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bryanmwaters98's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
paigewetzel's review
5.0
Lederach does a fantastic job setting up the preliminary ideas behind nonviolent peacebuilding and the necessary creativity that goes into such work. Not only does he successfully argue for the vital nature of creativity in such scenarios, but he inspires such thoughts in the reader throughout the book. I was particularly moved by his section on haikus and his discussion of poetry and the arts has realigned my focus with their importance within the academy. Lederach is clearly on who has thorougly practice nonviolent, creative peacebuilding, but he is also willing to discuss theories and strategies, albeit on a much smaller level. Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to work with people. You will undoubtedly encounter conflicts and Lederach helps understand the problem-solving lens through which such situations should be addressed.
ehling411's review
4.0
While technically written for those in the professions of peace building in areas with protracted violence, I found many lessons for those of us in the field of education seeking to create schools where all students are engaged and achieving high standards.
I found many of the metaphors he presents to be richly resonant for my own work. I recommend this book.
I found many of the metaphors he presents to be richly resonant for my own work. I recommend this book.
shornerk's review
5.0
This is THE most powerful book on peacebuilding I have ever read. Lederach uses beautiful language, sometimes close to poetry, to explore what it means to build peace. His basic argument is that peacebuilding is a continuous, simplistic but yet paradoxical, non-linear act of being that is rooted in the creative act of moral imagination. This is in contrast to perceiving of peacebuilding as a process of high-level rhetoric and peace accords among the powerful. Lederach uses beautiful metaphors to clarify his points and thinking (love the web and haiku analogies).
alexdpar's review
5.0
I would call this a foundational work that must be a required read for all those entering the peacebuilding world. Lederach is not wrong in seeking to push outside the box toward the creative and artistic. He provides countless stories, ideas, examples, and motivations to expand peacebuilding measures while looking at the past, present, and future and how a calm, collective, and appreciative mind can make the biggest and most pertinent changes.
As with any book, I do hold skepticism (though do not get me wrong, I loved the book). Mainly, his book is almost entirely philosophical so that it fights back against the analytical frameworks that trap us in our ways. Lederach rightfully so challenges us to think outside these existing notions, but we cannot ignore them in their entirety. While I do not think this is his intention, I think that an addition to the book or another publication showing the moral imagination in practice and use within modern peacebuilding approaches would address any concerns those and myself might have.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to make a difference. The book is motivation to reshape your existing prejudices or biases of the existing peacebuilding frameworks. It is also an inspiration to apply these lessons to the work you do, whether on behalf of a large international organization or within your own neighborhood.
As with any book, I do hold skepticism (though do not get me wrong, I loved the book). Mainly, his book is almost entirely philosophical so that it fights back against the analytical frameworks that trap us in our ways. Lederach rightfully so challenges us to think outside these existing notions, but we cannot ignore them in their entirety. While I do not think this is his intention, I think that an addition to the book or another publication showing the moral imagination in practice and use within modern peacebuilding approaches would address any concerns those and myself might have.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to make a difference. The book is motivation to reshape your existing prejudices or biases of the existing peacebuilding frameworks. It is also an inspiration to apply these lessons to the work you do, whether on behalf of a large international organization or within your own neighborhood.
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