Reviews

The Kielburger brothers have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their human rights work (they founded Free the Children, an international organization that builds schools in developing countries). In their first book a best seller in their native Canada they put forth their longtime message: when we find the courage to take on consistent and small but personally meaningful responsibilities through what we say, do, feel, and think, life becomes more an opportunity than an obligation. The authors suggest that recognizing our true natures and using our energy to foster a real connection between ourselves and the world (their "Me to We" philosophy) are key to maintaining our well-being and spiritual integrity. Each chapter contains three sections intended to motivate readers toward their own spiritual evolution. These sections enumerate personal questions to ask oneself, social issues to consider, and practical ways of taking action. Interesting personal narratives from everyone from ordinary citizens to celebrities (e.g., actor Richard Gere and the late humanitarian Mother Teresa) as well as generalizations of sociological studies and statistics are meant to inspire. Much of this is a reiteration of the age-old idea that compassion plus action makes a difference, but it bears repeating as guidance for a YA audience for whom all of this may be new. Recommended for the self-help collections of all public libraries. Lisa Liquori, MLS, Syracuse, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.