Transition Culture

An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent

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I no longer blog on this site. You can now find me, my general blogs, and the work I am doing researching my forthcoming book on imagination, on my new blog.


8 Apr 2010

A Book Group Study Guide Companion to ‘The Transition Handbook’

handbook study guide2From time to time I hear about people doing Book Clubs based around the Transition Handbook.  Thankfully, and entirely in a self-organising “wouldn’t-it-be-great-if-there-was-a-study-guide” kind of way, Joann Kerr, Susan Gregory, and Leo Brodie of Sustainable NE Seattle (the 19th officially-recognized Transition Initiative in the United States), decided to take matters into their own hands and create one.  Rather wonderful it is too, packed with activities and exercises to do with a group of people, it is quite special to think that my humble lil’ ole Transition Handbook would enthuse people sufficiently to create such a great resource. Download it here, take it, use it, let them know how it went….

Comments are now closed on this site, please visit Rob Hopkins' blog at Transition Network to read new posts and take part in discussions.

11 Comments

Shaun Chamberlin
8 Apr 1:06pm

Wow, it looks fantastic! 🙂

Alan Zulch
8 Apr 4:42pm

Outstanding contribution! Genuine thanks to the folks at Sustainable NE Seattle for creating such a high production value guide to complement the Transition Handbook. I’m truly impressed with the results, and the ‘Heart’ that inspired it.

Leo Brodie
8 Apr 6:47pm

Thank you for the acknowledgment, Rob, and for writing the book that inspired it. The courses have all gone really well.

For those interested, the web page that suggests how to set up these courses can be found here:
http://transitionseattle.com/resources/discussion/

Keith Mastenbrook
9 Apr 1:35am

I’ve read the Transition Handbook twice now, first just for my knowledge, then again as part of a discussion group. Discussing the issues raised in the book with neighbors in my community, and following the course that Joann, Susan and Leo created, presented me with not just a broader appreciation of Transition, but also key information about how Transition applies to my home town of Seattle. The struggle to change our community continues to gain adherents with each discussion group, as more and more people are motivated to action.

Julianne Jaz
9 Apr 9:57pm

I, too, have recently completed working through the Transition Handbook using the Study Guide created by Leo, Susan & Joann, and I definitely agree with Keith that it was a terrific adjunct to simply reading the book. Our bookgroup was so enthused by the end that we’ve decided to keep meeting and to work on various projects together. Toward that end, tomorrow we’re building two raised garden beds for a veggie garden here at my home, and we’re looking forward to taking on other projects that will continue to facilitate our “connected-ness” with one another. Thanks so much – to Rob, for the ideas and writing the book in the first place, and of course, to my compatriots at Sustainable NE Seattle for taking the next step in creating the study guide. Each incremental step brings us that much closer to achieving the vibrant and resilient communities we’re seeking!

Virginia Story
10 Apr 12:34am

It even better than you say. Leo arranged a meeting for everyone interested, passed out the guides, casually divided us into smaller groups, told us to choose a meeting time and place, and then left us on our own. No directions, no hand holding. On the way home I started laughing, realizing that Leo (and Susan and Joann) created the perfect scenario to practice for the future. He gave us the basic outline and then left us totally on our own to do it our way and to make it or break it on our own.

My group is continuing as a project group, the first project being to build two raised beds for one of our members and video it as instruction for others.

Too add a little levity: We are the north group of Sustainable NE Seattle so we call ourselves “North by Northeast”!

[…] Finally as if that wasn’t enough for a single posting there is also a great free download PDF Study Guide Companion to ‘The Transition Handbook’ here. […]

Robin
25 Apr 5:19am

[…] Finally as if that wasn’t enough for a single posting there is also a great free download PDF Study Guide Companion to ‘The Transition Handbook’ here. […]

Brian
25 Apr 10:16am

Thank you for the acknowledgment, Rob, and for writing the book that inspired it. The courses have all gone really well.

For those interested, the web page that suggests how to set up these courses can be found here:
http://transitionseattle.com/resources/discussion/

Alan
25 Apr 6:01pm

It even better than you say. Leo arranged a meeting for everyone interested, passed out the guides, casually divided us into smaller groups, told us to choose a meeting time and place, and then left us on our own. No directions, no hand holding. On the way home I started laughing, realizing that Leo (and Susan and Joann) created the perfect scenario to practice for the future. He gave us the basic outline and then left us totally on our own to do it our way and to make it or break it on our own.

My group is continuing as a project group, the first project being to build two raised beds for one of our members and video it as instruction for others.

Too add a little levity: We are the north group of Sustainable NE Seattle so we call ourselves “North by Northeast”!

Simon
26 Apr 5:04am

I’ve read the Transition Handbook twice now, first just for my knowledge, then again as part of a discussion group. Discussing the issues raised in the book with neighbors in my community, and following the course that Joann, Susan and Leo created, presented me with not just a broader appreciation of Transition, but also key information about how Transition applies to my home town of Seattle. The struggle to change our community continues to gain adherents with each discussion group, as more and more people are motivated to action.