“Stories are prescriptions for courage.” Bobette Buster

Most leaders spend a lot of time learning how to present ideas clearly. Far fewer spend time learning how to tell stories that people actually remember. Bobette Buster’s Do Story is a short but powerful book about the craft of storytelling. Stories help people understand why something matters.

Bobette Buster argues that stories have always helped humans navigate uncertainty. Passed from one person to another, they act like maps through unfamiliar territory. The best stories prepare us for life’s inevitable challenges. They show us that confusion, fear, and doubt are part of the journey, not signs that we are failing.

That is why stories are so powerful in leadership. They help people understand not just what is happening, but how to move through it.

The big ideas I’m taking with me

At its heart, Do Story is about how to tell stories that people feel. The standout recommendations for me were:

• Tell the story like you are speaking to a friend. No matter the audience size, the tone should feel human and direct. Stories connect best when they feel personal rather than performative.

• Set the scene quickly. Give the place, time, and context so people understand where the story begins, but keep it concise.

• Use action. Strong stories move. Active verbs and clear actions keep the listener engaged.

• Juxtapose ideas. Placing two contrasting images or ideas side by side can illuminate the deeper meaning of the story.

• Use a gleaming detail. Choose one vivid moment or object that captures the essence of the experience.

• Be vulnerable. Sharing the uncertainty, emotion, or questions you faced along the way invites your audience into the journey.

My imagination was really sparked by the encouragement to storytellers to draw on sense memory i.e. using one of the five senses to make a moment feel real. Small details like this make stories more memorable.

Where leaders go wrong with this idea

Many leaders assume storytelling means exaggeration or performance. In reality, the opposite is true. Strong stories are often simple and grounded in lived experience. Another common mistake is focusing only on the success at the end of the story. When leaders skip the uncertainty or challenge along the way, the story becomes less relatable. Bobette Buster argues that vulnerability is what creates connection. Sharing the questions you faced, the mistakes you made, or the doubts you felt can feel risky. But these are often the moments when the audience leans in most closely.

The inclusion lens

In many workplaces, communication prioritises data and certainty. These are valuable but they can sometimes leave little room for lived experience. Stories allow people to share perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked. When leaders invite storytelling, they create space for colleagues to explain how decisions or systems are experienced in real life. Stories also build empathy. Hearing someone’s journey helps others understand challenges they may never have encountered themselves.

Recap

My three takeaways are:

1. First, stories help people understand why something matters.

2. Second, vulnerability and lived experience are often what make stories memorable.

3. Third, listening improves when leaders communicate in ways that invite connection rather than distance.

Do Story is a wonderful reminder that storytelling is not just a creative skill. It is a leadership skill. When leaders learn to share experiences honestly and succinctly, they help others see meaning, possibility, and courage in moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.


Image description: Elizabeth holds “Do Story” by Bobette Buster

Humanist productivity is my alternative to hustle culture - productivity that centres us all as people. The three pillars are:

Authenticity - Remembering authenticity over perfection. Build ways of working that fit the truth of who you are today.

Community - Connection over individualism. Stop trying to do everything alone, and design support into how you work.

Resilience - Sustainability over burnout. Choose a pace you can keep, and protect your energy like it matters, because it does!

This month is a deep dive into Resilience and why it is so key for Humanist Productivity.

Image description: A warm, sunlit tabletop scene with a simple round clock in a wooden frame centred in the background. Two leafy houseplants sit on either side of the clock, and three plain ceramic mugs are grouped together in front of it. A soft knitted blanket rests to one side, implying a calm, cosy feel.

Humanist productivity is my alternative to hustle culture - productivity that centres us all as people. The three pillars are:

Authenticity - Remembering authenticity over perfection. Build ways of working that fit the truth of who you are today.

Community - Connection over individualism. Stop trying to do everything alone, and design support into how you work.

Resilience - Sustainability over burnout. Choose a pace you can keep, and protect your energy like it matters, because it does!

With those pillars in mind, I’ve been revisiting productivity classics. Episode 4 focuses on 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Image description: A warm, sunlit tabletop scene with a simple round clock in a wooden frame centred in the background. Two leafy houseplants sit on either side of the clock, and three plain ceramic mugs are grouped together in front of it. A soft knitted blanket rests to one side, implying a calm, cosy feel.

Some reflections on Podcasting with AI

This series is an experiment, a podcast generated with AI, using my voice and my own writing. That means it should sound like me, and it should reflect what I mean, but it might still get details wrong. AI can sound confident and still be wrong. If you spot anything inaccurate, oddly phrased, or missing nuance, I would genuinely love you to tell me.

Humanist productivity is my alternative to hustle culture - productivity that centres us all as people. The three pillars are:

Authenticity - Remembering authenticity over perfection. Build ways of working that fit the truth of who you are today.

Community - Connection over individualism. Stop trying to do everything alone, and design support into how you work.

Resilience - Sustainability over burnout. Choose a pace you can keep, and protect your energy like it matters, because it does!

With those pillars in mind, I’ve been revisiting productivity classics. Episode 3 focuses on 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam.

Image description: A warm, sunlit tabletop scene with a simple round clock in a wooden frame centred in the background. Two leafy houseplants sit on either side of the clock, and three plain ceramic mugs are grouped together in front of it. A soft knitted blanket rests to one side, implying a calm, cosy feel.

Some reflections on Podcasting with AI

This series is an experiment, a podcast generated with AI, using my voice and my own writing. That means it should sound like me, and it should reflect what I mean, but it might still get details wrong. AI can sound confident and still be wrong. If you spot anything inaccurate, oddly phrased, or missing nuance, I would genuinely love you to tell me.

The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness is often described as a book about emotional control. More usefully, it is a book about listening, especially to understand how you show up as you try to listen to others.

Steve Peters introduces a simple but powerful model for understanding the mind, separating our rational thinking from our emotional responses. For leaders, this matters because how we listen, respond, and build trust is shaped not just by what we hear, but by how our inner emotional system reacts in the moment.

At the heart of The Chimp Paradox is a model of the brain that helps explain why we sometimes react in ways we later regret. Peters describes the “Chimp” as the emotional part of the brain that reacts quickly, instinctively, and emotionally. The “Human” represents the rational, reflective part that can pause, reason, and choose a response.

