The Possibilities of Peace

[Peter or Esther]

Harrison,

Because of my eyes I try to get audio copies of books. Is "The
Possibilities of Peace" available in audio or do you plan that it will
be soon?

Namaste,
Peter Fisher

Harrison Owen wrote:

>Dear Friends and Colleagues,
>
>It was never my intention to get into the "Peace Business."  Nor was it my
>intention to write another book. But in the course of my life my intentions
>are often overlooked, and happenstance rules. So much for a life plan. And
>now, the book - The Practice of Peace - is available in a 2nd edition.
>
>Happenstance, in this case was a fortuitous journey to The Middle East
>several years ago.  I went to that troubled part of the world lacking any
>clear understanding of what I might usefully contribute. To say that I was
>confused would be gross understatement. But confusion, as I have learned, is
>often (always?) an essential precondition to deeper insight. Confusion rids
>the mind of all you thought you knew, and thereby opens some space for new
>ideas. The new ideas, in my case, were perhaps closer to a blinding flash of
>the obvious. Twenty years' experience with Open Space Technology, over
>40,000 iterations in 83 countries had demonstrated to myself and thousands
>of colleagues, that every time space was opened, a most remarkable and
>unexpected result occurred. I called it Genuine Community, the sort where
>differences (of opinion, ethnicity, economics, politics etc.) were if
>anything amplified AND those involved found it possible to treat each other
>with respect, often coming close to real affection. It seemed to me that
>another word for this phenomenon is Peace. Further more, the deeper the
>original conflicts the more intense was the sense of community.
>
>Why all this should be happening and what might be done with it remained
>hidden in my cloud of confusion. Hence the book, which began life as a set
>of confused notes to myself in search of clarity and understanding. Anybody
>who says that they write a book does not fully understand the process, I
>think. And certainly in my case, the book wrote me. As those of you who have
>shared in this little odyssey will know, confused notes eventually yielded
>to some form of connected text, which in turn was shared with some 180
>colleagues for their critique. And critique in full measure was given and
>gratefully received - yielding a book which was published collaboratively by
>the several Open Space Institutes around the world with the title, The
>Practice of Peace. In the intervening period since publication, there have
>been multiple workshops and conferences around the world, each contributing
>to a deeper understanding of Open Space and the possibilities of Peace. Now,
>I am pleased to announce that a 2nd Edition has been published by The Human
>Dynamics Institute.
>
>In substance, the 2nd Edition is not radically different from the 1st, but
>countless hours of concerned conversation with colleagues and friends around
>the world have tightened the focus, enhanced the flow, and brought to mind a
>number of facets that had been neglected in the first attempt. In short it
>is a much better book.
>
>As an author, I have always found it difficult, not to say embarrassing, to
>recommend my own books. However, in the case of this book, The Practice of
>Peace 2nd Edition, I have no such qualms. This is not theory in search of a
>practice, but just the reverse. The practice required the theory simply
>because the practice works. Every time Space opens, Peace seems to break
>out. And the application is not only in the global arena of conflicted
>people, but also in the multiple areas of human life were Peace appears in
>jeopardy, including families, community organizations, and businesses.
>
>Such qualms as I may have about apparent self-serving advertising are also
>mitigated by the fact that even though my name appears on the book (and I
>take full responsibility for all errors and omissions), this book is in
>truth a communal production. Literally thousands of people all over the
>world have contributed great thoughts and ideas. So this is not so much an
>advertisement for my book, but  our book.
>
>To receive a copy for yourself or to pass along to a friend, you may contact
>the good folks at the Institute --   www.hsdinstitute.org/dept_press.asp.
>Also the several Open Space Institutes can provide copies. Click on
>http://openspaceworld.com/intro%20to%20pop.htm for the details. Last, but
>not least, I believe that www.amazon.com will be carrying this book as they
>have also carried my others.
>
>Thanks for bearing with me. I hope you will read and enjoy, but most of all
>use  -- The Practice of Peace.
>
>
>Harrison
>
>
>
>Harrison Owen
>7808 River Falls Drive
>Potomac, Maryland   20845
>Phone 301-365-2093
>
>Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
>
>Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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