An engaging book from an organization with an important, hopeful story to share.
A conflict-resolution organization looks back on the 20 years since its founding.
How does a country pull itself together and achieve peace after overthrowing a dictatorship? Beyond Conflict (formerly named The Project on Justice in Times of Transition) has a simple, bold answer: Let the country’s leaders hear from those who’ve successfully transitioned from entrenched conflicts. If people like David Ervine, a former member of a Protestant Loyalist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland; and Joaquín Villalobos, former senior commander of El Salvador’s FMLN guerilla movement, can move beyond violence, pain and anger, the organization says, then others can too. The project was first established after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, and its aim is to help leaders “understand the fundamental changes in perceptions and actions that will be required of them if they and their countries are to achieve genuine change.” Over the last 20 years, the project has carried out more than 65 initiatives involving leaders from more than 50 countries. More recently as part of its mission, it began investigating neuroscience and the brain’s role in processing change. Chapters include “The Power of Shared Experience,” “Confronting Dictatorship,” “Changing Mindsets” and “Building Trust Among Enemies,” from contributors such as Phillips, the co-editor and co-founder/chairman of the project; Jan Urban, a Czechoslovak dissident and founding member of the Charter 77 movement; and Monica McWilliams, the founder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition. The personal stories of transformation from those who have been on the front lines are fascinating; in many cases, it seemed almost impossible to bring the people together to talk, when they would ordinarily not even make eye contact. The book recommends using compromise instead of a zero-sum mentality; finding shared dreams; and making concerted efforts toward achieving justice. The book is hopeful and pragmatic as it presents creative solutions, and honest in its acknowledgment of the difficulties in implementing them.
An engaging book from an organization with an important, hopeful story to share.Pub Date: March 10, 2014
ISBN: 978-0615790572
Page Count: 105
Publisher: EBS Editoriatle Bortolazzi
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s...
Music journalist and musician Wald (Talking 'Bout Your Mama: The Dozens, Snaps, and the Deep Roots of Rap, 2014, etc.) focuses on one evening in music history to explain the evolution of contemporary music, especially folk, blues, and rock.
The date of that evening is July 25, 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, where there was an unbelievably unexpected occurrence: singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, already a living legend in his early 20s, overriding the acoustic music that made him famous in favor of electronically based music, causing reactions ranging from adoration to intense resentment among other musicians, DJs, and record buyers. Dylan has told his own stories (those stories vary because that’s Dylan’s character), and plenty of other music journalists have explored the Dylan phenomenon. What sets Wald's book apart is his laser focus on that one date. The detailed recounting of what did and did not occur on stage and in the audience that night contains contradictory evidence sorted skillfully by the author. He offers a wealth of context; in fact, his account of Dylan's stage appearance does not arrive until 250 pages in. The author cites dozens of sources, well-known and otherwise, but the key storylines, other than Dylan, involve acoustic folk music guru Pete Seeger and the rich history of the Newport festival, a history that had created expectations smashed by Dylan. Furthermore, the appearances on the pages by other musicians—e.g., Joan Baez, the Weaver, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Dave Van Ronk, and Gordon Lightfoot—give the book enough of an expansive feel. Wald's personal knowledge seems encyclopedic, and his endnotes show how he ranged far beyond personal knowledge to produce the book.
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s personal feelings about Dylan's music or persona.Pub Date: July 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-236668-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dey Street/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
