Excellent book. I should have come across it years ago and saved many years of training as a psychotherapist only to discover the 'wheel had already been invented'! As one who worked in the security office in RNAD Coulport nr Faslane, Scotland, for a brief time, on the UK's Polaris deterrent and then (as a result) became an active Quaker....... this book 'spoke to my condition' openly and fully. A must read for all who work in the non-violent interventions field as conciliators, mediators, teachers or psychotherapists. It will make a difference to what you communicate, how you communicate it.......and you
Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age by Joanna Macy is a foundational text that proposes facing feelings of despair about the nuclear threat and other global problems is not an end, but a starting point for empowerment and action. Reviewers praise the book for its direct approach to confronting anxiety and numbness, offering guided exercises to move through despair and foster personal and collective power for positive change. It is considered essential for activists, therapists, and anyone concerned with global issues, serving as the basis for her more widely known
The Work That Reconnects framework.
Key themes and contributions
-
Confronting despair: The book directly addresses the "pivotal psychological reality" of our time—a sense of uncertainty and despair about the future of life on Earth—which Macy argues society often numbs or pathologizes.
-
Personal empowerment: It posits that moving through despair, rather than escaping it, can be a source of strength. By confronting these difficult emotions, individuals can become more vital and empowered to act.
-
Practical tools for change: The book provides a framework and a series of exercises, meditations, and group activities designed to help individuals and groups process their grief and fear, and then channel that energy into constructive action.
A call to action: It presents a compelling argument that to create a livable future, we must move past apathy and numbness by analyzing the causes of our world's problems and shifting our worldview and values.
How it is viewed
-
Pioneering work: It is seen as the beginning of the work that would later be developed into her The Work That Reconnects methodology, which is now used globally.
-
Practical and impactful: Reviewers, including psychotherapists and activists, find the book highly valuable and recommend it as a must-read for anyone in helping or activist professions, or for anyone looking for a way to respond to overwhelming news about global problems.
-
Relevant today: Although written during the Cold War, the book's core message about confronting despair and finding power is considered just as relevant today for issues like climate change, species extinction, and the current nuclear landscape.
