The Cathedral Within: Transforming Your Life by Giving Something Back

by Bill Shore

In this wise and inspiring book, social entrepreneur Bill Shore shows us how to make the most of life and do something that counts. Like the cathedral builders of an earlier time, the visionaries described in this memoir share a single to create something that endures. The extraordinary people Shore has met on his travels represent a new movement of citizens who are tapping into the vast resources of the private sector to improve public life. Among them

-- Gary Mulhair, who has created unprecedented jobs and wealth at the largest self-supporting human-service organization of its kind, Pioneer Human Services of Seattle.

-- Nancy Carstedt of the Chicago Childrenís Choir, which provides thousands of children their first introduction to music.

-- Geoffrey Canada, who has made a safe haven for more than four thousand inner-city children in New York City, from Hell's Kitchen to Harlem.

These leaders, and many others described in these pages, have built important new cathedrals within their communities, and by doing so they have transformed lives, including their own.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Personal Growth

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 1999

Reviews

[Max Ungar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this from a Little Free Library box; read the first ten pages. Many of the sentiments aren't explicitly stated but heavily implied. Bill is either an extremely obtuse goody two-shoes, or a manipulative sophist and propagandist, and I'm inclined to think the latter. The cartoonishly inspirational tone of the rhetoric reminds me of my time in the cult of orthodox Judaism and associated youth groups, and of course of the scam industry of self-help, and inspiration culture generally. One of the blurbs on the back is from Colin Powell, famed high-ranking government employee, with high (if basically meaningless) praise.
Bill implies that government work doesn't really matter relative to the efforts of individuals, and shifts the social onus for the Great Ills of the world from the government to individuals and communities. Bill remarks on the plight of broken families and the children who need to be saved (think of the children!), which is funny, because of my vague awareness that the government had something to do with instigating the crack epidemic, severely damaging the social fabric of the US's black population.
It's not that I think the government has to solve all our problems, or people need to solve all of their own problems individually. My personal belief set is informed by Hegelian synthesis, nuance, and many other parameters; overall, complex and nuanced, unlike this swill.
Every paragraph had some statement or implication that was some combination of absurd, simplistic, and obnoxious. This book is fucking garbage and I despise Bill Shore. Fuck you, Bill.

[Melaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I would have guessed it was about based on the title, but an interesting read. I would have thought it was more of a “self help” book but it dove into how non-profits are using profit to fill in gaps where government funding has disappeared. As a volunteer myself, I hear many gripes about licensing and trying to make a buck but this shows the other side of the coin. Definitely dry at points (like falling asleep mid-sentence), but I learned something and that’s always a positive.

[Melissa Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It reads as a good story, but the tales within it are soul-lifting and inspiring. Giving needs to be a part of our culture - ad this book gives some great reasons as to why.

[Steve Hagerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring book about the actions one can take to make the world a little better.

[Calece Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

college read- one of the few I have kept

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a Book Club that was hosted by a member of the Eugene United Way. It was a very powerful, motivating, and inspirational read focused on philanthropy. It made me realize "I want to do something that counts." The goal of the book is to design a new architrecture for how society uses resources to help children, much like the cathedral builders of earlier time. Everyone sharing their strengths would result in a truly great cathedral. This book makes you want to search for the spirit of the cathedral builders and to use that spirit to make our lives and our country better. One of my favorite quotes by Bill Shore: "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve. All it takes is a heart full of grace and a soul that generates love."

[Rachel Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cathedral analogy is an interesting and compelling one, although it may have had more influence because of my background in religious architecture. It frames the idea of social and community change in a very lucid and accurate fashion, however: the concept of creating a foundation for something upon which to be built, without the intention of ever seeing the finished structure within your own life, but filling people with enough spirit and drive to continue even after you are gone.

I have other thoughts, but I want to save them for another piece of writing at some point.

[Wendy Wolpert-DeWitt]

The author tells a meandering set of anecdotes about his life as leader of a small non-profit, as a Washington insider, and as a dad. He uses the metaphor of a cathedral to talk about ideas relating to the public good, organizational leadership, and personal growth.

It is not an amazing, inspiring, masterfully written book. On the other hand, it is an easy read. It makes very complicated ideas seem very clear and it does have the effect of making one think about some of those larger issues.

[michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good message, but frustrating because Shore ends up getting lost in the bowels of his cathedral (egocentric) rather than the community's cathedral (polycentric).

[Kjersti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much like that he takes a more business approach to doing good.

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspiring

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book that shaped my desire and goal to use my professional skills to help change the world.

[Debra]

I read this book for a class I am taking and it worth the read. If you want to learn more about nonprofits in our country, read this book.

[Jessica Orndorff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, inspiring read about creating social good and building communities! Love how forward thinking and relevant this book is nearly 15 years later.