Community Conversations: Mobilizing the Ideas, Skills, and Passion of Community Organizations, Governments, Businesses, and People [Paperback]

I picked up this book for work purposes and brought it home with me with the plan to get through 25 pages a day. Well, each section I read I had to stop and make notes because it had inspired me of new ways to work on projects I had going on!! It was a great read. The first part I found not to have enough details in the stories, but the 2nd half with the 10 methods, I found to be just perfect. enough detail to inspire me, not too much detail to be prescriptive. I recommend it for anyone working with community.

Great news! This book was chosen as ascent magazine's editorial circle pick. Here is their review in full:

This slim volume explores a new kind of social dialogue emerging in communities across North America. Paul Born is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Vibrant Communities, whose work is at the forefront of social change movements in Canada. An engaging storyteller and speaker, Born's writing is inspirational and humble. Here, he offers us stories and practices - including Future Search and Conversation Cafes - that can bring communities together into the conversations and collaborations to shift the ways we approach our intractable and increasingly complex social issues.
- ascent, issue 40, winter 2008

For more reviews, visit the Community Conversations website at [...]

"I love Community Conversations because I think it will be helpful to our ever emerging Canadian Community for Dialogue and Deliberation, amongst other communities. It is an easy read, packed with such simple yet strong lessons which we all have acquired in our practices yet tend to forget or let slide to the sides of our frames of action let alone reference."
~ Sandra Zagon, Past-Chair, Canadian Community for Dialogue and Deliberation

"Paul Born has done a masterful job of demonstrating the power of community conversations. The combination of first hand stories, concepts that make sense and practical advice will make this a favourite book for community leaders, facilitators and activists."
~ Brenda Zimmerman, PhD, Director, Health Industry Management Program - Associate Professor of Strategy/Policy Schulich School of Business, Co-author of Getting to Maybe, How the World is Changed

"If you want to help your community move from good to better, this book is a must read. Paul Born draws the reader into some marvelous conversations about the theory and techniques that lie behind community improvements."
~ Monica Chaperlin
Coordinator, Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative Inc.

"Paul Born's book is a summary of many experiences and experiments in community conversations. His distillation of what has worked for him, tricks and formats to use, and principles to follow will be valuable for anyone who works in this fascinating, challenging, diverse and emergent space."
~ Trevor Gray
Executive Director, The Tindall Foundation, New Zealand

"If you work within communities, this book can give you more knowledge, encouragement and hope that you can do better. There are new ideas and clear outlines of the steps you can take to try new approaches in community engagement. I found it to be truly inspiring and will return to it over and over in those times when I need to reflect and find new ways of connecting to people."
~ Janice Melnychuk
Executive Director, Vibrant Communities Edmonton