For leaders, this is not abstract neuroscience. It shows up in meetings where feedback feels personal, in moments of challenge, in conflict, and when pressure is high. The Chimp is the voice that says, “This is unfair,” or “I need to shut this down,” or “I’m being attacked.” When the Chimp is in charge, listening narrows. We hear a threat, not important information.

The book’s core message is not to wear yourself out trying to silence the Chimp, but to understand it. Once leaders can recognise when their emotional brain is driving the response, they can create space to listen more accurately and respond more intentionally.

The Chimp Paradox helps leaders develop self-awareness about their internal reactions. It gives language to the physical and emotional responses that happen before we speak, interrupt, defend, or withdraw. Reflection here means noticing what is happening inside you before deciding what to do next.

But the impact does not stop with self-listening. When leaders manage their Chimp well, Trust improves. People experience leaders as calmer, more consistent, and more open. Conversations feel safer because emotional volatility is reduced, and listening becomes more reliable.

The big idea I’m taking with me

Listening well when your Chimp is driving might be impossible. Leaders who manage their emotional reactions are better able to hear criticism, disagreement, and uncertainty without shutting down or escalating.

The moment of leadership is often the moment between stimulus and response. That pause is where listening lives.

Where leaders go wrong with this idea

Some leaders use emotional regulation frameworks to suppress feeling rather than understand it. That can lead to emotional avoidance, where difficult conversations are postponed or minimised in the name of staying calm.

Others focus so much on managing their own emotions that they forget to stay curious about other people. Emotional control without empathy can feel distant or dismissive.

The goal is not emotional neutrality. It is emotional literacy. Leaders still need to acknowledge feelings, including their own, but without letting those feelings take control of the conversation.

The inclusion lens

Emotional reactions are not evenly judged in workplaces. Some people are labelled “passionate” while others are labelled “difficult” for similar behaviour. Leaders who understand their own Chimp are better placed to recognise this double standard.

When leaders manage their reactions, they reduce the risk of responding defensively to people with less power, people who communicate differently, or people raising uncomfortable truths. Inclusion improves when listening is not derailed by emotional threat responses.

A regulated leader creates space for others to bring their full experience without fear of emotional backlash.

Key Takeaways

My three takeaways are:

1. Listening begins with emotional self-awareness.

2. Unmanaged emotional reactions narrow what leaders are able to hear.

3. Trust grows when leaders respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.

The Chimp Paradox is a valuable read for leaders who want to improve their listening by understanding what gets in the way. If you try one thing, make it this: learn to spot your Chimp, and create the pause that allows better listening to begin.

I’d love to know, where do you notice emotional reactions most affecting listening at work, in yourself or in others?

Image description: Elizabeth holds “The Chimp Paradox”

I’m reviewing books to help leaders move the dial on inclusion through better listening. Listening has two pillars: Reflection, listening to yourself, and Trust, creating safety so others can speak. These books sit across both pillars, and they show how easily listening breaks down when honesty, power, and respect are not actively held together.

Radical Candor is often described as a book about feedback. More precisely, it is a book about listening. Kim Scott argues that leaders do their best work when they combine genuine care for people with the courage to be clear and honest. That balance only works when leaders are willing to listen, especially when what they hear is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or challenging to their self-image.

Radical Candor challenges leaders to notice how often they stop listening without realising it. We soften messages, deflect criticism, explain instead of hearing, or tell people what we think they want to hear. These behaviours can look polite on the surface, but they deprive leaders of vital information.Radical Respect extends this thinking and deepens it. It asks leaders to recognise that listening does not happen in a vacuum. Power, bias, and discrimination shape who feels safe to speak and whose voice is truly heard. Taken together, these books challenge leaders to move beyond speaking well, and towards listening well, with intention, fairness, and humility.

At its core, radical candor is about listening well enough to respond honestly. The framework, care personally and challenge directly, only works when leaders are open to criticism, disagreement, and uncertainty, not just focused on delivering feedback.

Radical Respect starts from a different listening failure. It asks leaders to notice whose feedback never makes it through the door. Bias shapes whose words are taken seriously, whose tone is judged, and whose concerns are dismissed as overreacting or difficult. Radical respect reframes listening as a leadership responsibility, not a personality trait. It calls for high collaboration and high honouring of individuality, while rejecting coercion and enforced conformity.

Reflection and Trust

Leaders are asked to listen to their own reactions. The defensiveness that says, “I didn’t mean it like that,” or “That’s not fair.” Scott encourages leaders to reflect and pause to ask what information they might be missing, and how unconscious bias may be shaping their interpretation.

They also demand trust. People only speak honestly when they believe they will be heard without retaliation or dismissal. Scott introduces the idea of institutional courage, a leadership commitment to seek the truth and take action on behalf of those who depend on the institution. Listening must be backed by action. Trust grows when leaders intervene in bias and bullying, solicit feedback from all voices, and refuse to let power dynamics silence challenge.

The big idea I’m taking with me

Listening does not happen in a neutral bubble.

Radical Candor shows how leaders fail to listen when they avoid clarity. Radical Respect shows how leaders fail to listen when they ignore power. Together, they make the case that good listening requires both honesty and fairness.

The leadership shift is from asking, “Did I say this well?” to also asking, “Who might not have felt able to speak?”

Where leaders go wrong with this idea

Leaders sometimes focus on delivering feedback and forget that listening is the harder skill. Radical candor can be misused as permission for bluntness, where leaders speak freely but listen selectively.

With radical respect, leaders may underestimate how much listening work happens before anyone speaks. Bias influences who is interrupted, whose emotions are scrutinised, and whose feedback is dismissed. When leaders focus on intent rather than impact, they stop listening too soon.

Scott is clear that challenging bias is part of listening. Failing to intervene, or expecting those harmed to repeatedly explain themselves, is a choice to listen less carefully to those with the most at stake.

The inclusion lens

In inclusive teams, listening is shared work. Leaders pay attention not only to what is said, but to who feels safe to say it. When radical candor and radical respect are practised well, feedback becomes safer, mistakes become learning, and improvement becomes collective.

When they are practised badly, silence grows. People learn that speaking up carries a cost, and leaders lose access to the information they need to make good decisions.

Inclusion improves when leaders treat listening as a skill that must be designed for fairness, not left to chance.

I really benefited from the spotlight on the 5 Ds of intervention referenced in Radical Respect which were originally developed by Hollaback!, a global movement focused on ending harassment through practical, bystander-led action.

