Review
Yoga Journal This stirring departure from Williamson’s usual subject matter cuts to the heart of our dilemma and brings new energy to the search for solutions. — Review
Review
Patricia HoltSan Francisco ChronicleA huge and wondrous surprise….The Healing of America somehow makes us proud to be Americans, because every hope for democracy seems newly within our grasp.Jann MitchellThe OregonianA long-needed breath of fresh air.Yoga JournalThis stirring de…
Buy Healing the Soul of America: Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens at Amazon
I bought this book (published as “The Healing of America”) in 1997, and it sat on my bookshelf for five years. Picking it up recently, I felt a chill of recognition as I read its contents. America is on the verge of a renaissance or a catastrophe, she writes, and Islamic terrorists manipulate the masses with tales of our superficial values. Williamson was clearly onto something.
In spirit, this book reminds me of Michael Moore’s “Downsize This!” and “Stupid White Men”. Both Moore and Williamson are grass roots rabble rousers, with a tendency to over idealize the average American’s civic interests. They have similar ideas about what needs to be done, and many of their ideas are good ones: increasing the minimum wage, better funding for schools, reparations for blacks and Native Americans. (I wish Williamson had delved more into one of her intriguing ideas — a Marshall plan for America’s inner cities.) Also, both have the ability to light a fire under wannabe activists. Moore’s books started me on a path to voting for third party candidates, and Williamson has encouraged me to get involved in letter writing campaigns.
Their main difference — although maybe I’m contradicting myself when I say this, since I read them both — is that they are appealing to slightly different audiences. Moore appeals to common decency as his cause, Williamson to her belief that we are all spiritual children of the same God.
Williamson’s primary focus in this book is in her belief that consciousness is the root of political action. She quotes the Dalai Lama telling her that to achieve change you must meditate AND have an action plan. She relies heavily on the ideals of Ghandi, Robert and JFK, and MLK Jr, quoting from them all regularly, before venturing into what she thinks needs to be done. First among them is a greater participation of her readers in the political process.
I would recommend this book for Book Groups, since it is thought provoking and offers concrete ideas on how to get started in the political process. Most who read it will be inspired to act — and perhaps wish they had acted a bit sooner.
The title is misleading. Everyone on the planet should read this book, not just Americans. If there was one book, that could change the world, this would be it. If your thinking about getting the book, don’t think, do it. This is a deep call to true healing, especially when the world is such a scary place for so many. There is no more important time for us all to take a stand for loving one another and deciding that we are going to take back America and the world, for a truly meaningful existence.
This is an absolutely wonderful book!!! It is a must-read for anyone who would like to see changes made in the world, and especially in the political system. Written at the dawn of the millenium, it is even more profound and timely today. Every page has quotes worth saving, every example has meaning, every solution resonates. Ms. Williamson is a very talented writer, and she has cut to the heart with this book, in more ways than one. She outlined very articulately EVERYTHING that has been bothering me. She not only nailed all of the problems, but she also gives solutions, and provides blueprints and resources.
This book spoke to me at first sight. However, I was expecting it to be a different kind of book, so I pushed it to the side, with good intentions. It sat on the shelf patiently whispering to me, and I would whisper back -“Yes, when the time is right, I’ll pick you up.” Well, THE TIME IS RIGHT!!! Wow, is it ever!!! Now I’ve read it, I want to trumpet it to all the world. For anyone sick at heart at the state of things in this country, and an ache in their soul to see a change in the status quo — get this book. It is insightful, intelligent, significant, profound, and unforgettable. Pick it up, read it, and then tell at least ten friends about it who have a social conscience. Let’s begin – NOW!