"Beautiful Souls: Saying No, Breaking Ranks, and Heeding the Voice of Conscience in Dark Times" by Eyal Press is a book I first read a dozen years ago. I've been thinking about it lately, because its lessons seem more relevant than ever in our present situation.
It's about the willingness of individuals to stand against the tide, to say, "Nope, not going along with this", when confronted with immoral or unethical demands.
What impact can a single person have? How can one person stop an avalanche? This book shows us cases where someone wasn't paralyzed by that question, but did the obviously right thing anyway, under the pressure of surrounding group conformity.
I wrote about this book in more detail at that time, in a book blog I was keeping then. I think I want to re-read it again now, and to recommend it to others.
https://mariasbooks.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/beautiful-souls/
Her research popularised the idea of the wood wide web, but the scientific backlash was brutal. As the author of The Mother Tree returns to the forest in a new book, she discusses her battle to reimagine our relationship with nature
Editorial: Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at how the struggle to adapt to a dangerously warming world has become a test of global justice
RE: https://mastodon.social/@DavidHopkins/115784369144257308
2. Because of this night work, companies can keep their valuable trucks working during the day when other people need their services. No down time for the truck, as long as D & his team do their job.
Imagine working on engines, night after night.
Dr Susi Arnott
Common Sparrow
Jason Kemp