The 5 Ds are:

• Direct

• Distract

• Delegate

• Delay

• Document

They are a reminder that intervention is not about perfection or heroics. It is about choosing one doable action that signals, “I see this, and it matters.” That, too, is listening in practice.

A final evolution: Compassionate Candor

Very recently, Kim Scott has updated her thinking again, bringing Radical Candor and Radical Respect together into a more complete model she now calls Compassionate Candor.

This evolution matters.

Compassionate candor keeps the commitment to honesty and clarity, but places deeper emphasis on dignity, power, and humanity. It recognises that care is not just personal warmth, and challenge is not just direct speech. Both require listening with compassion to people whose experiences of bias, prejudice, and harm may be very different from your own.

This update is, in itself, a powerful example of listening leadership. Scott has been open about how Radical Respect emerged from listening to people who challenged her original framework, particularly those whose experiences of candor were shaped by race, gender, disability, sexuality, or power. Rather than defending the original model, she listened, learned, and changed it.

That is compassionate candor in action.

My three takeaways are these.

First, listening breaks down when leaders prioritise comfort over clarity.
Second, listening fails when power and bias shape whose voices are heard.
Third, inclusion grows when leaders combine honest feedback with active, fair listening.

These books are essential reads for leaders who want to hear the truth, not just speak it. If you try one thing, make it this: listen for who is missing, not just who is speaking.

Image description: Elizabeth holds Radical Candor and Radical Respect by Kim Scott

Humanist productivity is my alternative to hustle culture - productivity that centres us all as people. The three pillars are:

Authenticity - Remembering authenticity over perfection. Build ways of working that fit the truth of who you are today.

Community - Connection over individualism. Stop trying to do everything alone, and design support into how you work.

Resilience - Sustainability over burnout. Choose a pace you can keep, and protect your energy like it matters, because it does!

With those pillars in mind, I’ve been revisiting productivity classics. Episode 2 focuses on Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

Image description: A warm, sunlit tabletop scene with a simple round clock in a wooden frame centred in the background. Two leafy houseplants sit on either side of the clock, and three plain ceramic mugs are grouped together in front of it. A soft knitted blanket rests to one side, implying a calm, cosy feel.

Some reflections on Podcasting with AI

This series is an experiment, a podcast generated with AI, using my voice and my own writing. That means it should sound like me, and it should reflect what I mean, but it might still get details wrong. AI can sound confident and still be wrong. If you spot anything inaccurate, oddly phrased, or missing nuance, I would genuinely love you to tell me.

“You’re in charge of your mind. You can help it grow by using it in the right way.” Prof Carol Dweck

Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential is a book about the stories we tell ourselves about ability. Carol Dweck argues that when we believe talent is fixed, we protect our ego. That leads us to avoid challenges and shut down vital feedback. But when we believe we can grow, we get curious, practise, and recover faster from mistakes.

This is a vital lens for self reflection. It helps you notice the internal reaction that says, “This makes me look bad,” and replaces it with, “This is information.” A growth mindset, in practice, is the ability to stay open when you are challenged. It is the willingness to ask follow-up questions rather than rushing to defend your view. It is the choice to treat feedback as useful data, not as a threat.

The big idea I’m taking with me

A growth mindset is not empty positive thinking. It is a practical leadership choice to value learning over looking competent. You can feel the difference when someone raises a concern. A fixed mindset response reaches for certainty and control. A growth mindset response does something braver. It means staying curious and asking “What can we learn here?”

Leadership Watch-out

Leaders sometimes turn “growth mindset” into a slogan, or use it in ways that dismiss real barriers. It can become a pep talk rather than a practice, where people hear “try harder” instead of “let’s improve the system.” It can slide into blame, where struggle is treated as an attitude problem rather than a signal about workload, unclear expectations, bias, or inaccessible processes. It can also get confused with constant stretch. Sustainable learning needs rest, safety, and support. A growth mindset should make leaders more compassionate and more rigorous, not more demanding.

The Inclusion Lens

When leaders practise a growth mindset well, more people get heard. This is vital for people who are still learning, who communicate differently, and people with less status in the room. The inclusive experience that improves is simple but powerful: feedback becomes safer and mistakes become learning. Listening to feedback becomes a route to better decisions, rather than a threat to authority.

Key Takeaways

1. Mindset shapes listening, because if you fear being wrong you will struggle to hear the truth

2. A growth mindset is a leadership behaviour, and you can spot it in the questions leaders ask

3. Inclusion improves when learning is shared work, with a focus on safe spaces to make mistakes

Try this this week

Why not check out Carol Dweck’s fantastic TED talk which is only 10 minutes long.

Image description: Elizabeth holds her copy of “Mindset” by Carol Dweck

The three pillars are:

Authenticity: remembering authenticity over perfection. Build ways of working that fit the truth of who you are today.

Community: Connection over individualism. Stop trying to do everything alone, and design support into how you work.

Resilience: Sustainability over burnout. Choose a pace you can keep, and protect your energy like it matters, because it does!

This podcast reflects on the productivity classic “Getting Things Done” by David Allen.

Remember: this episode is generated with AI, using my voice and my writing. I’m experimenting with how to use new tools with care, and make ideas more accessible in more formats. AI can sound confident and still be wrong. If you spot anything inaccurate, oddly phrased, or missing nuance, I would genuinely love you to tell me. This month’s AI decided James was my daughter! Consider it a friendly “spot the glitch” moment, and a chance to help me make the next version better.

Productivity advice often pretends to be neutral. It frames itself as common sense. Better habits. Better planning. Better you. It shows up as “just tips,” but it carries a bigger message about what good looks like - efficient and consistent. But the dominant model is not neutral.

It quietly centres three beliefs: perfectionism, individualism, constant output.

Perfectionism looks like high standards, but it often becomes self surveillance. The sense that you must be flawless to be safe. That you must be consistently excellent to be credible. That you must prove your worth through performance.

Individualism turns everything into a solo mission. Your goals. Your habits. Your optimisation. Your responsibility to fix yourself. It downplays the fact that most work happens in teams and systems, and that your outcomes depend on other people, policies, and power.

Constant output treats assumes your body will cooperate, your life will stay stable, and your time belongs to you. With consistent output expected, rest if framed as a reward only to be accessed when absolutely necessary.

This approach is bad for everyone, because sooner or later real life shows up. But it’s a disaster for changemakers trying to change their world.

