There are many serious divides political, religious, economic, and others that threaten our planet. This book is about how individually we can contribute to healing the divides between us. The author, Dr. Serafin Talisayon, shares short readable stories and his own reflections from his life journey trying to understand, learn and find solutions to these serious divides. Because solutions will take time, Serafin dedicates and addresses this book to his grandchildren and to your own grandchildren as well. The stories titles beckon your attention or promise surprise or entertainment, such as Stories of people who died and then came back, The sex act: a most private act with huge public consequences and The root causes of poverty are not economic. The author loves to stimulate you to think and he enjoys offering you potential eye openers. After each story, subtitles of his reflections capture the valuable life lesson he wishes to share with you. Suggested actions follow many of the stories which readers can consider if they decide to contribute in healing the divides between us.

Global warming. Soil loss. Freshwater scarcity. Extinction. Overconsumption. Toxic waste production. Habitat and biodiversity erosion. These are only a few of our most urgent ecological crises. There are others as well and, despite the popularity of good-news environmentalism, few of them are going away. In this wide-ranging, grimly entertaining commentary on the environmental debate, Tom Athanasiou finds that these problems are exacerbated, if not caused, by the planet's division into "warring camps of rich and poor." Writing with passionate intelligence, Athanasiou proposes a simple yet radical solution--stop indulging easy, calming fantasies in which everything seems to change, but nothing important changes at all. Instead, do what needs to be done, now, while there is still time and goodwill. The bottom line, he concludes, is that there will be no sustainability without a large measure of justice. Without profound political and economic change, he argues, there can be no effective global environmental action, no real effort to save the planet.

In an age where division seems to define the United States more than unity, Divided America emerges as a critical and timely exploration of the nation’s most pressing and contentious issues. This compelling book peels back the layers of America's complex societal challenges, offering an in-depth analysis of the forces driving the nation apart, and the potential paths to reconciliation and progress. From the fiery debates over gun control and healthcare to the polarizing topics of abortion, climate change, and racial justice, Divided America delves into the heart of what makes these issues not just political battlegrounds, but reflections of the American identity. Each chapter is a meticulous examination of the historical, cultural, political, and economic dimensions shaping these debates, providing readers with a nuanced understanding rarely captured in today’s media landscape. Authored with precision and insight, this book does more than just outline the problems; it illuminates the interconnectedness of these issues, highlighting how they are symptomatic of deeper societal rifts and shared struggles. Divided America also sheds light on the resilience and power of grassroots movements and individual activism, showcasing the indomitable spirit that has long defined the American ethos. This is not just a book about the challenges facing America; it is a call to action for understanding, empathy, and collective effort. It invites readers to engage in informed dialogue, to embrace the diversity of perspectives, and to participate actively in shaping a more united and equitable future. For anyone seeking to understand the depths of America’s divisions and the potential for bridging these divides, Divided America is an essential read. It stands as a testament to the complexities of the modern American narrative and as a beacon of hope for a nation in search of common ground and renewed purpose. Join us on this enlightening journey to understand the real America, in all its divided yet hopeful glory.

Building from his acclaimed anthology Tales of Two Americas, beloved writer and editor John Freeman draws together a group of our greatest writers from around the world to help us see how the environmental crisis is hitting some of the most vulnerable communities where they live. In the past five years, John Freeman, previously editor of Granta, has launched a celebrated international literary magazine, Freeman's, and compiled two acclaimed anthologies that deal with income inequality as it is experienced. In the course of this work, one major theme came up repeatedly: Climate change is making already dire inequalities much worse, devastating further the already devastated. But the problems of climate change are not restricted to those from the less developed world. Galvanized by his conversations with writers and activists around the world, Freeman engaged with some of today's most eloquent storytellers, many of whom hail from the places under the most acute stress--from the capital of Burundi to Bangkok, Thailand. The response has been extraordinary. Margaret Atwood conjures with a dys¬topian future in a remarkable poem. Lauren Groff whisks us to Florida; Edwidge Danticat to Haiti; Tahmima Anam to Bangladesh; Yasmine El Rashidi to Egypt, while Eka Kurniawan brings us to Indonesia, Chinelo Okparanta to Nigeria, and Anuradha Roy to the Himalayas in the wake of floods, dam building, and drought. This is a literary all-points bulletin of fiction, essays, poems, and reportage about the most important crisis of our times.

A revealing look at the identity and mission of the Black church What is the true nature and mission of the church? Is its proper Christian purpose to save souls, or to transform the social order? This question is especially fraught when the church is one built by an enslaved people and formed, from its beginning, at the center of an oppressed community’s fight for personhood and freedom. Such is the central tension in the identity and mission of the Black church in the United States. For decades the Black church and Black theology have held each other at arm’s length. Black theology has emphasized the role of Christian faith in addressing racism and other forms of oppression, arguing that Jesus urged his disciples to seek the freedom of all peoples. Meanwhile, the Black church, even when focused on social concerns, has often emphasized personal piety rather than social protest. With the rising influence of white evangelicalism, biblical fundamentalism, and the prosperity gospel, the divide has become even more pronounced. In The Divided Mind of the Black Church, Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., traces the historical significance of the rise and development of Black theology as an important conversation partner for the Black church. Calling for honest dialogue between Black and womanist theologians and Black pastors, this fresh theological treatment demands a new look at the church’s essential mission.