Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit

Praise for Healing the Heart of Democracy "We have been trying to bridge the great divides in this great country for a long time. In this book, Parker J. Palmer urges us to ′keep on walking, keep on talking′—just as we did in the civil rights movement—until we cross those bridges together." — Congressman John Lewis , recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom "A book born for this moment. Wise, evocative, and pragmatic at its core, this dream for a new politics is grounded in dignity and liberty for all." — Terry Tempest Williams , author, The Open Space of Democracy "The most important manifesto in generations for breaking through the divisiveness that has paralyzed our democracy." — Bill Shore , founder of Share Our Strength; author, The Imaginations of Unreasonable Men "All who harbor concerns about American politics will find in this book a wise and kindred spirit who reminds us of choices we can make to help ′reweave the tattered fabric of our civic life.′ You will close this book appreciating how much you can do, and how much depends on you." — Diana Chapman Walsh , president emerita, Wellesley College "Breaks new ground in marrying the capacity of the human heart with the tensions inherent in politics [and] breathes new life into what it means to be a citizen—accountable, compassionate, fiercely realistic." — Peter Block and John McKnight , coauthors, The Abundant Community "The book we need for recovering the heart—the very core—of our selves and our democracy." — Krista Tippett , host, American Public Media′s Being author, Einstein′s God "Could not be more timely and needed. As one who has been guided through a time of personal reflection with Parker Palmer, I invite you to join in a journey through these chapters." — Congresswoman Lois Capps , grandmother, mother, nurse, and seeker after democracy

Prelude The Politics of the Brokenhearted 1 Chapter I Democracy′s Ecosystem 11 Chapter II Confessions of an Accidental Citizen 29 Chapter III The Heart of Politics 49 Chapter IV The Loom of Democracy 69 Chapter V Life in the Company of Strangers 89 Chapter VI Classrooms and Congregations 119 Chapter VII Safe Space for Deep Democracy 151 Chapter VIII The Unwritten History of the Heart 175 Gratitudes 195 Notes 199 The author 219 Index 221

Parker J. Palmer ′s writing speaks deeply to people in many walks of life. Author of nine books—including the bestsellers The Courage to Teach, Let Your Life Speak , and A Hidden Wholeness —Palmer is the founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal. His work has been recognized with ten honorary doctorates and many national awards, including the 2010 William Rainey Harper Award, previously won by Margaret Mead, Paulo Freire, and Elie Wiesel.