Changemaking is slow. It’s political. It’s emotionally demanding. It’s relationship heavy. It involves setbacks you cannot control and timelines you cannot shrink. And if your productivity model is built on perfection, individual effort, and endless output, you’ll burn out.

Humanist productivity starts somewhere else.

It honours the way people work best. It takes seriously that capacity is shaped by health, identity, and lived experience. It rejects the idea that productivity is a moral measure of your worth.

It asks a more humane question:

How do I do meaningful work without abandoning myself or the people I care about?

For me, a Humanist Productivity comes down to three pillars:

Pillar 1: Authenticity - Integration over perfection.

Authenticity means your approach fits the actual shape of your life. Not your fantasy life. Not the life implied by someone else’s morning routine. Your real life.

This pillar matters because perfectionism is not evenly enforced. It is shaped by social norms and identity. Some people get to be average without consequence. Some people feel they must be exceptional just to be treated as competent.

Pillar 2: Community: Connection over individualism.

Community centres care, collaboration, and interdependence. It rejects the myth of the lone changemaker.

Mainstream productivity culture often treats relationships as distractions. Collaboration is framed as compromise. Asking for help is framed as weakness.

But purposeful lives of meaning include other people - loneliness is literally bad for our health. Changemaking without community is a fast path to isolation.

Pillar 3: Resilience: Sustainability over burnout.

Resilience is the part productivity culture tries to skip. It acknowledges natural cycles of energy, care, and capacity. It treats recovery as part of the system, not a luxury. It plans for disruption instead of pretending we have perfect control. Grind culture ignores this and calls it discipline. Humanist productivity sees it and calls it reality.

It also reframes rest. Not as a reward for perfect performance, but as something only useful to recover. Something that makes long work possible. Something that protects you from becoming another talented person who disappears from the work they care about.

Humanist productivity is not about doing less. It’s about doing what matters in ways that let you stay well enough to keep going. If 2026 needs anything, it is a productivity model that accepts that people are human.

This is vital as we look ahead to our work year. Humanist productivity is a decision to build your working life around what matters most, your health, your values, and your relationships. Not perfect. Not solo. Not nonstop. Just meaningful work, done in a way you can sustain. So we can change the world - one day at a time.

Want to learn more?

“Bethcast: Periodically Productitve” is a podcast that reflects on big hitting productivity books under the lens of a humanist productivity.

Interested in what Humanist Productivity might look like for you?

Why not reflect on these questions:

Integration asks: Who taught me what “good” looks like? Who benefits from my perfectionism?

Community asks: Who are my people in this season? What support do I need?

Resilience asks: What are my warning signs? What helps me recover before I crash?

Interested in what Humanist Productivity themes? I’ve used this term to bring together powerful insights from multiple sources but particularly:

Women Who Work Too Much: Tamu Thomas

The PLAN: Kendra Adatchi

Slow Productivity: Cal Newport

Positive Productivity: Ali Abdaal

Image description: A warm, sunlit tabletop scene with a simple round clock in a wooden frame centred in the background. Two leafy houseplants sit on either side of the clock, and three plain ceramic mugs are grouped together in front of it. A soft knitted blanket rests to one side, creating a calm, cosy feel.

I ended up reading about changes led by grassroots movements, the science of connection, corporate transformation and the art of sustaining hope. I read how leaders build trust, how individuals find their voice, and how communities build power from small, consistent efforts.

Here I’m distilling those insights into a the core recommendations for leading change -the three key themes that emerged loud and clear.

Image description: A stack of books about changemaking sits on Elizabeth’s table.

1. Small Actions Matter
   
   The myth that change must be monumental is a common driver of burnout and paralysis. In reality, the most effective transformation begins and endures through modest steps taken consistently.
   
   My lighbulb moment was to embrace “radical realism”. This means honestly assessing your true capacity and focusing on what is possible for you today. This shift ensures that everyday actions are performed routinely. These may be tiny commitments like signing a petition or having a challenging conversation. But each contribution builds the crucial momentum that transforms tiny efforts into a collective, unstoppable force.
   

2. Joy Builds Resilience
   
   Activism is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout is one of the greatest threats to any movement. This means well-being is a strategic imperative for changemakers. By prioritising joy, and allowing space for rest and celebration, we build the fundamental resilience needed for the long haul. Joy is the essential fuel that keeps advocates coming back to the fight. It enables us to sustain the compassion and energy required for justice.
   
   My reading repeatedly reinforced the wisdom of Audre Lorde: “Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

3. We Rally Around Stories
   
   Facts and data inform, but authentic stories do so much more. Stories and emotional engagement inspire and connect us. Movements flourish when they are rooted in a compelling narrative that invites people in and that make them feel seen. This fusion of authentic storytelling and shared emotional purpose is what drives genuine partnerships and builds supportive communities that last.
   
   A great concept to reflect this is collective effervescence, that shared, creative energy found when people gather with purpose. Stories can bring us together to create powerful collaborations. Connecting through stories to create and maintain community rocket powers changemaking for the long term impact we need so much.

Want to start reading?

If you only read one book from this year’s list to anchor your changemaking efforts in 2025, my recommendation is Microactivism by Omkari L. Williams.

This book was profoundly impactful for me because it provided the ultimate antidote to the pressure so many of us feel to “go big or go home.” Williams’s guide synthesised the year’s biggest takeaway: that sustainable change is about consistent action within your genuine capacity. Activism became a verb, not a title, proving that consistent, imperfect action is vital. Importantly, this book takes intersectionality seriously, enabling changemakers to reflect on their priveledge and incorporate it into their activism. For anyone searching for a way to contribute that fits their energy, values, and capacity, Microactivism will meet you where you are.

I wish you a 2026 filled with radical realism and collective effervescence. I hope you find joy and power in the work you share with others. But first I hope you have a happy and restorative winter break - I’ll see you on the other side!


Image description: The book “Microactivism” propped up against a stack of books about changemaking.

Met argues that activism isn’t only about the protest line or the petition. It’s about understanding how people connect, why they care, and what helps them stay engaged over time. Amplify helps us think about what we want to change, and how to build the kind of community that makes that change possible.

What I Loved About This Book

I loved how Amplify connects movement building to both science and story. Met draws on decades of social research to explain how people’s emotions synchronise when they gather, how shared experiences strengthen bonds, and how collective energy (what Durkheim called “collective effervescence”) makes large-scale change feel possible.

