Synopsis
What if the crises of our time are not simply problems to solve—but invitations to transform?
In a world marked by climate catastrophe, political upheaval, social fragmentation, and the erosion of community, many people feel overwhelmed or powerless. We are told to remain hopeful, stay positive, and trust that solutions will emerge. But what if hope alone is not enough?
In The Essential Ingredient: Remaking Ourselves in Times of Crisis, author and TEDx speaker Keri Mangis argues that the real work of transformation begins elsewhere—within ourselves.
Drawing on Jungian psychology, shadow work, and decades of personal exploration, Mangis reframes crisis as a catalyst for profound personal and collective change. Rather than offering quick fixes or prescriptive formulas, she invites readers into a deeper process of self-reflection, healing, and discovery—one capable of reshaping both individual lives and the culture we inhabit.
Structured as a three-part journey through breakdown, reflection, and rebirth, the book guides readers through the psychological and spiritual terrain that genuine change requires. Along the way, Mangis explores the questions that arise when familiar structures collapse: Who are we when the old stories no longer hold? What does it mean to live awake in a time of cultural upheaval? And how might inner change contribute to rebuilding society itself?
Blending philosophy, psychological insight, and cultural reflection, this book speaks to anyone seeking meaning and direction in uncertain times—offering a clear-eyed look at the hidden patterns that shape our behavior, and the difficult but necessary work of confronting the shadows, both personal and collective, that influence our world.
The Essential Ingredient offers something rare: not a promise of easy answers, but an invitation to evolve. The true catalyst for remaking society may be the human being willing to do the inner work first, for we are the essential ingredient.
About the Author
Keri Mangis is a TEDx speaker and multi-award-winning author whose work stands at the crossroads of culture, consciousness, and transformation. She challenges the status quo with a clear, courageous voice, calling us to move beyond platitudes and into the deeper work of remaking ourselves in times of crisis. With over twenty years of study in yoga, Ayurveda, alchemy, Jungian psychology, and archetypes, Keri brings depth, nuance, and urgency to the cultural conversation.
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