Editor’s Note
THE CHAPTERS, ESSAYS, AND ARTICLES IN THIS VOLUME REPREsent the best, most revealing, and accessible examples of Thom Hartmann’s writing. I don’t pretend neutrality; my first criterion for shaping the book was to select the chapters I loved the most, the ones I returned to again and again while reading Hartmann’s work. They are also the pieces I believe most relevant to people’s lives today, pieces that will make you think and feel, that you may want to discuss and share. The subject matter is various, the ideas provocative, the opinions spirited. Taken all at once, it’s a heady brew, so this is a book to savor, to dip in and out of at will.
The Reader is arranged thematically, divided into six sections inspired by Hartmann’s chief preoccupations. The brief essays that introduce each section provide some context and background for what follows. Some pieces have been edited for clarity and flow and to enhance the reading experience. In some cases slight excisions have been made, and some chapters appear in a shorter form than in the original source material.
Those who are familiar with Thom Hartmann will find some surprises here. For those just discovering him, this sampler will be the ideal introduction. One of Hartmann’s gifts is that he makes his readers and listeners feel that they are a part of the conversation. This book is a conversation in progress—we invite you to join in.