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Summary

Amy Goodman's radio and TV show, Democracy Now, was th

Amy Goodman's radio and TV show, Democracy Now, was the first broadcast media outlet to recognize the importance of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and to have John Perkins on as a guest. Goodman's hour-long interview was instrumental in bringing the book to the attention of a wide audience and making it a national bestseller.

Now the Amy Goodman interview is available on DVD

Under Goodman's intelligent, probing questioning, Perkins expands on the themes in the book, discussing his experiences all over the world as an economic hit man, his friendship with Omar Torijos, the involvement of people like Robert McNamara and George Schultz, and how he came to write this extraordinary book.

"When John Hope Bryant talks about how to expand the middle class, I listen. I urge everyone to read this book and discover for themselves John's great ideas for creating an America with more shared opportunity and shared responsibility."
-- President Bill Clinton

Business and political leaders are ignoring the one force that could truly re-energize the stalled American economy: the poor. Instead of spending millions pursuing "emerging markets" in far-flung, corrupt, and even dangerous countries, companies can find enormous untapped potential right under their noses. If we give poor communities the right tools, policies, and inspiration, they will be able to lift themselves up into the middle class and become a new generation of customers and entrepreneurs.

John Hope Bryant knows this firsthand. Raised in poverty-stricken, gang-infested South Central Los Angeles, he became a successful businessman and founded Operation HOPE, a nonprofit that promotes "silver rights"-financial dignity and empowerment-for millions.

The poor are not stupid or lazy, Bryant writes, they've simply been abandoned. Business loans, home loans, and financial investments have vanished from their communities. After decades of deprivation they lack bank accounts, decent credit scores, and any real firsthand experience of how a healthy free enterprise system functions. The young have no role models for success other than athletes, entertainers, and, sadly, criminals.

Bryant exposes the historical roots of this unfortunate situation, explains why the solutions tried so far have proved insufficient, and offers a way forward. He lays out what he calls a Marshall Plan for our times, a series of straightforward, actionable steps to build financial literacy and expand opportunity so that the poor can join the middle class.

Fully 70 percent of the American economy is driven by consumer spending, but more and more people have too much month at the end of their money. John Hope Bryant aspires to "expand the philosophy of free enterprise to include all of God's children" and create a thriving economy that works not just for the 1 percent or even the 99 percent but for the 100 percent.

We humans live by stories, says David Korten, and the stories that now govern our society set us on a path to certain self-destruction. In this profound new book, Korten shares the results of his search for a story that reflects the fullness of human knowledge and understanding and provides a guide to action adequate to the needs of our time.

Korten calls our current story Sacred Money and Markets. Money, it tells us, is the measure of all worth and the source of all happiness. Earth is simply a source of raw materials. Inequality and environmental destruction are unfortunate but unavoidable. Although many recognize that this story promotes bad ethics, bad science, and bad economics, it will remain our guiding story until replaced by one that aligns with our deepest understanding of the universe and our relationship to it.

To guide our path to a viable human future, Korten offers a Sacred Life and Living Earth story grounded in a cosmology that affirms we are living beings born of a living Earth itself born of a living universe. Our health and well-being depend on an economy that works in partnership with the processes by which Earth's community of life maintains the conditions of its own existence-and ours. Offering a hopeful vision, Korten lays out the transformative impact adopting this story will have on every aspect of human life and society.

Bridging the Values Gap

Business has a values problem. It's not just spectacular public scandals like Enron (which, incidentally, had a great corporate values statement). Many companies fail to live up to the standards they set for themselves, alienating the public and leaving employees cynical and disengaged—resulting in lower productivity, less innovation, and sometimes outright corruption.

The reason, argue top scholars and consultants Edward Freeman and Ellen Auster, is that all too often values are handed down from on high, with little employee input, discussion, or connection to the challenges and opportunities facing the organization. Although the words may be well-intentioned, they aren't reflected in the everyday practices, policies, and processes of the organization. This practically invites disconnects between intention and reality.

