Friday, October 3, 2014

Bookreview: Change yourself, change the world - Collective


One day, 'said the Indian legend, there was a huge forest fire. All animals terrified, aghast, helplessly watched the disaster. Only the little hummingbird was busy, fetching a few drops with its beak to throw on the fire. After a while, the armadillo, annoyed by this ridiculous agitation, said, "Colibri! You're not mad? It is not with these drops of water are you going to put out the fire! "The hummingbird looks straight in the eye and replied," I know, but I'm doing my part. "

If you feel like changing your readings of romances or of fantasy novels with both feet on the ground a little more (but not too much), this book is for you! Light, it will make you still think about lots of things. I agree: the title is not attractive, but it still says what it has to say (which is pretty rare these days). Bringing together four personas of different domains, divided into four trials, it will bring diverse ideas to offer sustainable alternatives to modern torments. These four scholars have in common at heart a profound change of consciousness that they express in their own way. This book will certainly inspire new ideas to address the feelings of indignation, emotions or revolt that sometimes takes us in this unjust world. It describes simple ways to take actions to affect people all over the world. I will briefly describe some of them to make you want to go through these small field trials.

Christophe André, in Chapter 2, discusses how to break free of an alienating society through mindfulness, but also (more simply) by cultivating gratitude and generosity. Christophe André has a medical degree and is a French psychiatrist. His way of dealing with stress, anxiety and depression (after reading his essay) will make you definitely want to explore his other books.

Jon Kabat-Zinn is also a doctor. He founded the Stress Reduction Clinic in the United States. In Chapter 3, he deepens our relationship with ourselves. His ideals of change are in the present moment: love and live fully to embody the truth (your truth).

Pierre Rabhi (my idol) is always an odd sparrow, even presented alongside other funny sparrows. He is a philosopher and biologist farmer, novelist and poet. Born in Algeria, he founded several movements like Hummingbirds (Colibris) or "Oasis everywhere" (Oasis en tous lieux.) In Chapter 5, he explains that a vegetable garden is now a revolutionary gesture and that this gesture makes us aware of the earth and its needs. He says that if we have an utopia, we must embody it in our consumer choices. I always found that this man had something intensely charismatic: I absolutely have to read his novels!

Matthieu Ricard is a famous author, a Buddhist monk and a doctorate in cellular genetics (you must admit that you did not expect that last one). In chapter 4, he urges us to practice compassion to change our view of others, but he emphasizes the verb "to practice" because "Compassion without action is sterile." He also suggests to eat less meat (with the reasons you should know if you read my other blogposts) and to practice simplicity (in our actions, our words, and thoughts).

Chapter 6 is a conglomeration of proposals that feeds the positive of all actions, but especially that evokes the need to love yourself, to be kind to yourself (as to others). The book ends with a series of movements to take a stand. Depending on which country you come from, there will be addresses and links tailored to your location.

In addition, copyright will fund access to care and education projects to vulnerable worldwide (Associations Emergences) populations.


This book is simply a balm for the soul searching. In search of what? It doesn't matter. Read it. You will understand once past the first chapter.

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