Living Beyond War Book Study Guides

For assimilating the book, Living Beyond War: A Citizen's Guide, several approaches are currently being pursued by various groups. Which one(s) to use or to combine may be decided by a group’s organizers/facilitators, or by consensus of the group itself. Outlined below are the five main approaches to achieving stimulating, challenging, and interesting group conversations.

 
If information and guidance about group dynamics and facilitation of small group discussions is needed, some help in this area can be found in the Introduction to the BW 8 week Study Series.
 
 
1) Inclusion of the author. 
This is a unique and very positive opportunity to enhance a group’s experience: Winslow Myers has agreed to be available by phone at some point(s) during the book study if desired. By arrangement with a PR firm, he has been giving dozens of live radio interviews and discussion for months, so has become quite adept and comfortable dealing with both general and specific issues touched on in his book and welcomes engagement.
 
Listen to one of his interviews here (need itunes to download):
 
Appointments can be made via email: winslow@winslowmyers.com
 
He has also agreed to respond by email to questions emailed to him from group participants.
 
2) A general approach to the book as a whole :
-- Critique: Was the book effective? In what way? What would you change/add?
-- Response: By what means can individuals be effective and toward what end? Does the book motivate you? In what way?
-- Integration: How do the ideas presented impact your own life? How do they contribute to your understanding of human nature, social change, and the future of civilization?
 
3) One overarching question per chapter:
Introduction: Can the reader begin to see another way?
Chapter 1: Does war work?
Chapter 2: Can we continue to war and survive?
Chapter 3: What is the root cause of war?
Chapter 4: Can the human mind apprehend "universal" truth?
Chapter 5: Are we all in this together, or is there still an "us" and a "them" in the reader's mind?
Chapter 6: Are these the practices that get us beyond war personally?
Chapter 7: Are these the practices that get us beyond war internationally?
Chapter 8: How does positive social change take place?
Chapter 9: Must I decide?
Chapter 10: What is dialogue?
Chapter 11: Is hope possible, and do I feel it myself after having read this book?
 
4) Questions emerge from the group: 
After reading each chapter(s) on their own, individuals list questions they have and bring them to their next meeting. Everyone’s lists are posted, redundancies combined, and questions prioritized. Conversation proceeds organically from the consolidated list for the duration of the group.
 
5) An eclectic course in four (or more) meetings: Outlined in more detail than approaches 1-4 above:
 
Prior to Session 1, books are distributed to all participants with the request to read the first three chapters before the first meeting. If more than four meeting times are available, instead of assigning homework (beyond pages to read), videos can be viewed during meetings immediately followed by conversation. Not all videos suggested may be right for every group, plus additional ones may be suggested by participants.

To see detailed outline guides for each session, please download the materials available in the File Downloads box below.

 
Facilitators: Please email leonora@beyondwar.org re: number of participants, brief comments on how course went, and any suggestions for additions/changes to contribute to the dynamic  evolution of ideas.

Thank you. We hope this approach was helpful to you .We look forward to receiving your feedback.