Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow an Intentional Community

by Diana Leafe Christian, Patch Adams (Foreword)

While the 90s saw a surge of revitalized interest in intentional communities, only 10% of the new communities formed actually succeeded. "Creating a Life Together" is the only resource available that provides step-by-step practical information on how to establish a successful intentional community. Based on the experiences of intentional community founders, this inspiring book is filled with vivid anecdotes, success stories, and samples of vision statements, member agreements, meeting minutes, and other legal documents. Diana Leafe Christian is the editor of "Communities" magazine and has contributed to "New Age Journal, Yoga Journal, Shaman's Drum," among others. She is a popular public speaker and workshop leader and has been interviewed on NPR. She is a member of an intentional community in North Carolina.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Sustainability, Relationships, Politics, Self Help, Social Change

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Shira and Ari Evergreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found this book, I jotted down, "looks like the way to go if you're working on an ecovillage or intentional community project and don't want to doom it to failure." Two careful reads later, I'm pretty sure I was right, and we're using the book to guide our own ecovillage project as it forms. This volume is jam-packed with insights into the many legal, financial, social, and other issues surrounding the complicated but world-changing subject of intentional community. There are sample agreements, vision documents, financial arrangements, and other useful tools. The author is a member of Earthaven community, and her book draws on interviews and research into many communities all around the world.

[Sara McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite community building books is "Creating a Life Together" by Diana Leafe Christian. She has done a lot of consulting work with intentional communities, helping them overcome conflicts, work their way through intractable conflicts, and there is even a thorough discussion on finding land and setting up legal arrangements. I love this book because she is a bit critical (not negative, but critical) of the dreamy notions of community building, and promotes a practical approach.

There are case studies from several different types of communities, both rural and urban/cohousing, and all sorts of different social arrangements (income sharing, tenant situations, etc). It's an excellent, comprehensive book to give you a realistic view of community life. Finally, the resources section is incredibly helpful.

[Aleksandar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely crucial reading for anyone interested in joining or starting a sustainable community. It's written from US perspective, but most of the information is applicable globally. The following I found particularly useful:

1) Ideas for finding our shared Vision and Mission
2) Guidelines for putting together a detailed agreement between members
3) Conflict resolution and communication processes

[Richard Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

notes: subtitle: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities / Recommended by Sam at Christmas when we were talking with Sam and Kate, David and Susan, and Jesse and Peter about the possibility of sharing a piece of land in some kind of community. Christian looked at lots of intentional communities and tried to identify what the very few successful ones did right. She looked at everything from vision statements to zoning, and in the end the overarching message was: forming a successful alternative community is a long and involved process that takes a huge amount of commitment and energy. We skipped over the legal entity part on the assumption that if we were ever to get that far reading about the American experience visa vis legal matters wouldn’t help us much in Canada. Sending the book to Peter and Jesse at Earlham.

[Matthew Tong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about the basics of what is required for founding an intentional community. Was a bit of slog reading through some of the matters of zoning and corporate structures, but I feel those sections helped cement that starting an intentional community is no walk in the park. Both inspirational and grounding.

[Evan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, the most practical book we have of the intentional communities movement. Unlike some of the more utopian views that came out from the 1960's - 1980's, this book, while inspiring, focuses on the day to day practice and structure of living communally. The author definitely writes from experience and information gathered from a wide array of communities and communitarians. From start to finish, practically all the tools for community living are there in the pages of this book. As such, it's not liable to date, as many of those more utopian visions of the recent past (sadly) have. It's also one of the most dog-eared books I own, which says a lot for its ongoing practicality. If you're even considering this lifestyle, it's a must.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the book is pervaded with a leftist "green" perspective, I recommend this as a guide for anyone interested in the the theory and practice of founding an intentional community - regardless of orientation. The author is an experienced veteran of such movements, and is filled with examples from actual communities, bursting with cautionary tales and useful examples. It doesn't dwell on the wishful thinking and optimism which pervades many of these projects, warning would-be founders that the challenge is formidable. Detailed information on the challenges of financing, developing group concensus, and coping with strife provide a window into how challenging this undertaking can be.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read about intentional communities. It made me realize that these communities were what I'd been looking for, and has changed the intentions of my life in major ways. Now I'm very focused on building a community I can live in, one that really makes life better for everyone.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has added value in providing tools and structure that applies to any group work. It would help anyone in a Leadership capacity.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so practically based that it helps dispel the fears as I move into a co-housing community.

[Arthur Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful book of advice if you're trying to start a close-knit community, or honestly any kind of non-hierarchical organization to a lesser degree. Christian does a good job of avoiding being too dry, though this can be a challenge when trying to explain the different tax and regulatory effects of registering as an LLC vs a 501(c)3 or the like. Perhaps not the best book to read cover-to-cover if you aren't considering setting up your own community, but probably a vital reference if you are.

