By: Bill Dobrenen on February 1, 2014
I was married in 1981 and was a successful youth pastor at a large church with 300 kids in my youth group. My wife was a teacher at the adjoining Christian school. We were the perfect Christian couple. But within a month we began to argue about our differences. Perhaps this is somewhat normal with…
By: Richard Rhoads on February 1, 2014
I was 21, wet behind the ears and serving in my first youth ministry. Not long into my tenure I met a young man by the name of Ian. Ian had just turned 16 and was moving from the Jr. High into the Senior High ministry. Now, for years I had heard stories about Ian,…
By: Sam Stephens on February 1, 2014
The Social Animal: Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement by David Brooks according to the author himself, “is an attempt to integrate science and psychology with sociology, politics, cultural commentary, and the literature of success”. Whether he succeeded in this attempt, it is hard to tell; but he certainly has tried hard and the…
By: Julie Dodge on February 1, 2014
I bought a new pair of glasses this week. I used to wear contact lenses almost all of the time, but as my eyes have aged, and with the reality of my really bad eye sight, I pretty much stick to the glasses. My plan was to buy a box of contacts (six lenses total)…
By: John Woodward on January 31, 2014
The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time by Karl Polanyi is in many respects Collateral Damage written seventy years earlier. This book for me was a huge education in basic economics that included history, politics and social theory, covering topics from the gold standard, the causes of WWII, and the transition…
By: Richard Volzke on January 31, 2014
Polanyi, in his book The Great Transformation, traces the evolution of social and economic transformation in the early 20th century. This book was written at the height of World War II and explains how the economic system moved to a market based system around the turn-of-the-century. Polanyi discussed that world’s economy moved away from the…
By: Ashley Goad on January 31, 2014
In the past three months, I have traveled to Haiti, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Uganda. In each of these countries, the culture, the economy, the land, the people, the goods… they are all distinctly different. Yet in two weeks, as I venture to Russia, I cannot help to think it will be the most socially…
By: Telile Fikru Badecha on January 31, 2014
Reading Karl Polanyi’s brilliant work on The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of our Time is very instructive, and it raised my curiosity to learn more about my country’s economic and political system, and its impact on social life. One of the central pieces from Polanyi’s discussion that struck me the most is…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on January 31, 2014
Interestingly this week, while reading Karl Polanyi’s book The Great Transformation my daughter was assigned a three minute speech debating the pros and cons of tariffs vs. free markets. She had me read her speech wherein she biasedly sided with free markets, with the understanding that the freer the better. Using some critical thinking analysis,…
By: Mark Steele on January 31, 2014
I have often been haunted by the idea how to die well. My career is providing housing and services to older adults. I have many senior friends who have finished their careers, who are retired and who continue to pursue their life passions as best as they can. I see them in many stages of…
By: Stefania Tarasut on January 31, 2014
The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time By: Karl Polanyi The Industrial Revolution not only changed life in the way that business is done, but it changed our relationship with the land. Our relationship with the land is a reflection of our relationship with the poor. Before the industrial revolution it…
By: rhbaker275 on January 31, 2014
During the LGP4 cohort’s synchronous chat, it was noted by Jason Clark, cohort lead mentor, that reading The Great Transformation, The Political and Economic Origins of our Time,[1] would give insight into “how capitalism came to be and how it shapes social life… i.e. economic history.”[2] It was clear in the initial reading, as I perused the introduction, contents, and…
By: Liz Linssen on January 31, 2014
Polanyi’s work, written during the tumultuous times of the Second World War, serve as a reflection and critique of the current self-regulating free market forces against the market economy of centuries past. Written in response to the flaws of free market forces such as inequality, war, oppression and social turmoil, Polanyi attempts to convince the…
By: Garrick Roegner on January 31, 2014
David Brooks socio-psychological study, The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement, while full of holes and inconsistencies overlaying a political agenda, does very much get to the heart of how human’s develop, grow, and flourish. His central thesis is that our emotional subconscious is very much a key leader in how…
By: Carol McLaughlin on January 31, 2014
Perhaps you tuned in to watch President Obama deliver the State of the Union address this past Tuesday evening. During his speech the middle class was held up as the class for those in poverty to aspire toward and encouragement was sounded forth for employers to raise the minimum wage. The measure of success is…
By: Raphael Samuel on January 31, 2014
By: Karl Polanyi The title “The Great Transformation,” almost sounds like an action filled movie. In a sense Karl Polanyi’s account of the, political, social, and economic factors that led to the greatest period of transformation in Europe can be seen as an, action filled epic overview. The account has both historical and intellectual value…
By: Fred Fay on January 30, 2014
Imagine this; an irate parent comes to church complaining about his untrustworthy son to a staff member. The parent cannot control the son’s behavior. The youth director feels that this young man is making people feel uncomfortable by inappropriate words and actions. His social interactions have become unacceptable. He is not welcome back to youth…
By: Sandy Bils on January 30, 2014
“Who are we? We are like spiritual Grand Central stations.” (David Brooks, The Social Animal, Kindle Electronic Edition: Location 167) In his book “Social Animal: The hidden sources if love, character, and achievement“, New York times political columnist David Brooks dedicates himself to the question what drives individual behavior and decision making?What is life about? …
By: Sharenda Roam on January 30, 2014
The Wild Core of Art & Music As I followed Erica and Harold through their conversations, activities, thoughts, and experiences I ran into a section of the book, “The Social Animal,” that gave my unconscious pleasure. It is a portion that discusses music and art. Certain patterns of music, David Brooks explaines, produce warm swellings…
By: David Toth on January 30, 2014
It was an uneventful flight over the Atlantic into Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, at least until the landing. I fly a fair amount and have experienced both take offs and landings in inclement weather. This particular early morning in the late fall was foggy, very foggy. I usually choose a window seat so that I am…
