Peace and Power [horizontal ellipsis] Creative Leadership for Building Community, 6th edition. Peggy L. Chinn. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, Mass. 2004. 116 pages, paperback, $34.95.
When a book is in its 6th edition, the question is not whether it is a good book, since evidently it has an audience that reads it and uses it. The question becomes what about the new edition demands we replace our old one. In this case, the very essence of Peace and Power, the passing on of women's wisdom, requires an ongoing dynamic. Furthermore, there are so many participants that form this coalition of feminist groups, including major leaders in nursing such as Jean Watson and Peggy Chin, the recording of the dialogue and learning is essential to the growth of the coalition.
For those who have not seen any edition of this book, its timeliness could not be any better. As our country and our world face growing conflict, many of us are seeking ways to create peace and move away from violence. In the prologue, we are given a "Dozen and One Important Things You Can Do to Create Peace on Earth":
1. Plant and nurture something that grows
2. Practice the fine art of yielding-in your car, conversation, etc.
3. Become active in a group that works on principles of cooperation, on principles of Peace and Power
4. Fill your home, work, and commuting environments with visual and auditory images of peace and tranquility.
5. Do at least 1 thing to simplify your life and reduce your consumption of disposable products.
6. Do at least 1 thing to reduce your consumption of natural resources.
7. Move toward a vegetarian diet.
8. Learn and practice some form of meditation.
9. Learn and practice ways to reduce hostile interactions with others.
10. Exchange gentle forms of touch regularly.
11. Express appreciation to at least 1 individual or group every day.
12. Help 3 children learn 3 things on this list.
13. Pass this list along to someone else.
As the reviewer, I am passing this list on to you. If you are interested in how to build communities, design processes for gathering, rotating leadership and responsibility, make value based decision-building and creating conflict transformation, then obtain a copy of this book and read on. For example, the chapter on conflict alone, teaches us to embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth. We learn to transfer conflict into solidarity and diversity through 3 major processes:
* Nurture a strong sense of rotating leadership within the group
* Practice critical reflection
* Practice ways to value diversity
Certainly, this sixth edition is a guidepost for nursing leadership.