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  • Published: 31 March 2020
  • ISBN: 9781523088157
  • Imprint: Berrett-Koehler
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

The Third Harmony

Nonviolence and the New Story of Human Nature




In the latest fruit of a brilliant career, Michael Nagler argues that nonviolence--not just as a tactic but as a way of being--is the only way to unite deeply divided people and enable progressive movements and leaders of all stripes to fulfil their promise and potential.

In the latest fruit of a brilliant career, Michael Nagler argues that nonviolence--not just as a tactic but as a way of being--is the only way to unite deeply divided people and enable progressive movements and leaders of all stripes to fulfil their promise and potential.

So many of the problems that beset us--war, poverty, isolation, and the climate crisis--have their roots in an old story about the universe: we are purposeless matter in a random void, and scarcity, competition, and violence are inevitable. Citing the convergence of modern science and the essence of the world's wisdom traditions, Michael Nagler argues for a new story: the universe is conscious and purposeful, humans are spiritual beings, and cooperation and collaboration are our natural way of interacting. This "new story" has had other champions, but Nagler is the first to realize that a piece is missing. For the new story to take hold, we have to embrace nonviolence, not only as a social change tactic but as a way of life.

Nonviolence is the only power strong enough to "move the heart" toward this deep and revolutionary change in worldview. Nagler refers to this as the "third harmony," which is the harmony within and among us to resolve the crisis of the human image. Calling on us to realize the urgency of nonviolence for resolving our personal and collective problems, Nagler focuses on how to shift to our story on a personal, everyday level and then integrate it into the very foundations of our understanding of humanity and community, for our sake, for the sake of future generations, and the sake of nonviolence itself.
 
Reading group discussion guide available.

  • Published: 31 March 2020
  • ISBN: 9781523088157
  • Imprint: Berrett-Koehler
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

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Praise for The Third Harmony

Praise for The Nonviolence Handbook

"Understanding nonviolence as an energy present in all of us is key to putting it to work in our own lives and in the troubled life of our world. This is a very powerful little volume--it will shake you up in wonderful ways!"
--Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of Oil and Honey and The End of Nature

Praise for The Search for a Nonviolent Future

"I really appreciate that Michael has had the courage and knowledge to write such a book."
-- Former Vice President Al Gore

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