The Compassion Revolution

Mary Freer imagined a compassion revolution taking place in the healthcare sector. Her dreams turned into actions, and spread like wildfire through the ranks of doctors, nurses, aged care workers, executives, CEOs, not-for-profit leaders and entrepreneurs from London to Australia. What had these professionals so enthralled? A new, research-backed take on the power of compassion. Not fluffy. Not nice-to-have. Not kindness, even. No. This is compassion as a revolutionary act. A swath through bullying, blaming and exclusionary workplaces. A full stop to the many destructive practices that drive down the quality of work performance and wear away our mental wellbeing. This revolution demands compassion both fearless and forthright. It is compassion as a fortress, a balm and a life raft. And the research is clear: compassion is also the path to more productive, more profitable and far friendlier, more fulfilling workplaces. Come and join the compassion revolution. Drawing on decades of experience incubating revolutionaries in her Compassion Labs, Mary Freer makes it easier than you can imagine. When reading Compassion Revolution, be prepared for a warm hug and a push between the shoulder blades. The time is right to start now. Freer shows you how to use what you have and keep going until the revolution is won.

This revised edition of the second volume in the award-winning Compassionate Rebel series features the inspiring, ground breaking stories of 60 ordinary people from around the globe who have turned adversity into triumph, compassion into commitment, and anger into activism with extraordinary acts of caring and courage that are positively transforming our politics, culture and way of life. Using vivid, easily readable storytelling, this updated anthology is especially relevant in these troubled times. It describes how an historic, people-powered movement has been increasingly reaching across geographical, generational, and social and cultural boundaries to build a more just, peaceful and compassionate society that works for everyone. Along with a student-driven teacher’s guide and compelling video interviews, these previously untold stories make a vital contribution to research on social movements, oral histories, the power of storytelling, conflict resolution, peace and justice studies, peace literacy education, social science and human behavior. The collection is ideal for librarians, middle and high school educators, college professors, social scientists, psychologists, social workers, book clubs and any individual, group or organization anxious to unleash the power and beauty of the compassionate rebel that lives in all of us and to contribute to the massive revolution that is positively changing our world.

Rachel Scott and her killer Eric Harris both talked about starting a "chain reaction." Eric used violence to kill and destroy at Columbine High School. But Rachel chose another path. In a personal creed she wrote one month before her death in the Columbine tragedy, she explained her conviction that if one person goes out of his or her way to show compassion, it will start a world-changing chain reaction of kindness. For Rachel, this was a solemn calling. And now her father, Darrell Scott, is carrying on her crusade by challenging people of all ages to commit themselves to creating a revolution of compassion that can make a real difference in our troubled world. Chain Reaction spells out this challenge in compelling detail, providing moving examples of practical compassion and giving illustrations from Rachel's life and journals.

An enlightening examination of the ways our capitalist system depends on three corrupt principles: greed, hatred and ignorance. After exploring in Free to be Human the ways the mass media distorts our understanding of many personal, ethical and spiritual issues to make us willing to accept the irrational values of corporate consumerism, political writer David Edwards is back with another powerful read. In The Compassionate Revolution, David builds on his argument, showing how our capitalist system is dependent on the promotion of the three Buddhist Poisons of Greed, Hatred and Ignorance: greed for profit at any cost in terms of human suffering; hatred of foreign obstacles to profit; ignorance of the cosy link between Western corporations and Third World dictators, helping to protect Western profits. Western activists need to recognise the truly revolutionary potential of the Buddhist conviction that compassion is the basis of all happiness. The antidote to exploitative social systems is rational awareness rooted in unconditional kindness and compassion for all. By marrying the political arguments of activists like Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn with the compassionate awareness of Buddhist writers such as Aryasura, Geshe Gyeltsen and Stephen Batchelor, David shows how we can instigate a compassionate revolution in which the only enemies and casualties are greed, hatred and ignorance.

We are in trouble. Our social, financial, and religious institutions are crumbling. Our criminal justice system is a prime example of society’s dysfunction.More than 1 in 100 Americans are now in jail.Taxes now finance the incarceration of 1 in 53 of adults in their 20s.There are now 2.3 million people locked up in the U.S. (the same number of prisoners in Russia and China combined).The U.S. accounts for 5 percent of the world’s population--and 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. What courtroom veteran and law professor Sylvia Clute saw on a daily basis was all too often the miscarriage of justice. Because of her legal background, Clute focuses on legal horror stories to demonstrate her underlying thesis: The crisis in our legal system is merely symptomatic of a rot found in each of our institutions. It is rooted in a philosophy of dualism that pits us against one another. It is rooted in a philosophy that fails to recognize the oneness or unity of all life. Clute unfolds her argument for applying the philosophy of non-duality to not only our criminal justice system, but to all social relationships. She explores the roots of dualist thinking in the religious traditions of the world and offers the hope that if individuals--and societies--can move beyond dualistic thinking, we will create a society that is truly just and authentically caring. Part social policy, part metaphysics, this is a book for all who are looking for a new model for individual and societal relationships.

The Mayo Clinic physician and founder of The Patient Revolution offers a “thoroughly convincing. . . call to action for medical industry reform” (Kirkus). Winner of the 2018 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence, Why We Revolt exposes the corruption and negligence that are endemic in America’s healthcare system—and offers a blueprint for revolutionizing patient care across the country. Through a series of essays and first-hand accounts, Dr. Victor M. Montori demonstrates how the system has been increasingly exploited and industrialized, putting profit before patients. As costs soar, the United States continues to fall behind other countries on patient outcomes. Offering concrete, direct actions we can take to bring positive change to the healthcare system, Why We Revolt is an inspiring call-to-action for physicians, policymakers, and patients alike. Dr. Montori shows how we can work together to create a system that offers tailored healthcare in a kind and careful way. All proceeds from Why We Revolt go directly to Patient Revolution, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Montori that empowers patients, caregivers, community advocates, and clinicians to rebuild our healthcare system.

Discover the Six Habits of Highly Empathic People A popular speaker and co-founder of The School of Life, Roman Krznaric has traveled the world researching and lecturing on the subject of empathy. In this lively and engaging book, he argues that our brains are wired for social connection. Empathy, not apathy or self-centeredness, is at the heart of who we are. By looking outward and attempting to identify with the experiences of others, Krznaric argues, we can become not only a more equal society, but also a happier and more creative one. Through encounters with groundbreaking actors, activists, designers, nurses, bankers and neuroscientists, Krznaric defines a new breed of adventurer. He presents the six life-enhancing habits of highly empathic people, whose skills enable them to connect with others in extraordinary ways – making themselves, and the world, more truly fulfilled.

Return to Your Innate, Kind Self through 30 Days of Self-Love, Peace, and Living from the Heart Now is the time to embrace your true nature of kindness. With uplifting stories, contemplation prompts, meditations, and other fun activities, you'll immerse yourself in compassion while drawing inspiration from Amy Leigh Mercree's positive perspective. The Compassion Revolution includes practical ideas like technology curfews, personal dance parties, rewiring your brain, and social media hashtags and quotes to help you connect with the compassion movement. Praise: "Get ready to set your compassion compass to its true north. This is a soul stirring and spiritually satisfying read."—Emma Mildon, bestselling author of The Soul Searcher's Handbook "Amy reminds us . . . that we can each embrace the transformative presence of divine love within ourselves."—Tosha Silver, author of Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead