If you haven’t read the Daily Kos review of The Lifelong Activist you’ll find it here Some excerpts:
“If I had but one book to spend hard-earned cash on this year, this one would be it, hands down.
“The Lifelong Activist is a unique and luscious hybrid, part inspirational tract and part practical textbook on sustaining effective and dedicated activism over the long, long haul…
“This message of self-care recurs throughout – Rettig clearly recognizes in progressives the tendency to overwork, self-blame and ultimately undermine one’s own better dreams through feeding a guilt-based deprivation syndrome. Short of time, money, patience, comfort and health, many activists, often without acknowledging it, sabotage their own attempts to change the world.
“To help progressives learn to sort out their priorities and operate from an individualized base of strengths, Rettig guides readers through a series of exercises and mission statements to help set priorities and realistic goals. Time management skills are outlined in a step-by-step process (“If you hope to succeed at an ambitious goal such as activism, you need to make conscious decisions about how you spend your time, and not let others, or random circumstance, decide for you.”). Realistic assessment of money needs – beyond mere survival, where comfort is recognized as an acceptable value – is undertaken (“Choosing to be an activist and choosing to be poor are two separate choices, and … choosing poverty will generally make you a worse activist, not a better one.”). Schedules and time-tracking charts are provided in the book (and are downloadable at Lifelong Activist. Methods to combat procrastination and to root out its causes – which usually can be traced to perfectionism, negativity and hypersensitivity – are offered.
“A whole section of the book is devoted to managing fear, which is often an underlying stumbling block in one form or another to those participating in activism. Figuring out which unproductive behaviors are on display can often help point to the specific fears that often hold us back, and Rettig examines ways to overcome these before they undermine our mission.
“As one would expect from a guide on progressive activism, networking and relationships are emphasized, but instead of offering vague, feel-good advice, there are concrete, practical steps advised, particularly in the realm of finding and cultivating a mentor, which Rettig claims is “the most powerful ‘success catalyst’ around.” Tips on how to identify, contact and maintain this vital relationship are included, as well as advice on how to serve as a mentor one’s self – one of the most fulfilling roles a seasoned activist can take on….
“With the holiday season upon us, I can think of no better gift for beloved activists in our lives than this wide-ranging guide to lifelong commitment to important political and social causes. And bonus points should be given to those who purchase an additional copy for themselves – the person who, according to the author, each of us should be most concerned with empowering.”
“A Unique and Luscious Hybrid”
If you haven’t read the Daily Kos review of The Lifelong Activist you’ll find it here Some excerpts:
“If I had but one book to spend hard-earned cash on this year, this one would be it, hands down.
“The Lifelong Activist is a unique and luscious hybrid, part inspirational tract and part practical textbook on sustaining effective and dedicated activism over the long, long haul…
“This message of self-care recurs throughout – Rettig clearly recognizes in progressives the tendency to overwork, self-blame and ultimately undermine one’s own better dreams through feeding a guilt-based deprivation syndrome. Short of time, money, patience, comfort and health, many activists, often without acknowledging it, sabotage their own attempts to change the world.
“To help progressives learn to sort out their priorities and operate from an individualized base of strengths, Rettig guides readers through a series of exercises and mission statements to help set priorities and realistic goals. Time management skills are outlined in a step-by-step process (“If you hope to succeed at an ambitious goal such as activism, you need to make conscious decisions about how you spend your time, and not let others, or random circumstance, decide for you.”). Realistic assessment of money needs – beyond mere survival, where comfort is recognized as an acceptable value – is undertaken (“Choosing to be an activist and choosing to be poor are two separate choices, and … choosing poverty will generally make you a worse activist, not a better one.”). Schedules and time-tracking charts are provided in the book (and are downloadable at Lifelong Activist. Methods to combat procrastination and to root out its causes – which usually can be traced to perfectionism, negativity and hypersensitivity – are offered.
“A whole section of the book is devoted to managing fear, which is often an underlying stumbling block in one form or another to those participating in activism. Figuring out which unproductive behaviors are on display can often help point to the specific fears that often hold us back, and Rettig examines ways to overcome these before they undermine our mission.
“As one would expect from a guide on progressive activism, networking and relationships are emphasized, but instead of offering vague, feel-good advice, there are concrete, practical steps advised, particularly in the realm of finding and cultivating a mentor, which Rettig claims is “the most powerful ‘success catalyst’ around.” Tips on how to identify, contact and maintain this vital relationship are included, as well as advice on how to serve as a mentor one’s self – one of the most fulfilling roles a seasoned activist can take on….
“With the holiday season upon us, I can think of no better gift for beloved activists in our lives than this wide-ranging guide to lifelong commitment to important political and social causes. And bonus points should be given to those who purchase an additional copy for themselves – the person who, according to the author, each of us should be most concerned with empowering.”