This book is a celebration of women. It is an invitation to journey from #MeToo to thriving women via appreciative inquiry, dialogue, and story telling. It addresses topics, through an appreciative lens, that may be difficult to talk about, yet must be talked about to heal social wounds and create conditions for women to thrive worldwide.
The book includes a foreword by Taos Institute, co-founder, Mary Gergen, PhD, a chapter describing ways to use the question in the book, and nine chapters containing 94 Appreciative Inquiry questions, poems, stories and specific practices to make a positive difference in the lives of women and girls at home, at school and at work. The final chapter puts forth five Arts of Thriving that emerged in the writing of the book: Curating Life-Affirming Stories, Creating Meaningful Disruptions, Caretaking Generative Relationships, Celebrating Strengths and Successes, and Cultivating Conditions for Thriving.
Thriving Women Thriving World is written to be user friendly for women and men, in separate conversations and together. It is intended to foster relationship enhancing conversations and collaborative actions among people in a wide range of settings around the world. It is a valuable resource for coaches, consultants, facilitators, educators, leaders, and parents - for anyone seeking resources for compassionate conversations about gender issues.
About the authors:
The nine authors that collaborated to write this book range in age from 35 to 70. They live in South Africa, Canada, Mexico, and the United States and work on all 7 continents. They bring together expertise in consulting, executive coaching, organizational development, education, community organizing, Appreciative Inquiry, and positive psychology.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A brilliant piece of work that calls for much reflection and introspection. At times, I would slow down as I go through the pages and found myself smiling at the joy that some of the authors'questions brought to my heart. As opposed to a problem mindset, the appreciative tone of the book energizes me and instills a sense of hope andpersonal agency. For example, the section on Women Supporting Women recounts different events where women activism brought about social justice and economicdevelopment. It is a responsibility of every woman or man who reads this bookto pass it on and cause "rippleconversations" in society. The pen ultimate is the provision of practical tools and insights towards a socially inclusive environment that is thriving." - Nene Molefi, CEO, Mandate Molefi Consultants, Author: A Journey of Diversity & Inclusion in South Africa.
"What an amazing and inspiring resource! Talking about what bothers us is easy. We do it all the time. Rarely do we stop and ask ourselves what would bring joy and connection. This book is jam-packed with creative resources that invite us to reflect on what we value, what we want more of, and how we can engage with others to create these thriving spaces."
- Sheila McNamee, Vice President, Taos Institute
Ph.D. Professor of Communication, University of New Hampshire"In this provocative book Diana Whitney and co-authors invite us to tell our stories - new stories, infused with hope and positive possibilities. Using the positively deviant practice of Appreciative Inquiry, they nudge us to turn the #MeToo movement inside out to catalyze inspiring dialogue and much-needed change. If you're looking for new energy to solve age-old problems surrounding gender inequality, this book stands to be an excellent guide."
- Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D. Author of Positivity and Love 2.0, Kenan Distinguished Professor, Univ"As Mary Gergen notes in the foreword, Diana Whitney and colleagues put forth a refreshing and challenging approach to gender issues: appreciation rather than aggression. They speak to the remarkable potential for new understandings and ways of living gender issues that an appreciative perspective offers--with enormous benefit for all."
- Harlene Anderson, Ph.D. Co-founder, Houston Galveston Institute and Taos Institute."As I read this book I thought of all the people I want to give a copy to: my daughter, my sons, my sisters, my friends, my clients. I can see how their lives will be enriched, as mine was almost instantaneously, through this beautiful collection of stories and questions. This book will help many people have fuller lives and greater well-being, all over the world."
- Margarita Tarragona, Ph.D. President, Mexican Positive Psychology Society, Co-founder, Grupo Campos Elíseos "This masterful guide provides an honest yet positive path forward for women who have suffered and those who love them. Its adept appreciative inquiry questions invite learning, compassion and world changing actions. Prophetic in voice, compassionate in tone, it is a true treasure. The world needs this book."