He makes the case that every movement starts small. It begins with a person, a message, or a plan to connect. One practical insight is his framework for designing engagement: who you want to reach, where to meet them, what message will resonate, and how to follow up when interest turns into action.

I also appreciated his honesty about authenticity. Collaboration, he reminds us, has to feel right. People quickly sense when something feels performative or forced. The best partnerships grow naturally.

Finally, the blend of activism and art gives this book its heart. Met writes about fandoms, concerts, and the joy of connection as fertile ground for change. It’s a reminder that activism can be serious work and still feel joyful. Joy keeps people coming back.

Changemaker Takeaways

Amplify isn’t only about understanding movements. It’s about equipping people to build them. These takeaways turn Met’s research into practical lessons for anyone creating change in a community, a company, or a cause they care about.

Start with connection.
Movements grow when people feel seen, included, and emotionally invested. Share a message that invites people in. Create a moment they will remember.

Be strategic and passionate.
Think carefully about who you want to reach and how you’ll reach them. Plan the next step before the momentum fades. Passion starts things. Strategy keeps them going.

Tell authentic stories.
Focus on real people and real experiences. Make sure every story feels true. That honesty builds trust and belonging.

Celebrate collaboration.
Seek out allies who see the world differently. Learn from other movements and communities. The richest change happens together.

Keep it joyful.
Gathering together, online or in person, can reignite hope. Joy, music, and creativity give people strength to continue.

These ideas are more than a checklist. They show that lasting change grows through both structure and spirit. Connection gives movements life. Strategy and joy keep them moving.

Why You Should Read This Book

If you care about building a movement, Amplify offers both inspiration and method. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to connect people around a cause in a way that feels natural, energising, and inclusive.

Met writes with the insight of a researcher and the optimism of a performer. He shows that activism can be as creative as a concert and as grounded as a community meeting. Most of all, he reminds us that collective action begins with connection.

At a time when attention is scattered and activism can feel exhausting, Amplify offers something powerful. It shows how momentum grows when we build with authenticity, creativity, and joy.

Image description: Elizabeth holds “Amplify” by Adam Met

This book introduces the idea of radical realism. Williams encourages us to work in ways that are sustainable, strategic, and grounded in self-awareness. Microactivism offers a toolkit for long-term impact. I particularly benefited from reading about building your community and resilience as well as naming your values.

There are chapters on finding your activist type, doing deep work, navigating discomfort, and owning your privilege with clarity and compassion. The six principles that run through the book — integrity, justice, story, compassion, joy, and love — help anchor the work in both purpose and hope.

What I loved about this book

I loved how Microactivism makes space for sustainable action over time. This book doesn’t demand perfection. It doesn’t pretend that we can fix everything overnight. Instead, it reminds us that activism is a practice. It’s something you return to again and again, because you care.

One of the most powerful ideas in the book is this: activism is a verb, not a title. That insight alone could reframe how many people see themselves. You don’t have to be hosting rallies or changing laws to be an activist. You just have to be acting, in whatever way you can, to make things better.

The book also takes racial justice seriously. It doesn’t separate it from other causes, but names it as foundational to all forms of activism - from climate action to reproductive rights. That clarity is important.

I also appreciated the honesty around capacity. This is not a book that will tell you to “go big or go home.” Instead, it invites you to focus, reflect, and commit to causes that matter to you. One or two at a time is enough. Depth matters more than volume.

Changemaker takeaways

• Start with who you are. Your skills, experiences, and values are valid building blocks for change. Don’t overlook the tools you already carry.

• Practice radical realism. You can’t do everything. Some things take time. Focus on what is possible now, and plan for the long haul.

• Build your community. You don’t have to go it alone. Activism thrives when we’re supported and when we share the journey.

• Joy, compassion, and story matter. These are not luxuries or distractions. They are part of how we connect, heal, and sustain each other.

• Use your privilege. Let go of guilt and take responsibility. Learn from others. You don’t need to have all the answers to begin.

• Make it routine. Small, regular actions build power. When activism becomes part of your daily life, it gets easier to keep going.

Why would I read this book?

If you care about the world but don’t know where to start, read this book. If you’ve been involved in changemaking and are feeling tired or overwhelmed, read this book. If you’re searching for a way to contribute that fits your energy, values, and capacity, this book will meet you where you are.

Microactivism is honest, hopeful, and deeply practical. It doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but it also doesn’t ask you to be more than you are. It shows you how to start, how to keep going, and how to build a life where activism is a steady, nourishing part of your rhythm. In a noisy world, that kind of quiet clarity is a gift.

Image description: Elizabeth holds “Microactivism: How you can make a difference in the world without a bullhorn” by Omkari L. Williams

“Be The Change: A toolkit for the activist in you” is part memoir and part manual. It’s a practical and empowering guide to making change, written by campaigner and writer Gina Martin. Known for successfully changing UK law to make upskirting illegal, Gina weaves her personal story with concrete steps anyone can take to become an activist.

The book explores what activism means, why it matters, and how to begin. It dives into the realities of power and privilege, the role of social media, and the different ways people can get involved. Gina also takes us through the nuts and bolts of campaigning, from building awareness and gaining support to taking meaningful action. Whether you’re wondering how to pitch your cause, work with politicians, or use media effectively, this book offers a grounded, clear-eyed view of how change can happen.

Importantly, Gina also makes space for the work of anti-racism. She doesn’t gloss over it. There is a full chapter on white privilege, where she takes time to reflect, listen, and challenge herself and her readers.

What I loved about this book

I loved how accessible and straightforward Gina’s voice is. She strips away the myths of activism and makes it feel possible for anyone to get involved. She doesn’t pretend the work is easy, but she reminds us that you don’t have to be born for it. You just need to care, keep learning, and take action.

There’s a deep respect throughout the book for everyday people. The ones who live the problems, see the problems, and know what needs to change. The book is full of warmth and solidarity. I appreciated Gina’s honesty about power, gatekeeping, and the challenges of working with people who don’t always share your views.

Gina introduces the “Three A’s” of changemaking: Awareness, Advocacy, and Action. Each one plays a different role in creating impact. Awareness helps you define the problem and communicate it clearly. Advocacy is about building support and influence, especially with people who hold power. Action is where the change becomes real. This structure helps you see where you are in your own journey and what the next step could be.

