The Solutionary Way: Transform your life, your community, and the world for the better

By Zoe Weil

Global challenges are complex, but this book provides a roadmap for addressing them. It is a practical guide to creating positive change.

Drawing on her experience as a ‘humane educator’, Zoe Weil presents a compelling case for becoming a ‘solutionary’: someone who identifies unjust and unsustainable systems, and works to transform them. Her book bridges the gap between awareness and action, equipping readers to address those global challenges.

Weil has a strong emphasis on hope and practical action. She uses personal anecdotes, such as her experience with nine- and ten-year-olds in Connecticut. When she asked if they thought the world’s problems could be solved, only five out of forty-five students raised their hands. But after a guided visualisation exercise, imagining a better future and their role in creating it, forty hands went up. This anecdote underscores the book’s central message, that hope, combined with a sense of personal agency, and an action plan, is a powerful catalyst for change.

Weil outlines a four-phase process for becoming a solutionary: identifying a problem; investigating its root causes; innovating solutions with minimal negative consequences; and implementing and evaluating the solution. While this demands deep research, critical thinking, and giving due consideration to multiple perspectives, the book emphasises the importance of collaboration, even across seemingly intractable divides.

‘A practical guide to creating positive change.’

At the heart of Weil’s philosophy is the MOGO principle: Most Good and Least Harm. This ethical framework serves as a compass for decision-making, encouraging readers to consider the far-reaching impacts of their choices.

For me, The Solutionary Way resonated deeply with Quaker testimonies, notably Peace and Sustainability. Weil’s approach to nonviolent problem-solving, and emphasis on caring for the earth, align closely with Friends’ values. 

The book is particularly valuable in its approach to overcoming binary thinking and conflict: ‘Side-taking comes easily and perhaps naturally to us, but by cultivating solutionary thinking we discover that bridges are not so hard to build.’ 

Weil explains complex concepts clearly but without oversimplification. The inclusion of real-world examples grounds the book in practical reality. It should appeal to a variety of readers. Educators and trainers will find tools to inspire, and business people can glean insights on integrating ethical considerations. Policymakers will discover frameworks for addressing complex issues; and individuals seeking personal growth will find guidance on living more meaningful lives.

The Solutionary Way has the potential to catalyse transformative action. It holds out a challenge to readers – ‘What role will you play in bringing about a better world?’ – but also provides tools to answer that question. 

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