians believe intractable problems.

    So based on this very persuasive book it appears that the concept of co-intelligence as a function of group synergy is the way to create an informed and intelligent electorate. Yet attractive as this concept is, there are problems to its implementation. The most formidable of these is the indifference of the average U.S. voter to anything but personal interests along with an almost pathological unwillingness to think rationally or at all about issues that don't directly affect those interests. Then there is the fact that a host of special interests, entrenched politicians, and crooks would always be ready to subvert such citizen dialogue programs for there own ends should they coalesce into a politically strong force. Perhaps these problems could be overcome by co-intelligence as well. One hopes that this would be the case.
    11 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Robin Eagle Sun
    5.0 out of 5 stars invaluable
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book, the Tao of Democracy, was invaluable to me during the 2008 campaign. I was encouraged again and again that there are thoughtful, prayerful, brave, and intelligent people in the world who truly embrace democracy as a way of life not just for financial or political gain. A great read, easy to understand and I highly recommend this book to people newly interested in our political system.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Michael Givental
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This shoudl be required reading for everyone thinking about democracy.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • thomas e.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Quality book in fine condition delivered in a timely way. Thanks.
    Helpful
     Report
  • jpz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing view for the consideration of social problems
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The book explores and illustrates successfully many types and uses of collective intelligence in several fields. An important idea presented is the common advantage that collaboration has over antagonism in the process of finding solutions to social problems. The author supports the work of small diverse groups to work as representatives of the whole society or community, and does not favor the dialogue of all members of society (he explains his reasons).
    The book makes for interesting reading and if I should lose my copy I would probably buy it again.
    I happen to like the idea of continuous communication of all members of a community or society for the analysis of fundamental political issues.
    Helpful
     Report
  • NerdyWoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Still reading.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • John Varney
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insights into how democracy needs to evolve - and who will do it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Tom Atlee is an activist with a passion for finding a better way to engage everyone democratically: something very different from what passes for democracy anywhere today. He sets out to equip us to be more democratic, introducing the idea that if we were to think effectively together this would amount to co-intelligence: that collectively it is possible to be more intelligent than we can be when we fail to communicate deeply.

    Democracy is a system that allows the knowledge and wisdom of everyone to contribute in the running of our shared affairs. In this interesting book we read of many techniques that tend towards a more effective form of democracy than is common in the early 21st century, which often results in disenchantment and in poor decision making. It is worth noting that many are used in management circles with a view to increasing engagement. Open Space and Future Search, for instance will be familiar to many. Atlee has devoted his life to finding better ways and in this book he explores the myriad democratic or joint thinking processes that have emerged in his lifetime. He gives many details and references to such methods and suggests how they can be employed to save us from the chaos that might otherwise ensue.

    This is pertinent to those who would improve our political processes and also to those whose interest is in engaging people in thinking together in organisations - especially in pursuit of self-organisation. Could the best techniques used in the organisational context be used more widely and in service of the greater good rather than to some narrower corporate end? Atlee makes a plea we often hear these days – a plea for sanity – a plea for wisdom to be valued and be allowed to play its part in bringing people into the constructive relationships of which they are capable.

    It all sounds so desirable and so sensible that you would expect such ideas to be widely embraced. My own suspicion is that this is an issue because there is too much individual immaturity in our society – immature behaviour often being regarded as entertaining or as contributing to celebrity. Democracy is a fine ideal and perhaps if it were better practised it would bring about the maturity that we require? Is Atlee pointing towards some evolutionary principle we would do well to follow?
    Report