I especially valued how seriously Gina takes anti-racism. She names white privilege clearly and makes sure it is not left as an afterthought. As a white woman with multiple sources of privilege, she is careful to share the research that has helped her learn and engaged anti racism educator and activist Aja Barber to review the content.

Changemaker takeaways

• You don’t need to be ‘ready’ to start. You’re already learning, observing, and living through things that matter. That’s a foundation.

• Self-education is activism. Reading, listening, and asking questions are all ways to grow your power and challenge injustice.

• Doing the inner work is part of the outer work. Facing your own privilege and learning to act with awareness is part of making change that lasts.

• Having a solution matters. People with power are more likely to engage when you bring them something useful — a pitch, data, or options.

• Start with what you have. Whether it’s time, money, or people, your power builds as you use it.

• Difference is part of the process. Refusing to engage with people who disagree can limit your reach. Strategy and relationships matter.

Why would I read this book?

Be The Change is for anyone stepping into their voice as a changemaker. It’s ideal if you’re just getting started, or if you want a deeper understanding of how activism works in real life. It is hopeful without being naive, and strategic without losing heart. Best of all, it reminds you that you matter, and that your actions can matter too.


Image description: Elizabeth holds “Be the Change - A toolkit for the activist in YOU” by Gina Martin

I have a book idea. 18 months ago I started working on it “properly”. What that has meant is building up a proposal for an agent and a sample chapter. The next natural step would be to edit these (again) and probably write a second sample chapter. But I’ve learnt a lot in the last 18 months and now I’m pressing pause on this project - and of course I want to share what I’ve learned!

Looking back on what I’ve experienced while trying to write a book, I can confidently set aside three myths I'd accepted:

1. Writing must be a solitary practice

2. The only successful writer is a published author

3. AI can write non fiction

It’s also been a practical route into learning and relearning the value of a personal practice beyond my role as mum and employee. Deep down I know that spending my time and money on a writing practice is no different from a parent signing up to a marathon or having a season ticket. But writing has been the consistent practice I’ve needed to turn that awareness into action.

Why write a book?

Why do we set ourselves goals? As a productivity geek I’ve read plenty and would love to recommend the eulogy exercise. “In Ali Abdaal’s ‘Positive Productivity’, there’s an exercise where you journal about what you hope will be said in your eulogy.” The truth is I’ve always wanted “published author” to be on the list of things I’d done. I was vividly reminded of this when my beloved Grandma passed away. At her funeral there were two things at the front of the church - a large photo of her and her hardback book. I’d achieved a huge milestone in my career - winning a long campaign to change policy here in the UK so I saw a clear path. I’d write a book about everything I’ve learned about leading change. What could be a more important time to put these tools into people’s hands?

Writing vs. authoring

Becoming a book author didn’t feel too insane a task. I’ve (painfully) produced a thesis and (joyfully) written blogs and articles. Was writing a non fiction book really going to be that different from writing lots of blogs? Turns out - Yes! To access traditional publishing there is a pretty specific range of information you need to provide - far beyond showing off a chapter or two. Through a huge amount of trial and error I found what I needed to keep writing, but each time I came to edit I couldn’t help but notice that there were indeed plenty of differences between a book and a very, very long blog series. The kind of brain space I needed to connect up these short pieces was very rare. And that length of time was also my only time to step away from my laptop and genuinely switch off. I wanted to write. But taking on the extensive admin task of being accepted by a publisher or self publishing is not something I have the space for right now.

Relational writing

Relationships are everything to me. The joy of short pieces is that you get to hear from your readers nearly instantly. I’ll be at an industry event and be asked about a book review. I’ll be with a colleague who uses a hack. I’ll get a message about how useful a tool has been for making a big decision. Am I patient enough to spend years writing down these ideas to get this engagement? Not yet! What motivates me to write these ideas down is the possibility that someone will find them useful. The truth is that a book would hugely increase the reach of those ideas. But, at the moment, I need to choose between dedicating my time to writing that engages with readers now and writing that might reach readers later. So I’m choosing the short pieces that give me a chance to build a relationship with my readers.

Quality time vs. Quantity time

When I started focusing on book writing I thought the problem would be finding enough hours in the day. And of course I was right - consistently showing up at the page is no joke. But during the last 18 months it's actually gotten easier for me to find those hours. My baby boy is suddenly 10 and wants to spend time with his friends. I have a partner who my son adores and wants to go on adventures with. I have a job with barely any travel. Its like writing from another universe compared to when my son was younger. So what’s the problem? I can commit some time most days to sitting with the book. I even managed to turn the ideas I wanted to write about into a series of mini prompts so I had a long series of blogs to make it even easier to get words down. I played with AI to try and bring those small pieces together. And the result was… not what I wanted at all. I’ve been really disappointed with the restrictions of AI to translate my dyslexic rambles and dictation into coherent prose. I thought bringing together a series of short pieces into a long one would be perfect for AI but its insistence on hallucinations trashed it every time. The quality of time I need to write the book I want to write is writing retreat time - not snatches. It's the chance to write pages not paragraphs. It’s being at my laptop to work on my book with a clear head, not a migraine inducing day of paid work AND life admin AND book writing. I wish I was articulate enough to describe the way I see in my mind the ways the book ideas link and reinforce each other. What I know today is that if I’m going to manage it it’s going to take more than a day. So that means quality time.

Experiment findings

I’ve learned I love writing. I’ve learned I can write a surprising amount with the support of a community. I’ve learnt that I need my writing to be relational - with regular feedback from my readers.

Maybe I’ll take a sabbatical and pick up from where I left off. Maybe an ebook of my collected essays will be available at a VR memorial after I pass. Either way I know the kind of writing I love to do today. And learning that has been a solid outcome of my experiment.

Image description: A black and white typewriter surrounded by images related to writing link ink and paper

This book is encouraging and pragmatic, rooted in the belief that anyone can be a changemaker. The book dismantles narrow stereotypes of activism as extreme or inaccessible, and instead frames it as a broad, inclusive spectrum of action — from parkruns to petitions, food banks to policy reform.

What I Loved About This Book

This book doesn’t pretend activism is easy — but it makes it feel possible. Holburn speaks directly to the reader with a warm but firm voice, offering both practical tools and emotional reassurance. Her guidance is rooted in lived experience and clarity of purpose, without ever tipping into overwhelm.

I loved how the book gives you permission to begin before you feel ready. The call to “just get started” is threaded throughout, balanced with encouragement to learn as you go.