It is very clear from the writing that a large number of the communities she studied while researching the book were hippie communes, and their nomenclature and concern for "energies" does creep in from time to time. It's not enough to detract from the book, but it does provide some (unintentionally?) amusing asides, as well as some hints as to why 90% of these communities fail. Please wear a suit when you meet with the loan officer.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth it if even only for chapters 5, 6, 17, 18 - which cover procedures, common pitfalls, schemas, and places to go for further education on consensus decision making, conflict resolution, and recruitment. The advice is specifically geared for people going off to live together, but can be applied to any 'flat'/bottom up group, like a cooperative, dungeons and dragons group, or even band.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading for a book club looking at this from a poc/immigrant/queer perspective - what makes a living community?
this is mostly nuts and bolts for future imaginary dream farm life

[Suiko Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book once ten years ago, have used it as a reference book ever since, and just re-read it come to cover. This book is a treasure for anyone interested in intentional community life.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would consider this book to be pretty close to the "Bible" of community living. A required-read and great place to start for anyone interested in creating or living in an eco-village, co-housing, or other intentional community variant. Despite being almost 20 years old, the principles and wisdom laid out here are still very relevant to any endeavor today. This being said, I would love to see a revised and updated version of this book that describes possibilities enabled by modern and coming technologies, whether they be social networks or blockchain-enabled tokenization or governance capabilities. I will certainly be reviewing and referencing this book while I continue my study on civilizational possibilities.

[VKNask · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of a book group, and the group gets five stars but the book wasn't as helpful as expected. Reading it served as a jumping off point for many awesome discussions, but mostly it was examples of what not to do and a disappointingly high percentage of privilege in the success stories (when someone just has a million dollars lying around, of course obstacles are overcome). The book was also written before the housing bubble and recession and I think a lot of the real estate and financial advice is already drastically outdated. It did serve to ground a number of folks in the group to the realities of being a founder versus joining a group or just living with/near friends and pooling resources.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since borrowing this book from a library , I have twice had conversations with people who have said this is the book to read if you are interested in forming an intentional community. The emphasis on planning and visioning is very valuable. I appreciated some of the ideas for topics and themes to discuss as a group in order to really get to know each other on a deeper level, which is a great idea to do if planning to live and work together. The explanations of varying legal entities are also extremely valuable, unfortunately as a Canadian some of this wasn’t directly applicable to me and I still need to research legal entities from a Canadian perspective.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical workbook/guide for those interested in founding and living in intentional communities. Extremely useful practical advice, including hard statistics on what has proven workable and what has not. Everything from land acquisition tips to sample vision documents to legal options for incorporating and information on types of foundations. Also important, essays on the roles (and non-roles) of founders. US focused, though some aspects may be helpful internationally. Recommended.

[Siobhan Hypatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent manual on creating intentional community. It covers all of the practical and relational aspects to consider and offers approaches to dealing with them. It's very grounded in the context of North America, so the content of certain chapters doesn't apply so much - such as the types of legal entity to consider - but it's still interesting to read through the thought process and know what to keep in mind.

[Gregory Diehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very detailed book written with the expertise required to give solid advice about the legal formation and land buying for intentional communities. And that's mostly it. Very little at the end is dedicated to the actual ongoing reality and social dynamics of running and maintaining a community. You will find very little of value here if you are already past the ideating or starting stages.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not finish this because I'm no longer interested in the details. I think much will have to change in the world before ecovillages become available to the average person, so knowing the legal restrictions now isn't useful.

Still giving this a high rating because if its a topic you are interested in, the writing is clear and it is written by one of the top experts in the field.

[Logan Streondj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book covering many important aspects of community building, first and second parts are about organizing land purchase, financing and organizational structure which is mostly pertinent to USA, the third part "Thriving in Community" is the real gem, talking about conflict resolution and organizational structures to make it easier.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book was published in 2003, it is full of wisdom and practical tips on starting and growing intentional communities. I wish I had read it sooner! I took a Sociocracy for Intentional Communities course with the author in 4Q2021; she now recommends Sociocracy over consensus. Excellent book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed overview of what it takes to put together an intentional community that shares housing and other facilities. If you don't have time for the full read, or want to get started with reading a bit less, I suggest you start with chapters:
* 5 - Creating Vision Documents
* 6 - Power, Decision-Making and Governance
* 15 - Legal Entities for Owning Property

[Kin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical and helpful! Easy to understand and to come back when needed as well. Really good for newly formed communities or people who are thinking of starting a community.

The only thing that didn't work well for me so much is that it is based heavily on the US context.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct discussion of what is needed if you're thinking of a life beyond the 'burbs.

[Shroomie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tool for starting communities - I recommend along with it 'Starhawk - The Empowerment Manual' to add more about social dynamics which in the end account for most struggles of any community

[Lily So-too · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will probably take me a very long time to finish reading. Maybe every book does. I am not sure that I have ever finished reading a book.

So far it is really interesting. It is not giving me all of the long-sought answers I crave about what doesn't work in community life or collaborative work, but it is teaching me to ask better questions, I think about what might work or why.

I am most enamored of chapters 4 through 6 which I've barely begun to read but which contain ideas about community vision, creating vision documents and power, decision making and consensus. I really wonder if and how I could bring these ideas into conversation in my home, school or work life.

If you live with or near to me and want to borrow it, feel free!

[Ingrid Janse-Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It must be because I am practical oh, but I love this book. It touches on all the important parts such as being willing to grow emotionally to be able to form an intentional community. One of the things that stood out is the quote that creating an intentional Community is like getting married as well as starting a business together.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a five-star book, except for its total lack of editing, which was very disruptive. Otherwise, it was very thought-provoking (but still not the book I'm looking for about how to build rural community with the people already around you).