Visionaries: People and Ideas to Change Your Life

by Jay Walljasper, Jon Spayde

In this volume, are compelling views of the future described by more than sixty of the world's most original thinkers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Jay Walljasper chronicles stories from around the world that point us toward a greener, more equitable, and more enjoyable future. His focus goes beyond what’s in the headlines to chronicle the surprising real life of communities today.

Jay is a Senior Fellow and editor at OntheCommons.org, an organization devoted to restoring an appreciation of the common purpose and common assets to contemporary life. He is also a Senior Fellow at Project for Public Spaces, a New York-based organization that helps citizens enliven their communities by improving public places. He is also a Contributing Editor of National Geographic Traveler, reporting regularly on sustainable tourism initiatives, and as an associate of the Citistates Group, a public affair consortium focusing on metropolitan regions.

Walljasper is the author of The Great Neighborhood Book (2007) and Visionaries: People and Ideas to Change Your Life (2001). His new book, What We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons appears in July 2010. His experience includes being the editorial director and editor of Utne Reader, executive editor of Ode magazine, and travel editor at Better Homes & Gardens.

Reviews

[Erik Akre · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of little vignettes about progressive and radical thinkers--many, many of them in one volume. Each person gets one short essay exposition, explaining life, ideals, and accomplishments. I believe the purpose of the book is to inspire readers with the great variety of approaches to progressivism/radicalism, and to an extent it certainly does so.

I read the bulk of this book in two weeks a few summers ago, and I just couldn't get through it. I finally returned at some point and read the last few sections. I confess I had to force through it at times--one of those books you feel more obligated to get through rather than riveted by... It's a little too much in a little too small a space. There is absolutely no flow to it; it's maybe better read here and there, or by picking out essays/thinkers in whom you're particularly interested.

I dunno. If you are an aspiring progressive, you might like it. When I read it, I aspired to be an aspiring progressive, and for whatever reason, it let me down.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational (in a secular, social activism sense).