Approximately one year ago, there was a book published by YELLOWBRICKROAD that had the idea that we need to be held accountable for our generational promise to leave this world a better place for our children. Looking around, it doesn’t seem like that is the case with widespread war, poverty, famine, violence, environmental distress and despair. It often seems easier just to ignore the surrounding problems and to narrow our focus to ourselves in order to cope, but Actions Speak Loudest calls upon us to lift our heads out of the sand and to act.
The book, edited by Bob McKinnon, is comprised of 32 essays and various photographs that cover topics ranging from education, tolerance, childhood obesity, climate change, and motherhood. The contributing authors are just as varied, with notable names like former President Jimmy Carter, Rachael Ray, Joe Paterno and Queen Noor. It’s a simple idea, really: find sustainable solutions for problems that affect our world, country, community, and home. What affects one, affects us all, and readers of the book will find that they can easily contribute to the solutions and make a difference. In a world so reliant on technology and social “networks” rather than interaction, it’s easy to lose perspective on global connectivity, despite having the world at our fingertips.So, you can really put that holiday gift card to good use and buy the book for yourself or as a gift to someone you think makes a difference. All proceeds go back to the charities and foundations featured in the book, but for every purchase made between now and the National Day of Service, which is Martin Luther King Day on January 17th, they will donate one copy in your name to an individual who is serving others through their partner organizations of Teach for America, City Year, and Harlem Children’s Zone. Simply contact them to let them know you purchased the book.
To make it even easier, there is a special promotion just for A Blog About Things readers. All you need to do is comment on this post that you bought a copy of the book, and YELLOWBRICKROAD will donate a book in your honor!
Buy one, give one. Not a bad way to start off the New Year.