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Self-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society Reissue Edition
"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
- ISBN-10039331295X
- ISBN-13978-0393312959
- EditionReissue
- PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
- Publication dateJuly 17, 1995
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
- Print length170 pages
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― L. S. Stavrianos, Northwestern University, Chicago Daily News
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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
- Best Sellers Rank: #290,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #259 in Psychology (Books)
- #415 in Medical General Psychology
- #3,629 in Psychology & Counseling
- Customer Reviews:
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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.
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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
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
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
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThis 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2019Format: KindleVerified PurchaseGardner 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2014Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseWhat 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020Format: KindleVerified PurchasePowerful read and applicable to the diseased society we live in today. Nicely unpacks the major themes of a functioning and dysfunctional society.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2014Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseWe 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2010Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThis 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2006Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseInteresting approach to self knowledge and transformation.
Top reviews from other countries
- cruzingReviewed in Canada on January 11, 2015
3.0 out of 5 stars Verbose with good pieces of wisdom.
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThe 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.