happy 4th of july!
what I’m reading: going public
One of the books I’m reading in my quest to improve bike and pedestrian safety is Going Public: An Organizer’s Guide to Citizen Action. In the book, Michael Gecan details his work with various organizations who worked to improve life in inner cities. While the first sections of the book seem like mostly storytelling, you can get an idea of how ordinary citizens subverted power to accomplish positive change in their neighborhoods. The end of the book gives more pragmatic advice for how you can implement positive change in your own organizations. While most of the groups in the book were fighting serious social issues like poverty, crime, and corruption, its clear that the techniques can be used for a myriad of scenarios.
Verdict: The stories in the first part of the book were compelling enough to hold my interest, but if you want more pragmatic advice, skip to the last few chapters. It will definitely make you rethink the way you approach citizen organizations (and thanks to one of my favorite sections, the way you think about the market and bureaucracy as well.)
Oh, and speaking of organizations, I’m totally jonesing to get my hands on this book. Its been mentioned twice now on Worldchanging, and I can’t wait to read it. Social media and organizations, I’m so there. I wonder if they would have it in the bookstore here at the beach…
morning on the bay
I got up early this morning – not by choice, but because Grizzly decided he didn’t want to stay in our bedroom anymore. (We have to keep Grizzly separated from my mom’s dogs, so every day is an awkward dance of shifting dogs from room to room and patio to yard.)
I didn’t really mind though, because I love Ocean City in the morning. Its lovely and peaceful, and you can almost forget that its a horrible tourist trap. My parents’ house is on a little inlet to the bay, and its nice to just sit by the water and relax. (Or at least it is until the sprinklers kick on, and Grizzly decides to stick his face right in front of the sprinkler head. 3 times.) But it was nice while it lasted.
at the beach
what I’m reading: the one-hour activist
Generally, I have an aversion to anything that sounds like a quick fix. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. (And don’t even get me started on The 4-Hour Workweek.) Which is why I was a little skeptical of The One-Hour Activist.
But I have to say this is a really useful book. It outlines a series of actions you can take to advance causes that are important to you.
Verdict: This should be required reading for every high school civics class and for anyone who wants to take a more active role in government.
organizing, part 2
organizing
500 miles!
Today I logged my 500th mile on Nike+. Even though that’s only a fraction of the miles I’ve run in my life, its pretty cool to have an official record of logging 500 miles.
The problem with running so much is that you tend to go through shoes a lot. (You need to replace your running shoes at least every six months.) I’ve got a closet full of shoes that I need to do something with. Which is why I was happy to find RecycledRunners.com. The site helps you find places for donating or recycling your used running shoes.
what I’m reading: asphalt nation
If you read Asphalt Nation at roughly the same time you’re listening to The Omnivore’s Dilemma, you may start to think that American is doomed. Asphalt Nation looks at all the ways the car is ruining America, the historical precedents for favoring the car over other modes of transportation, and some suggested solutions.
The other thing that happens when reading any book while listening to The Omnivore’s Dilemma is that you start to compare the two. And Jane Holtz Kay is no Michael Pollan. While the information is good (and sometimes scary) the delivery is a little bit dry. Plus, the book is a little dated at this point. (It was published in 1998.)
Honestly, I agree with everything Kay says. I think we need to take steps as a society to become less car centered. I also agree that its going to be a long, slow battle that we can never completely win but should keep fighting anyway. But at this point, the solutions aren’t anything new (walk more, bike more, expand mass transit, etc.) and the overall story could be told in a much more interesting way.
Verdict: Most of the information and statistics can be gleaned from bike and walking advocacy websites. Hold off until Michael Pollan decides to dabble in the car-free lifestyle. (A Natural History of Four Modes of Transportation, anyone?)
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