Perhaps most powerfully, she redefines what activism looks like. It doesn’t have to be loud or confrontational. It can be community-based, personal, quiet, creative. If you are doing something - anything - to move the dial toward justice or compassion, this book names and celebrates that work. It reminds you that it counts.

Changemaker Takeaways

• Your first step is defining the problem clearly: Who is responsible? Who is affected? Who can change it?
  

• Success doesn’t always look like a headline: Track your own milestones and be proud of what you build — even if it's not instantly visible.
  

• Teamwork beats burnout: A supportive team helps you navigate the emotional and practical challenges of sustained action.
  

• Build for the long haul: Sustainable activism needs energy management, legal awareness, and values-based motivation.
  

• Start imperfectly: The perfect campaign is a myth. The best campaign is the one you actually run.
  
  

Why Would I Read This Book?

You’d read this book if you’ve ever had a moment of doubt about whether what you’re doing matters — or if you’ve ever wanted to do something but didn’t know where to begin. This book speaks directly to that part of us that wants to help but worries we’re not qualified, loud enough, experienced enough, or “activist” enough. Whether you’re advocating inside an organisation, showing up in your community, or trying to live your values more fully, this book gives you both the structure and encouragement to keep going. It’s a gentle push forward and a reminder: starting small is still starting.

Image description: Elizabeth holds “How to be an activist” by Vanessa Holburn

Yes, some changemakers are activists who step away from financial stability or make activism a career. But that isn’t necessary.

How to Make a Difference serves as a guidebook for anyone ready to take their first steps or strengthen their existing impact. It blends practical advice, deeply human insights, and tangible frameworks into a highly accessible resource.

The authors are clear-eyed about the realities: cynics will always offer excuses, systems can feel immovable, and progress is rarely instant. But they argue passionately and persuasively that even small actions, matters.

"Activism is simply the policy or practice of taking action."

Instead of idealising activism or presenting it as an unreachable standard, this book breaks it down into everyday choices: how to find a cause, how to build your skills, how to centre community needs, how to tell your story with integrity, and how to sustain the work over time.

What I loved about this book

I particularly loved how the book gently but firmly emphasising asking, not assuming. Too often, activism slips into speaking for others rather than with them. The clear insistence that we must listen first and ally ourselves thoughtfully felt vital and energising.

The advice around storytelling was rich and practical. From encouraging boldness, to respecting the emotional toll, to choosing the right medium, the book offers a powerful reminder that storytelling is not an add-on to activism. It is activism!

Changemaker takeaways

The book offers so many useful lists and frameworks. For this review I’ve drawn together into five core themes for changemakers:

1. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Change

Real change starts small. Find something you care about, and remember: no cause is too big, no step is too small. Stay pragmatic about time and focus, and commit to taking action in whatever way you can.

2. Skills That Scale

Your enthusiasm, skills, and willingness to learn are valuable assets. Recognise your capabilities, keep growing them, and collaborate with others rather than reinventing the wheel.

3. Ask, Don’t Assume

True activism starts with listening. Ask communities what they need before proposing solutions. Allyship, humility, and partnership are the foundations of sustainable change.

4. Storytelling as a Changemaker’s Superpower

Use storytelling to create connection and empathy. Be bold, be real, and be consistent. Respect whose stories you are telling, and choose formats that honour both the story and the audience.

5. Taking Action

Action matters, whether it's formal protest, everyday nudges, or building a team that shares the weight. Momentum grows through community, shared credit, and consistent, visible steps forward.

Why would I read this book?

You’d read How to Make a Difference if you want practical encouragement to act. It is so packed with recommendations it’s worth picking up whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your impact. I loved the reminder that you don’t have to wait for permission or perfection to start building a better world.


Image description: Elizabeth holds “How to Make a Difference” by Kate and Ella Robertson

He isn’t dead yet!

This accusation alone was enough that a major charity felt they had to cut ties with a core funder. Less resources for those in need overnight.

And why?

Because we still have so, so far to go to extend even the most basic respect to disabled people.

Whats happened?

As a lover of nature writing, I’ve dived into a trilogy of memoirs by Raynor Winn. You might have seen her book “The Salt Path” in the press because there is a major new film. Or you might have seen the brou ha ha following a press expose that poses four questions:

1. Can you write a memoir about a period in your life without mentioning being interviewed by the police (without charges) when you were younger?

2. Should you call yourself homeless if you own a field and a tent?

3. How could someone with a terminal illness be alive for years?

4. How could someone with a degenerative illness not decline predictably?

I’ll leave the first two questions to memoir writers and their publishers. But my expertise is in disability activism so I’ll focus on the others.

"Nothing is certain except death and taxes" Since human life is finite - what does a terminal diagnosis really mean?

Terminal (adjective): of or relating to an end, boundary, or extremity;

especially: approaching or occurring at the end of life

As with all stereotypes, vivid pictures spring to mind. An elderly relative who isn’t able to come home and passes peacefully. Someone given months to settle their affairs after tragic news. But the truth is life, and death, is a bit more complicated than that. We have poured years of effort and funding into treating the most serious illnesses extending people’s lifespan. Doctors will take great pains with a terminal diagnosis to highlight how different people will react to medication differently. It is a rare scenario where a specific time span will be shared.

We live in a country where for a long stretch disabled people had to get repeated letters from their doctor to prove that, yes, they were still terminally ill and needed support from the state. So I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that a journalist picks up the same trope.

In 2025 medical advances mean terminally ill people can remain part of our communities for longer and longer. This could be a cause for celebration as loved ones get to spend more time with friends and family.

Apart from that ableist trope that casts a shadow - are benefiting from amazing medical science… or just faking?

This can become even more complex when it comes to conditions where someone experiences more symptoms over time, many of which are called degenerative.

Degenerative (adjective):

Relating to a condition that causes gradual deterioration or loss of function in organs or tissues.

Doctors will take great pains to explain how someone’s health at diagnosis and reaction to medication will vary. That there is no single path. So it astounded me to see a journalist state that nine “neurologists and researchers” were willing to opine on a patient they had never met, on a disease on which so little is understood. One even goes so far to be quoted - I suppose perpetuating ableist smears doesn’t damage the careers of medical professionals yet. A degenerative disease that varies between patients apparently doesn’t “pass the sniff test”.

