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Self-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society Reissue Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

"Gardner's is not a 'how-to-do-it' book for the conduct of modern society. It is something rarer these days and more basic: a 'why-to-do-it' book. Its impact on many readers is bound to be challenging and stimulating and even inspirational."―Clark Kerr, Science

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is the most exciting and significant book that I have read in years. The subject is the self-renewal of societies and of individuals―why do some atrophy and decay, while others remain innovative and creative? There is no more vital problem than this, especially for an era of constantly accelerating change such as the present."
L. S. Stavrianos, Northwestern University, Chicago Daily News

From the Back Cover

This is above all a book about the individual. Individuals create societies and make them vital; and individuals bring them to moldering ruin. So this is a book about you.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 1995
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reissue
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 170 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 039331295X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393312959
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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John W. Gardner
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
97 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and deeply perceptive, describing it as a real life changer. Moreover, the pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it nicely unpacks major themes. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's excellent condition.

9 customers mention "Thought provoking"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and deeply perceptive, describing it as an inspiring and confirming read that serves as a real life changer.

"A fascinating read and astonishingly prescient." Read more

"This is a book that you can't help but feel positive and hopeful for a better tomorrow...." Read more

"Gardner writes clearly, succinctly, and insightfully...." Read more

"...book to read for our Poli Sci term paper... I found the book extremely intriguing, and thought-provoking!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one customer noting that it is profoundly eloquent and another mentioning that it nicely unpacks the major themes.

"Gardner writes clearly, succinctly, and insightfully...." Read more

"...Nicely unpacks the major themes of a functioning and dysfunctional society." Read more

"This is NOT a self-help, pop psychology book. This IS a profoundly eloquent, deeply perceptive, compelling set of antidotes to soundbites...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be in excellent condition and lasting value.

"Excellent condition and the most important book of the century." Read more

"...John Gardner was doing and what he wrote about sometime ago has lasting value...." Read more

"In excellent condition. love it!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a book that you can't help but feel positive and hopeful for a better tomorrow. Some might find it a bit too hopeful but this book's prediction of some of the great things our society will become is already coming true. It's a short book that should be read every couple of years to help you refocus on possibilities of the greatness that resides in individuals. I just read a new book and it talked about how society can't be great if the individuals only care of about their own success and I couldn't disagree more. If every individual took care and improved himself then society would be much better.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Gardner writes clearly, succinctly, and insightfully. The wonder to me is that this book was written in 1964, and that I'd never even heard of it until 2019. Shame on me and kudos for the author: Gardner never pretended that renewal, either for society or individuals, would be easy.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    What John Gardner was doing and what he wrote about sometime ago has lasting value. His clarity leaves no doubts about ways we can benefit individually and how to go about doing so in body, mind, and spirit. It's our Common Cause.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Powerful read and applicable to the diseased society we live in today. Nicely unpacks the major themes of a functioning and dysfunctional society.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    We were assigned this book to read for our Poli Sci term paper... I found the book extremely intriguing, and thought-provoking!

    The edition that I purchased came with the author's signature, and the previous owner included a copy of the Stanford newspaper article of the in-person reading.

    Great book - glad I was introduced to this book.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is NOT a self-help, pop psychology book.
    This IS a profoundly eloquent, deeply perceptive, compelling set of antidotes to soundbites.
    It is timeless. It puts forth pragmatic and resonant ways of navigating the complexities of dynamic change within the necessary stability of society.
    Gardner's observations on innovation, creativity, motivation are quietly inspiring.
    Please look at the Table of Contents to get a glimpse.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2006
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am a great admirer of John W. Gardner. I especially liked On Excellence and On Leadership. I did not find much to help me in Self-Renewal. I think his observations and opinions are valid and interesting. I found little to give me hope that democracy can renew itself sufficiently to address the civilization threatening issues of catastrophic climate change, declining oil production, and religious/resource wars.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting approach to self knowledge and transformation.

Top reviews from other countries

  • cruzing
    3.0 out of 5 stars Verbose with good pieces of wisdom.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The book has nuggets of wisdom, but one has to filter through a lot of verbosity to find them. This was my first John Gardner book, I won't be purchasing another.