What is this world coming to?

Dear Friend,

This book was born from a keen sense of urgency about the state of society and the future of our planet.

For most people, those words conjure up worrisome images of war, poverty, environmental degradation. A shared sense of looming disaster is fueled by constant attention to the heartbreak of September 11, the devastation of tsunamis and hurricanes, and countless other calamities actual and feared.

Many people believe that civilization is descending to new depths and the very existence of life on earth is at risk. With good reason. We can find ample evidence that we’re making a mess of things.

Against such a backdrop, how can anyone honestly believe the future might turn out well?

My sense of urgency springs from an entirely different source. Surprising as it may sound, I believe humanity is poised to ascend to new heights — and indeed has already begun to do so, in ways often invisible to our view. As you page through this book, I think you’ll find plenty of evidence to support this unusual claim.

You’ll find encouraging real-life answers to the questions we often ask ourselves as we work to further the greater good:

• Can we choose to create the future we most desire, or are we at the mercy of forces beyond our control?
• Where do we find an alternative to the dominant chorus of cynicism?
• How might we enliven civic engagement and revitalize social causes and organizations of social good?
• Instead of being wearied by the usual accounts of how bad things are, can we change the conversation and find the energy to tip the scales of history?

What Kind of World Do You Want draws on more than a decade of intensive learning labs and interviews with leaders from more than 50 countries, as well as the latest findings in the fields of human and organizational behavior.

The world I see is vibrant, vital, and filled with promise. When I take a good hard look at this reality, I experience a new kind of urgency, founded on confidence and hope. Of course, you will decide whether to buy this premise.

Warm regards,

Jim Lord