Getting a Grip 2: Clarity, Creativity, and Courage for the World We Really Want

When faced with the political and social crises that the world is in, it is easy to become paralyzed with fear, anxiety and hopelessness. Frances Moore Lappe uses Getting a Grip to explore empowering alternatives to these feelings, creating a sense of great relief. Relief that individuals have the power to create change. Relief in knowing that each action, however big or small, has the power to make life better. Lappe uses her own powerful convictions supported by well-documented evidence to support her thesis that human beings are caring, compassionate creatures who desire more than just a flat, consumer-driven existence.

If you've been feeling weighed down, perplexed, and ready to throw up your hands in disgust with the pervasive mess that seems to be predominating our society, this book will be breath of fresh air! Ms. Lappe has honed right in on the fundamental problems that are feuling the mess... I swear, you will find yourself nodding and whispering an emphatic "Yes!" at many points during the first few chapters. But beyond defining the underlying perception of powerlessness that have lead us to a "thin democracy" (based on a gross imbalance of wealth and power, creating a dogma of fear and neediness that turns the masses into disgruntled "shoppers", ever-more driven to "buy" security, safety, and happiness), Ms. Lappe also goes on to point out concrete models of true democracy at work today, and suggest simple ways in which "average citizens" can begin to re-establish a sense of empowerment in own lives, as well as those of their families, communities, and the country. The opportunities exist all around us, we just need to act on them. As she points out through numerous examples, by redirecting our thought processes, raising our voices, and redefining our goals and needs, we can use our God given intelligence, intuition, and compassion to develop equitible policies and build sustainable neighborhoods and communities that serve everyones needs. For a relatively short book, it is amazing how packed full of relevant information it is... I came away from this book feeling armed with knowledge and a good measure of hope that we, the public, can reverse the the downward spiral our country has been in, and get things back on the right track. Thank you, Ms. Lappe!

Frances Moore Lappe's latest book, Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad, takes a close look at how we've created our culture and how we can step back to reshape it. How do we create a more authentic and alive world that takes care of it's inhabitants? Frances is an eco/political Rock Star, world changer, world traveler, long-time celebrated author of dozens of books (literally), and sprightly hot mama! The book is already getting glowing reviews as being revolutionary and insightful from places like O Magazine. It's message is timely, innovative and radical. Every morsel of this delectable credo-meets-blueprint is fluid and human yet scrupulously well thought out and honest. After all these years, Frances has finally written a book that condenses the most weighty and sensible points from her previous works, reshaping them into one cohesive lens for viewing our current situation. Her message is hopeful but realistic. Not many books on democracy have such a high level of authenticity. Her ability to bypass the normal, worn-out political arguments is refreshing and out of the box. The time has come for the American people, and the citizens of the world, to take our lives and our governments into our own hands to create the world we want, in which we can all thrive together. A better world is possible, and Frances Moore Lappé is one of a handful of authors whose vision points the way.

"Getting a Grip" is another example of Francis Moore Lappe's steadfast attention on the strength of every day people and local communities, strengths that our mainstream media all too quickly ignores. Lappe has a knack for drawing out bright examples of hope, courage and positive action in a day when the United States' broken national political system shuns real citizen participation and global econonmic structures devalue the human being. This book will remind you that your neighbors are good, strong, smart people, with whom you can work to build community and a stronger democracy. Read it for hope, revitalization and to remember your own power.

Lappe is brilliant! She has a knack of knowing what we as a nation need and her timing is perfect. The book challenges us to use the gift of democracy to continually create the world we desire. Chock full of wisdom, some of my favorite reflections are: using conflict creatively is the key to creating society, we create the scarcity we fear, and power is negative if we believe that we have none. The book truly is an inspiration of our time and a call to action.