- Amanda Trosten-Bloom, Principal, Corporation for Positive Change, Author, The Power of Appreciative Inquiry"Thriving Women Thriving World is a delightful treasure chest of stories and artistry to raise-up conversations around women's empowerment. This book is an important resource to bring more self-love, connection and wisdom to women's lives, creating a ripple effect on our world for positive good."
- Kami Guildner, Business Coach for Women and Author, Founder and Host, Extraordinary Women Radio"This book explores the notion of a world where women thrive. It provides an opportunity to take part in creating that world. A wide range of topics are explored with insightful questions that the reader can employ to engender meaningful conversations. The vignettes spoke to me of a world of thriving women that already exists, forming the foundation of a future where all of us, regardless of gender, will thrive."
- Bonnie Milne, Ph.D."For anyone committedto making the world a place where women can be fully their powerful, brilliant,contributory selves, Thriving Women, Thriving World is awelcome and much needed resource. It doesn't shy away from the toughestchallenges - those that rightfully enrage us, frustrate us, shame us. However, the authors invite us to engage with these emotionally ladenissues using an approach that can seem counter-intuitive at first, but whenfollowed we find our powerful, resourceful, creative and connected self isunlocked and activated. I know I want that for the women I work with."
- Caroline Hopkins,Director, Women's Empowerment and Leadership Division, Optimal, South Africa
"Filled with questions that represent a wise and generative call to action for empowering thriving women for a thriving world. A book for our times and essential reading for us all!"
- Marilee Adams, Ph.D. Author, Change Your Questions, Change Your Life
"Thriving Women, Thriving World is a gift to all of us. In a world where there is so much focus on what not to do, this book provides a deep antidote and guide to discovering our true purpose and helping women thrive as individuals and in relation to others, and ultimately creating organizations in which all people can thrive. In reading the book I was reminded of Elizabeth Dodson-Gray's work on Patriarchy as a conceptual trap - in which she states that if we can't imagine a world that is different we will never create it. Thriving Women, Thriving World helps us imagine that world; providing us with the questions to discover, uncover and create a world that is not based on oppression but on the ability to thrive--to enable us to be our better selves individually and collectively. The book is an indispensible guide to create the change we desperately need."
- Judith H. Katz, Ed.D., Executive Vice President, The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group.
Author: White awareness: Handbook for anti-racism training; Co-author with Fred Miller :Inclusion breakthrough: Unleashing the power of diversity; Safe enough to soar: Accelerating trust, inclusion and collaboration in the workplace.
From the Back Cover
Thriving Women, Thriving World is written to be user friendly for women and men, in separate conversations and together. It is intended to foster relationship enhancing conversations and collaborative actions among people in a wide range of settings around the world. It is a valuable resource for coaches, consultants, facilitators, educators, leaders, and parents - for anyone seeking resources for compassionate conversations about gender issues.Wisdom from the book includes the following chapter opening quotes:
- Women are the owners of their bodies and the authors of their lives.
- Women and girls fleeing violence and sexual abuse need safe haven and companionship for healing.
- >span class="a-list-item">Financial savvy empowers women to lead the economies of their lives, their communities, and the world.
- >span class="a-list-item">Women who support each other to achieve personal hopes, dreams, and goals are the change.
- >span class="a-list-item"
- >span class="a-list-item">A life well lived is a work of art leaving the world a better place.
About the Author
Diana Whitney, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed consultant, writer, and inspirational speaker working at the forefront of the fields of dialogical organization development and positive social change. She is an expert in Appreciative Inquiry and Appreciative Leadership, an executive advisor, founder of Corporation for Positive Change and co-founder of the Taos Institute. She is an award-winning author of twenty books including The Power of Appreciative Inquiry and Appreciative Leadership. diana@positivechange.org A group of 8 women ranging in age from 35 to 70, living in South Africa, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and working on all seven continents signed on as co-authors with Diana. As a group, we are practitioners of Appreciative Inquiry and/or Positive Psychology. We are speakers, authors, coaches and facilitators.
