June 2007 Books
The Sudbury Valley School Experience; Vegetarian Delights and Cleanse Internally to Become Younger; Living Green
The Sudbury Valley School
Experience
In 1967 a group of parents from the Greater Framingham area of Massachusetts joined forces to find a school that would offer their children the kind of education they felt they deserved: one that would allow them the freedom to develop their individual potentials in a natural, organic way, free from the pressure of externally imposed schedules, structures, and expectations.
Unable to find such a school, they decided to invent one. And thus, in 1968, was born the Sudbury Valley School. This book is a compendium of essays and short pieces written about the school over the years.
Daniel Greenberg opens the book with a discussion the nature of learning. Whereas the common viewpoint appears to be that people learn because they are taught, the assumption at Sudbury Valley School is that learning cannot be forced by teaching, but occurs as a natural result of the inborn curiosity common to every human being.
This being the case, children given the freedom to explore their interests in their own timing and in their own way will grow uninhibited into curious adults who naturally “stretch their minds to handle, mold, shape, organize, play with new material, old material, new ideas, old ideas, new facts, old facts”—in short, people capable of taking whatever is presented to them and turning it into a creative masterpiece.
Aah! Refreshing. This and other chapters expound on what happens when children are allowed to develop in such a democratic environment. They grow up trusting themselves. Allowed to learn as they become physiologically and emotionally ready, they never become dyslexic. (The school has never had a dyslexic student.)
Learning with students of all ages, teaching and coaching each other all the time, they develop a natural ease with teamwork. Treated as equals by school staff, they learn mutual respect and self-responsibility.
They are motivated, and learn quickly. They learn focus. They learn how to ask for what they want and make sure they get it. And whether they begin to read at age four or age eleven, they do well in college and in life.
This is a fascinating book, advocating the finest in organic (unpoisoned) education. Our country would be a lot different today had we been allowed to develop with such freedom—of that, I have no doubt. Something to think about as we go about creating the future.
—Chiwah
Vegetarian Delights and
Cleanse Internally
to Become Younger
“Why don't I feel better?” It's a question many of us find ourselves asking. Millan Chessman gives us tools we can use to turn our health around. I had thought to select one of her books for review, but both are excellent and together they provide a more complete approach to healthful living.
Vegetarian Delights is a treasure trove of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes perfect for today's conscious culinary enthusiast. Yet, as she points out in the Introduction, the approach is rooted in ancient dietary wisdom. The recipes begin with sauces and dressings and then move into side dishes, soups and salads, main dishes, and desserts. So okay, now we're eating well. So why is it that many of us feel tired and depleted, even when we're exercising and eating well and using the best supplements?
“All of the above changes are important,” Chessman “However, if one doesn't resolve the toxic condition of the body, energy level may never improve and abundant health may never be attained.”
If you've experienced the debilitating effects of toxicity from eating meat and processed foods and drinking coffee, but have gone back and forth on the question of internal cleansing, you will find in this book a serious discussion of this question complete with a review of the literature and all the pros and cons, liberally interspersed with stories and testimonials.
And you'll come to understand how your body digests food, the causes of digestive ailments you may be suffering, and what you can do about them.
Recognizing that we are emotional beings for whom “just the facts” may not be enough, Chessman goes to great lengths to offer an insightful discussion of historical and cultural factors affecting our knowledge and attitudes and the choices we make regarding cleansing our bodies.
Replete with useful information and tools, these two books are designed to inspire action. What could be better?
- Chiwah
Living Green
A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability
“There's a revolution in progress, and more Americans are joining its front lines every day. This revolution is being fought not with guns, but with books and movies and lifestyle changes that move us toward sustainability. It's the Green Revolution, and it must be won.
The World Commission on Environment and Development has defined sustainability as “the ability of humanity to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” As Horn says, “Sustainability is a journey, and as the ‘eighth generation' we are just taking our first steps.”
Living Green is a Green Revolution handbook. Written by the former CEO of General Nutrition Corporation (GNC), the book offers clear guidelines for changes to protect yourself and your loved ones from the inside and the outside and at the same time make a positive contribution to the future of the environment.
Presently serving as CEO of Garden of Life, “an innovative organic food and nutrition company committed to the path of sustainability in its products and its business practices,” Horn details the changes he and his family have made toward sustainability in every area of their lives. From food, water, clothing and personal care products… to recycling, household products and furniture… to sustainable building and retrofitting… to hybrid cars, energy conservation and Green politics, he has packed this book with specific information and resources you can use to do the same for yourself—and for the world.
Change begins with a decision, and becomes real with determination. One step at a time, with a manual like this book at hand, Horn assures us that although we will never know sustainability in our lifetime, we can each take the specific steps that will eventually win the peace we wish to leave to the next “eighth generation.”
This is one of those books you'll want to keep handy for ongoing reference.
—Chiwah
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