And the result? A man married to an author ends up sharing personal medical records, records about a condition that has redefined their life and created enormous challenges, with the public at large. Why? Because he and his adult children are being attacked by strangers because of a journalist willing to cheerlead ableism.

Too disabled? Or not disabled enough? Who knows where the unnamed neurologists and researchers stand as they judge the disabled people they’ve never met. The newspaper even doubled down after the medical records where published, finding another person who has met a disabled person who has the audacity not to die on time. This person isn’t a doctor or a researcher but why would that matter? Why should expertise count for anything when calling a disabled person a lier and a fake.

I’m sure the journalist’s career will come to no harm whatsoever whatever the outcome. After all - there are plenty of people willing to dismiss the experiences of disabled people. That way we can slash support, remove healthcare and peddle more harmful stereotypes. And if that leads to more pain and isolation for disabled people? Well what does it matter?

They are probably faking it.

I expect I will continue to have to share private and painful experiences with strangers to get the most basic support. I expect that many others in the disabled community will too. This will be far from the last journalist willing to repeat an ableist smear to get extra clicks.

Next time you read a take on this story, please keep in mind the harm that occurs ever day when disabled people’s experiences are dismissed. No doubt this is far from the end of this sorry chapter.

• From China — the Subject State, where authoritarian government relies on obedience, strict hierarchies, and deep surveillance.

• From Siliconia — the Consumer State, where powerful corporations, particularly tech giants, reduce our role to passive buyers, limiting choice and deepening surveillance.

They argue that neither the Subject State nor the Consumer State offers a credible path to a sustainable, equitable, and joyful future. And I find it hard to disagree!

Citizens makes the case for a third option: the Citizen State. A citizen story where people participate, deliberate, and co-create together. This see us regain agency and build collective resilience.

"The Citizen Story sees human beings as creative, capable, caring, and powerful."

Drawing on Donella Meadows' systems change work, the authors set out powerful recommendations for how we can accelerate the citizen story:

• Maintain the resilience to keep pointing out the failures of the consumer and subject stories.

• Celebrate every opportunity we see and step that’s taken toward citizen spaces.

• Focus on reaching powerful people with citizen-centered narratives.

• Avoid wasting energy reacting to the failures of existing systems.

• Work alongside active change agents and open-minded communities.

At no point does this book argue that this shift will be easy. But it does highlight that it could be a shift that can itself be be joyful, healing, and fulfilling.

What I Loved About This Book

One of the book’s most powerful ideas is how clearly it connects systemic change to joy, agency, and meaning.

The Citizen State bring to life our ability to build everyday practices that make people feel seen, valued, and powerful.

I also loved how the authors move from big picture systems thinking to highly practical advice. Their "3 Ps" of participation are immediately useful for changemakers in diverse contexts:

• Purpose: What people can buy into, not just buy.

• Platform: Communicate in a way that makes participation desirable.

• Prototype: How to build energy through small, iterative steps.

I particularly appreciated the clear links to other influential work, like the How to Citizen podcast with Baratunde Thurston and the #WeekOfCitizening series on LinkedIn. By sharing examples where "citizen-ing" is already happening, the book stays hopeful and action-oriented.

Changemaker Takeaways

Changemakers will find Citizens packed with practical ideas. A highlight is the Seven Citizen Questions:

1. Support Stories as an Ally: Shift from broadcasting your ideas to amplifying others' voices.

2. Gather Data: Invite people to become active researchers, not passive recipients.

3. Share Connections: Help citizens connect purpose with their networks.

4. Contribute Ideas: Ask customers, neighbours, and colleagues for their ideas and experiences.

5. Give Time: Empower people to help shape and deliver solutions, not just use them.

6. Learn Skills: Turn your work into active learning experiences, not just passive transactions.

7. Crowdfund: Let people literally "buy in" to shared goals through funding and ownership.

I see these as small but mighty ways to shift any project to start that shift to a Citizens story.

Why Would I Read This Book?

This book creates a compelling alternative to both despair and disengagement. This book will inspire you if:

• You want a deeper, systemic lens on why our institutions feel stuck.

• You are looking for hopeful, practical strategies to make collective agency real.

• You believe that the future isn’t only determined by those in power today

Citizens invites all of us to step into the citizen story. This doesn’t mean we need to be perfect before we start. Instead we can be participants committed to building a better world, one joyful act at a time.

Image description: Elizabeth holds “"Citizens - the key to fixing everything is all of us" by John Alexander and Ariane Conrad”

The book is structured around the idea that change can begin with actions that take as little as five minutes, an hour, or a day. Rachel England weaves in inspiring case studies of ordinary citizens successfully challenging businesses and influencing local and national policies. The emphasis is on straightforward, tangible steps - like supporting independent businesses, amplifying marginalized voices, or engaging in community gardening. Each of these contributes as a single action as well as collectively building momentum for broader social change.

What I Loved About This Book

I hugely appreciated Everyday Activism’s focus on accessibility. Activism can often feel daunting, but England effectively dismantles this perception by showing that even small acts matter. The book’s structured approach allows readers to start where they are, without feeling overwhelmed.

“Even a small act of resistance is still resistance. And it still counts.”

Another highlight is the way England emphasises the power of individual actions in addressing major global issues. Whether it’s climate change, social justice, or consumer ethics, she demonstrates how small shifts in behaviour can create a ripple effect. This makes activism feel both achievable and impactful.

Changemaker Takeaways

1. Start Small, Stay Consistent – A five-minute action, like signing a petition or switching to an eco-friendly search engine, might seem insignificant, but repeated actions accumulate impact over time.

2. Community Is Key – Lasting change doesn’t happen in isolation. Engaging with local initiatives, supporting grassroots movements, and collaborating with others amplifies efforts and drives meaningful transformation.

3. Preparation Matters – Rachel England offers practical advice on navigating activism safely, from staying informed to protecting oneself during protests. This real-world guidance makes the book even more valuable for those new to activism.
   

Why Would I Read This Book?

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help, but I don’t know where to start” this book is for you. Everyday Activism is an antidote to inaction, providing a clear and practical guide for anyone who wants to make a difference but feels overwhelmed in the face of global issues.

Rachel England’s message is empowering: activism doesn’t have to be all-consuming to be effective. By breaking it down into actions that fit into any schedule, Everyday Activism makes changemaking feel achievable for everyone.

Image description: Elizabeth holds the book “Everyday Activism” by Rachel England