Books, reading & resource suggestions

[Mary Alice Arthur]

Hello all!

 

Here is a place to log your suggestions about reading and resources.

[Mary Alice Arthur]

Here's a note on a new book, sent by a colleague:

 -------------

I have just finished reading "The Spirit Level - Why Greater Equality  Makes Societies Stronger" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.  This is an extraordinary book written by two epidemiologists who have used their analytical skills to show the evidence linking inequality with a range of social ills including, premature death, ill health, violence, poor educational outcomes, teenage births, obesity and so on.

 

This will fascinate the general reader but importantly this book has relevance for anyone interested in facilitation, collaboration, organization development and community building.  There are two main reasons.

First, inequality fosters narcissism and anxiety. It creates a bravado and a brittleness to criticism.  Second - Inequality leads communities and individuals to be less interested in taking public responsibility and working for the common good.

 

And the converse is true.  Not only are there significant health and social benefits by increasing equality but . . . . Increased equality leads to greater humility

And

Increased equality leads to an increase in trust, an increase in social capital and increased public responsibility.

 

If you are interested in reading my notes of the book please contact me off the list and I will send them to you.*

 

Warm regards,

Peter Rennie

 

*For example

Page 45  'Modesty easily becomes a casualty of inequality: we become outwardly tougher and harder in the face of greater exposure to social evaluation anxieties, but inwardly as the literature on narcissism  

suggests  - probably more vulnerable, less able to take criticism, less good at personal relationships and less able to recognize our own faults. '

 

Dr Peter Rennie

Managing Director

Leadership Australia

M:  0402 064 260

email:  [e-mail]

 http://www.leadershipaustralia.com.au