To bridge this gap between the “talk” and the “walk”, Freeman and Auster provide a process through which organizations can collectively surface deeply held values that truly resonate with everyone, from top to bottom. Their Values Through Conversation (VTC) process focuses on four key types of values conversations: introspective (reflecting on ourselves and how we do things in the organization), historical (exploring our understanding of our past and how it impacts us), connectedness (creating a strong community where we work well together), and aspirational (sharing our hopes and dreams).

By developing values through discussions—casual or formal, one-on-one or in groups—VTC ensures that values are dynamic and evolving, not static words on a wall or a website. Freeman and Auster offer advice, real-world examples, and sample questions to help you create values that are authentic and embraced because they are rooted in the lived experience of the organization.

Avoid the speed trap! Discover how changemakers can find lasting solutions to urgent social problems through a proven 5-step process for listening thoughtfully, building broad support, and exploring unconventional options.


Society celebrates leaders who promise fast, easy solutions to the world's problems—but quick fixes are just mirages that fade, leaving us with the same broken systems. The truth is, effective social change happens through slow, intentional actions. The author, a globally acclaimed social entrepreneur, offers a 5-step process for taking the slow lane to change-the lane that gets you to the right place faster:

• Listening—Listen to build trust, which can change hearts and minds and allow for something new to emerge.
• Holding the urgency—Accept that even in moments of crisis you can move only at the speed of trust instead of rushing into action.
• Sharing the agency—Create an inclusive environment where everyone can lead.
• Healing democracy—Build bridges that allow marginalized people to participate.
• Maintaining curiosity—Be inspired by nontraditional sources.

Using dozens of examples—prison reform in England, urban development in Venezuela, healthcare in the Navajo Nation, early childhood education in New York, and many more—The Slow Lane shows how, by following the principles taught in this book, readers can create lasting change.

This is the first book on influencing others that is aimed squarely at introverts, who make up half of the U.S. population. Jenifer Kahnweiler demonstrates how introverts, who get their energy from within, can be the most effective influencers of all by playing to their natural strengths rather than by trying to use traditional, extrovert-based influencing methods.Introverts may feel powerless in a world where extroverts seem to rule, but there's more than one way to have some sway. Jennifer Kahnweiler proves introverts can be highly effective influencers when, instead of trying to act like extroverts, they use their natural strengths to make a difference. Kahnweiler identifies six unique strengths of introverts and includes a Quiet Influence Quotient (QIQ) quiz to measure how well you're using these six strengths now. Then, through questions, tools, exercises, and powerful real-world examples, you will increase your mastery of these strengths.

• The first book to identify six unique strengths that can make introverts powerful influencers
• Includes quizzes, exercises, and worksheets for putting quiet influencer methods into practice on a daily basis
• Features interviews with and examples of real-life quiet influencers
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• Companion online product: Quiet Influence Quotient (QIQ) Self-Assessment
  

Introverts may feel powerless in a world where extroverts seem to rule, but theres more than one way to have some sway. As Jennifer Kahnweiler proves in this much-needed book, introverts can be highly effective influencers when, instead of trying to act like extroverts, they use their natural strengths. Kahnweiler shows how you can use those strengths to challenge the status quo, provoke new ways of thinking, effect change, and inspire others to move forward.

Kahnweiler identifies six unique strengths introverts have:

• Taking Quiet Time: The periods of solitude that introverts crave provide them with a powerful source of creativity and self-awareness.
• Preparation: Careful preparation, which makes introverts feel more comfortable, also makes them very knowledgeable and able to anticipate objections.
• Writing: Introverts preference for writing over speaking enables them to influence others through deep, authentic, well-developed arguments.
• Engaged Listening: Introverts are great listenerstheyd rather listen than talkwhich is a crucial skill for establishing rapport and mutual understanding.
• Focused Conversation: Introverts dont like small talk, but they excel at the serious, purpose-driven, one-on-one interactions vital for winning people over.
• Thoughtful Use of Social Media: Oversharing doesnt appeal to introverts online any more than it does offline, so they naturally use social media in a thoughtful, and more effective, way.

Kahnweiler includes a Quiet Influence Quotient quiz to measure how well youre using these six strengths now. Then, through questions, tools, exercises, and real-world examples, she helps you increase your mastery of these strengths. Quiet Influence is the must-have guide to deeper insight and greater impact that introverts have been waiting for and that extroverts can learn from.