Enduring Wisdom

Sayings from Native Americans. Quotations from their earliest contact with Europeans to contemporary tribal persons.

In this unique introduction to world religions, author Eric Bronson focuses on the enduring ideas embodied by a variety of faiths, and the ways in which those ideas shape the world we live in. According to sociologist Max Weber, "The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization and intellectualization and, above all, by the disenchantment of the world.'" Although the pace of scientific discovery and technological innovation has increased exponentially since Weber's day, other ways of knowing persist and still have much to offer. As Bronson notes, "Enchantment is a quality in the world that fires our non-rational imagination. Enchantments trigger in us an elevated sense of excitement, fear, or curiosity.... We may be enchanted by sunsets, popular music, or other people, for example. Enchanted experiences are also instructive: they teach us things about ourselves and the world we inhabit. Therefore, 'enchanted wisdom' describes many kinds of non-rational knowledge we gain about ourselves and our world." In discussing eleven representative faiths-including global religions with hundreds of millions of adherents, like Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, as well as the less well-known beliefs of the Navajo and the Yoruba-the author draws on a wide range of literary, musical, and other cultural references to enhance interest and understanding. The core tenets of each religion are first examined, followed by discussion of its evolution over time and contemporary manifestations. Questions at the close of each chapter direct students toward further learning, while comprehensive end-of-chapter glossaries provide a convenient summary of key people, places, and ideas. Full chapters are included on the following faiths: Hinduism - Buddhism - Daoism - Yoruba - Judaism - Christianity - Islam - Confucianism - Sikhism - Navajo - Shintoism. The text also includes an insightful introduction, 52 images, 51 boxes focusing on topics of special interest, comprehensive references, and a full index.

"Management guide that uses Rudyard Kipling's poem "If--" to define leadership qualities. Uses great leaders of the past as examples of these leadership principals"--Provided by publisher.

Deep smarts are the engine of any organization as well as the essential value that individuals build throughout their careers. Distinct from IQ, this type of expertise consists of practical wisdom: accumulated knowledge, know-how, and intuition gained through extensive experience. How do such smarts develop? And what happens when people with deep smarts leave a particular job or the organization? Can any of their smarts be transferred? Should they be? Basing their conclusions on a multi-year research project, Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap argue that cultivating and managing deep smarts are critical parts of any leader's job. The authors draw on examples from firms of all sizes and types to illustrate the connection between deep smarts and organizational viability and continuous innovation. Leonard and Swap describe the origins and limits of deep smarts and outline processes for cultivating and leveraging them across the organization. Developing an experience repertoire and receiving strategic guidance from wise coaches can help individuals move up the ladder of expertise from novice to master. Addressing a topic of increasing importance as the Boomer generation retires, Deep Smarts challenges leaders to take a hands-on approach to managing the experience-based knowledge shaping the future of their organizations.

We're facing an information overload. With the quick tap of a finger we can access an endless stream of addictive information—sports scores, breaking news, political opinions, streaming TV, the latest Instagram posts, and much more. Accessing information has never been easier—but acquiring wisdom is increasingly difficult. In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy diet of information, Brett McCracken has created the "Wisdom Pyramid." Inspired by the food pyramid model, the Wisdom Pyramid challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God—the foundation of truth and the eternal source of wisdom.

A collection of 154 short essays on how to live out the Christian faith on our jobs, with our loved ones and neighbors, and in our community and civic involvements.

For generations the Río Embudo watershed in northern New Mexico has been the home of Juan Estevan Arellano and his ancestors. From this unique perspective Arellano explores the ways people use water in dry places around the world. Touching on the Middle East, Europe, Mexico, and South America before circling back to New Mexico, Arellano makes a case for preserving the acequia irrigation system and calls for a future that respects the ecological limitations of the land.