You Matter More Than You Think: Quantum Social Change for a Thriving World

by Karen O'Brien, Christina Bethell (Foreword), Tone Bjordam (Illustrator)

You Matter More Than You Think introduces a radically different way of thinking about climate change and social change. Inspired by ideas from quantum physics and quantum social science, quantum social change describes a conscious, nonlinear, and non-local approach to the transformations needed right now to address multiple global crises. It is grounded in our inherent oneness, recognizing that we are entangled through language, meaning, and shared contexts. This perspective on “mattering” shows us that our deepest values and intentions are powerful sources of individual change, collective change, and systems change and can generate a future where all life can thrive.The book includes a Foreword by Dr. Christina Bethell and full-color original artwork by internationally-acclaimed artist Tone Bjordam.KAREN O'BRIEN is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Oslo and co-founder of cCHANGE. She was named by Web of Science as one of the world’s most influential researchers of the past decade in 2019 and 2020, and in 2021 she was a co-recipient of the BBVA Foundation's Frontiers of Knowledge award for climate change."You Matter More Than You Think is more than just a book. It is an awakening, a how-to manual showing a new path to social and ecological regeneration."PAUL HAWKEN, author of Regeneration, Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation. “This book offers us a new way of looking at – and then moving towards – the transformational social change we know we need for the future we keep saying we want.”HEIDE HACKMANN, CEO, International Science Council"Karen O'Brien invites us to rethink what it means to be a living, thinking agent in our hyper-complex and troubled world. It's a hopeful book about our capacity to enact progressive change in the face of global challenges.”NOEL CASTREE, University of Manchester, England“Karen has artfully captured both the science and the soul, the seen and the unseen, the pragmatics and the poetics midwifing a new way of receiving and giving, which requires practice and more practice. The book is a great resource for scholars-practitioners, leaders, coaches, parents, educators, and anyone who holds questions and who is genuinely and humbly wanting to contribute to shift humanity’s story and make a positive difference.”INA GJIKONDI, Director of Education and Coaching, The George Washington University“This remarkable book’s message that we can all make a meaningful difference is needed more than ever after years of missed opportunities for climate and biodiversity policy. It is an important contribution to the efforts of dedicated people around the world doing all they can to achieve real social and cultural change for the long-term good of the earth and all its denizens.”STEVEN HARTMAN, Executive Director, BRIDGES Sustainability Science Coalition in the UNESCO Management of Social Transformations Programme‘’Karen O’Brien explains in a readable and yet theoretically persuasive way why quantum onto-epistemologies offer possibilities for thinking differently about how the universe is made, how we inhabit the world, and how we can change it. The book beautifully bridges the divide between theory and praxis … it constitutes an innovative way to make quantum count for changing the world.’'LAURA ZANOTTI Virginia Tech University and Author of Ontological Entanglements, Agency and Ethics in International Relations

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2021

Reviews

[HannaAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lättläst på temat, tänkvärt för alla!

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very illogical argument in climate change social behaviors

DESCRIPTION: The book argues that a different perspective is needed to 1) change society’s way of thinking and 2) use this newfound way to work towards climate change. It uses quantum physics as a method of describing current social norms and ways of thinking. O’Brien argues in a flawed manner to achieve the two goals aforementioned.

ISSUES: The use of quantum physics and its subtopics (e.g., entanglement, locality, Bayesian probability) is a very distant and difficult position to argue climate change “tactics.” First, O’Brien sets up normal sociological arguments and then proceeds to use quantum physics to create a “new paradigm” in approaching climate change thinking. This is presented in the intra-chapter and inter-chapter relations of this book. This shift from classical to quantum is a very jarring motion that disrupts the logic in the argument and makes following along hard. Furthermore, this quantum verbiage seems to be a disguise for already preexisting social norms. This brings me to my second point: distance. One cannot use social topics and then switch to physics to create a two front defense on climate change. The two fields are barely connected and have completely different usages. Combined with the fact it argues about climate change, the book reads as if it’s trying emulsification, but instead lightly mixes water and oil. The author does address these concerns at the end, but even then the argumentation is shaky.

OPINION: if this was a serious “Call to Action,” then it has failed to do so, spectacularly. I can remotely respect it, if it treated the quantum mechanics as metaphors for something poetic. But given the way it sets up its arguments for change in attitudes towards climate change, it really tries to act serious in a clown costume. Don’t get me wrong, certain points (e.g., agency in treating climate change) do make sense without the quantum parts. But just adding the nonsensical physics makes the whole argument absurd.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen O'Brien's "You Matter More than You Think" applies quantum theory to the question of social change. She offers insightful reflections on the role of the individual in creating system change: after all, systems are made up of people and the crystallized and connected decisions of people present and past, and to change them requires individual and collective action. And individual action, not as an atomistic individual acting alone or a charismatic individual acting from above but from individuals who understand their fundamental entanglement with society (as well as the surrounding nature) creating new and better ways of relating.

[Ruby Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel and inspiring approach to amplifying action in social change. Combined with the coaching ripple effect, quantum social change suggests that climate action can happen faster and with greater impact when it is driven by collective action and shared values. Quantum science has given us the concept of fractals as a novel and potentially more effective approach for scaling social change. The author brings this to life in a powerful narrative that has inspired many coaches and changemakers.

[Josh Whyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't yet finished this book but felt compelled to reflect a somewhat completer review than the one which is currently shared. O'Brien shares a number of interesting perspectives on the role of culture, beliefs and agency in social change to a thriving world. It contains some nuggets of real insight and helps the reader to understand their own position and role.

[Claudia Fuentes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesante perspectiva, pero muy desconectado de la realidad, sobre todo desde la perspectiva crítica del sur global (de hecho en el libro tienden a idealizar la perspectiva latinoamericana).

Además tiene demasiadas frases clichés que eran mencionadas de manera muy liviana y sin profundidad en el análisis.

[Lucrezia Vaga]

not my thing

[Bichara Sahely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quantum leap to catalytic transformation of us All

This is a must-read. It provides a roadmap from a degenerative fragmentary view of reality to a regenerative holofractactal one based on diversity, mutuality, harmony, and unity that would resonate with you through and through to be the change of good you want to be and become in this world.