Resist, ‘to exert force in opposition’. Latin origins resistere, from re- + sister ‘to take a stand’. At the Human Venture Institute, we are committed to studying the common patterns in human striving, failure and achievement throughout our species’ history and development. This includes the exploration into specific fields of endeavor. Anthropology is one such field. At the recent Society for … Read More
Truth, Understanding, and the Human Story: Whence Came This Mess?
by Ken Low “How often do people claim superior wisdom on the score of their age and experience. The Chinese especially regard age with veneration, and hold a man of eighty years or more must be wiser than others. But eighty is nothing for a student of history. There is no excuse for anyone who is not illiterate if he … Read More
The Challenge of Truth in Reporting
A Book Review of Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus by Matt Taibbi, and Liberty and the News by Walter Lippmann. “There is everywhere an increasingly angry disillusionment about the press, a growing sense of being baffled and misled; and wise publishers will not pooh-pooh these omens.” Walter Lippmann, 1920 It is totally cliché to take a quote … Read More
Change the Story, Change the Future
Reflections on the book Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth by David Korten Earlier in January, I had the pleasure of attending a lecture and a small group discussion at the University of Alberta with David Korten, the cofounder of Yes! Magazine and author of many books on the Human Venture reading list … Read More
Sy Montgomery
A review of Sy Montgomery’s books, The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness; Birdology: Adventures with Hip Hop Parrots, Cantankerous Cassowaries, Crabby Crows, Peripatetic Pigeons, Hens, Hawks, and Hummingbirds; and Walking with the Great Apes: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas. The Soul of an Octopus and Birdology bring you close to the … Read More
The Hidden Life of Trees
A Book Review of The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How they Communicate – Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohlleben As we come to terms with human caused climate change and our ecological impact, we are re-awakening to an understanding of ourselves as part of nature’s unfolding processes. As we think about what lies ahead for … Read More
Solstice Reflection
by Ken Low The solstice season is here again: one of two seasonal turning points in our 940 million kilometer journey around the sun. Solstice holiday celebrations, like most cultural traditions, contain a mix of meanings from superficial to profound. Ideological, commercial and entertainment interests harness the season for their own limited purposes, but the opportunity to search out deeper … Read More
Reading for Life Learning
The winter brings us darker and colder days and nights. I love this time of year because it gives me the opportunity to read more, reflect on my learning and plan the year ahead. Reading is a critical part of our learning process. Reading for knowledge and understanding versus ‘simple reading’ takes practice and persistence. Think of reading as ‘empowerment’, … Read More
Human Learning Ecology in a Time of Unrest
by Dana Penrice Board Chair, Human Venture Leadership As we are sorting through the recent events in America, it is important to recognize that this is a significant source for learning and reflection, and an important time to pause to take stock of the situation and to learn. As a community involved in Human Learning Ecology, we have some amazing … Read More