Ending Our Uncivil War: A Path to Political Recovery & Spiritual Renewal - Hardcover

Brown, Jim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 099939990X ISBN 13: 9780999399903

Publisher: Agape Publishing LLC, 2017

Synopsis

Civility is in decline in America. Fear and certitude are paralyzing our country. With Congress in gridlock, more Americans are leaning toward authoritarian political figures and the courts for answers to unaddressed legislative questions. Social media seems like an endless landscape of echo chambers and battle bunkers, contributing to dehumanization in our culture and polarization in our politics. Many over-engage, while many more don’t engage at all. The rest wonder, "Will we survive these great challenges?"

Author Jim Brown believes there's a way up. After reading a simple bumper sticker “Don’t believe everything you think,” Brown details how his self-examination opened his eyes to new ways of thinking about "settled matters." He invites readers on a similar journey aboard a beautiful, spacious airplane, well above today’s ground turbulence. Brown has one condition. Each reader must check his political baggage, turn off his smartphone, and gulp, choose a seatmate who is either a political foe, someone who frustrates him to no end, or his sworn enemy.

Each reader and seatmate realize their arrangement isn’t unusual, as they ride with other passengers with very different views. A Muslim and a Jew, a Christian and an atheist, an environmentalist and an unemployed coal miner, a CEO with five houses and a dishwasher making minimum wage, and so on. Above the turbulence, all begin to recognize they have much more in common than not.

The journey starts with Brown’s humbling awakening of how regular service of the homeless changed his life. He recounts inspiring stories of "service in love" that have saved and changed many lives. Passengers see clearly committing to regular service tempers desensitizing social media. They explore how to counter growing certitude and fear, process increasingly negative, one-sided media stories, and participate in the noble cause to protect free speech on and off college campuses. They see ways to work together to enact badly needed bipartisan political reforms to restore functionality in government. They come away with a specific plan to revitalize our national spirit and broken systems.

Sound promising? Check-in is only a click away. When you check out, you may not believe everything you think, either.

 

About this title

About the Author

Author Jim Brown has an extensive background in government, media and interpersonal relations. He is the Tennessee State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee's and the nation's leading small-business advocacy association. An advocate for thousands of small businesses, he works with leaders at the state and federal level on general interest issues for entrepreneurs. He was named to NashvillePost.com's "In Charge" list of 400 influential Middle Tennessee leaders from 2011-2016. He served previously as NFIB's Senior Media Manager, Corporate Communications Director at Gaylord Entertainment, the Business Editor of The City Paper in Nashville, and as an Investment Broker at J.C. Bradford & Co. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in Communication in 1987, Jim served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Officer on a nuclear cruiser out of Norfolk, Virginia, overseeing four separate divisions. He is active with causes dedicated to wiping out cancer, including as Chairman-elect of Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee, a cancer support group. He volunteers regularly at Room in the Inn, a support program for Nashville's homeless community. He also served in various roles with Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee and Prevent Blindness Tennessee. Jim enjoys spending time with his family, biking and hiking, travel, reading, and really good food.

Review

"Jim Brown shares how he acquired the necessary tools – including a more contemplative mind, the routine of morning prayer, and avoidance of 'either-or' binaries – to experience healing open-heartedness and binding open-mindedness. He illuminates a path to spiritual growth and political recovery – serving regularly, loving our enemies, and refraining from scapegoating – that will help end our uncivil war." – Father Richard Rohr, Founder, The Center for Action and Contemplation

“Ending our Uncivil War is a powerful call to elevating the virtue of good citizenship and defending American democracy. This book is an essential read in today’s divisive political climate. Author Jim Brown challenges us to become better informed, to get out of our echo chambers, to hold conversations with people who do not think like us, to truly listen, to open our minds to the hard truth that we may not always be right and to exercise our constitutional rights. He ably points out problems and also offers solutions in the form of achievable action steps that anyone can do.” – David Plazas, Director of Opinion and Engagement, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee

“Jim Brown’s Ending Our Uncivil War is a resounding call to action to promote our nation’s great ideals and improve our social and political engagement. His book covers critically important topics – a commitment to serving regularly in our communities and institutions, more reflection and understanding of each other, and renewed bipartisanship.” – Marjorie K. Eastman, Author, The Frontline Generation: How We Served Post 9/11

“The harsh political polarization that is emerging among the American citizenry poses a serious threat to our republic. In these turbulent times, we need people on both the left and right to listen respectfully to each other and be open to learning from each other. Jim Brown’s Ending Our Uncivil War tells us we are better off acknowledging the complexity of today’s challenges, recommitting to regular community service, protecting free speech and promoting the exchange of ideas, and uniting to enact bipartisan political reforms that will help end the current national fragility.” – Michael Bess, Chancellor’s Professor of History, Vanderbilt University

“Through his own growth experiences, Jim Brown shows how he became more prepared for challenges and challenging individuals. Being good to one’s self, judging less and empathizing more are prerequisites to staying centered and finding peace and understanding that help solve problems, not create them.” – Maureen Doyle, Life Coach and Author, When Your Ex Doesn’t Follow the Rules: Keep Your Sanity and Raise Happy, Healthy Kids

Edition details

• Publisher: Agape Publishing LLC
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 099939990X
• ISBN 13: 9780999399903
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 292