Rating: 
Summary: Bigger than expected
Review: This book is wonderful. I would never have expected that so many people will think also this way. This book describes seriously how a new movement is emerging and how it could revolutionize the world. Less materialism, More spiritualism and more benefits for the Earth and its inhabitants. This book is quite positive about it. It's already started and is happening right now...
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of data; probably worth 3.5 stars
Review: This book provides a model of the US adult population with extremists at two ends and the term "cultural creatives" (CCs)introduced. The authors also provide a short "test" to see if you qualify as a CC. This is not really a new idea. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs has as the apex of his pyramid, "Self-Actualization." This corresponds to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory where seeking the positive is considered qualitatively different from seeking to avoid the negative. In addition, the Normal distribution indicates that there will be declining numbers of persons in groups deviating from the Mean (average) in a non-linear way (i.e. in accordance with the standard deviation of the distribution). However, the authors do provide lots of backup material and some interesting observations on the nature of the CCs. Some of them seem a bit far out to me--too left wing rather than balanced. I think a reader's reaction to this book will primarily lie in his or her psychological and political positions on the human spectrum. Thus, there are liable to be highly divergent ratings of this book from various people. It is, by the way, a rather heavy tome (literally). My favorite quote from it is: "The media have announced a hundred of the last ten medical breakthroughs" on page 223.
Rating:
Summary: Aquarian Conspiracy for the 21st Century
Review: This book, The Cultural Creatives, is the best news to be published since Marilyn Ferguson's The Aquarian Conspiracy. Through graphs, interviews and so on, the authors remind us that humanity is not down and out, that there is a movement afoot that many of us call the New Group of World Servers. This group is made up of people who are more interested in serving the greater good than lining their own pocketbooks, who see the need and then work to find the solution. They don't stop there, however, and they don't expect others to take care of the
problems we've created over our several million years of existence on this planet. As soon as I bought and read this book I sent it to a daughter in Tucson, who was beseiged by her colleagues for information, copies of the graphs, etc, so I never got the book back. I consider it not lost but joyfully seeding its miraculous message in another environment. I will buy another copy and probably give it away, too. Thanks to the authors. I heard Ray interviewed this morning on Jefferson Public Radio in Southern Oregon and hope he and his fellow author will continue their work, encouraging all of us who are Cultural Creatives and now know that we're not alone! In light, Nancy M. Davison.
Rating:
Summary: For those who want to look beyond problems to so(u)lutions
Review: This is a book that is as fascinating as it is inspirational! Part I begins by giving a thorough explanation of who cultural creatives are --what they believe in, and how their beliefs differ from those of mainstream society, their lifestyles, and their dreams. It is clear that cultural creatives are not only progressive thinkers and forerunners of a new age, but they have a deep understanding and concern for the problems of the whole planet, and are striving toward solutions. Part II takes off with a thorough exploration of how cultural creatives evolved through time, exploring their roots in the civil rights, women's, environmental, and anti-war movements. It gives a brief but insightful exploration of the history each of these movements, why they succeeded, and how their supporters evolved over time, eventually merging together into a single group with similar values and beliefs. This new group is especially concerned with the health of the environment, the effects of globalization, and developing a sustainable ecology for the earth. The cultural creatives "see the braided problems and the need for interweaving solutions." Part III Pushes the reader onward towards a new era, and provides "maps for the journey." In essence, it describes how we, as cultural creatives, are to go about working together to overcome these problems and transform the world. It discusses both challenges and opportunities for the coming decades, including the creation of new online communities to speed the process.Some people have criticized this book for not providing the answers to the world's problems. I consider this book to be a jump off point for serious thinkers to use in organizing their efforts and coming together for the purpose of both small and large-scale problem-solving. It has already been used successfully that way, and there are Cultural Creatives groups springing up all over that meet locally to join their efforts for these causes. I think that is what the authors intended. Beyond the content, I want to add that the authors of this book use a writing style that is easy to plunge into, and is what I would consider the middle ground in complexity. It was enjoyable, enlightening, and memorable to read. There are many personal stories and case examples to illustrate the concepts and bring it to the readers' level of experience. The authors put a lot of original thought into the writing of this book, as well as tons of research. For USA readers I also recommend "The Soul of America" by Marianne Williamson
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating read, but not perfect.
Review: This is a fascinating book that I couldn't put down when I first got it. Anderson and Ray write in a style that is both intellectually stimulating and easy for lay audiences to understand. As a "cultural creative" myself, the book had a helpful, optimistic tone. But the book is far from perfect. As some other reviewers have astutely pointed out, the authors fail to take into consideration that people might overlap more than one of the three groups outlined in the book. What happens when a "modern" couple from Omaha decide they want to move back to "traditional" Grandpa's farm in the country to raise their kids? Anderson and Ray don't give fair treatment to cross-over between the groups. This is unfortunate, and gives an incomplete picture of the United States. Next, as someone who took a good amount of sociology in college, I was disappointed with the book's treatment of how one becomes a modern, traditional, or creative. More individual case studies, instead of a macro-level analysis would have been helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read, but not perfect.
Review: This is a fascinating book that I couldn't put down when I first got it. Anderson and Ray write in a style that is both intellectually stimulating and easy for lay audiences to understand. As a "cultural creative" myself, the book had a helpful, optimistic tone. But the book is far from perfect. As some other reviewers have astutely pointed out, the authors fail to take into consideration that people might overlap more than one of the three groups outlined in the book. What happens when a "modern" couple from Omaha decide they want to move back to "traditional" Grandpa's farm in the country to raise their kids? Anderson and Ray don't give fair treatment to cross-over between the groups. This is unfortunate, and gives an incomplete picture of the United States. Next, as someone who took a good amount of sociology in college, I was disappointed with the book's treatment of how one becomes a modern, traditional, or creative. More individual case studies, instead of a macro-level analysis would have been helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Living outside the box.
Review: This is an important book that deserves your attention if you are concerned about endangered species, global warming, nuclear weapons, pesticides and pollutants, domestic violence, poverty, discrimination, spiraling medical costs and health insurance, women's issues, global interconnections, or spirituality. Based on thirteen years of research and a survey of 100,000 Americans, there are 50 million Cultural Creatives (26 percent of the adults) living in the United States (p. 4). According to co-authors Paul Ray and Sherry Anderson, Cultural Creatives are interested in personal authenticity (p. 8), appreciate "intimate, engaged knowledge that is imbued with the rich, visceral, sensory stuff of life" (p. 9), give their time and money to support their convictions (p. 10), are concerned about global ecology and the well being of the people of the planet (p. 11), care about the quality of relationships and equality between the sexes (pp. 12-13), and value personal growth, spirituality, service to others, and activism (p. 15). "They are disenchanted with 'owning more stuff,' materialism, greed, me-firstism, status display, glaring social inequalities of race and class, society's failure to care adequately for elders, women, and children, and the hedonism and cynicism that pass for realism in modern society. They also reject the intolerance and narrowness of the Religious Right. They are critical of almost every big institution in modern society, including both corporations and government" (p. 17). They read books, listen to NPR, and watch less television than others (p. 35). Cultural Creatives include Ken Wilber, Annie Dillard, Robin Williams, and Robert Redford (p. 38). It comes as no surprise that our country is dominated by a Modern culture "found in the office towers and factories of big business; in banks and the stock market; in university science labs and high-tech firms; in hospitals and most doctors' offices; in mainline churches and synagogues; in the 'best' schools and colleges. It's the culture of professional football, basketball, and baseball leagues, chain stores and malls; most TV programs; and most 'mainstream' magazine and newspaper articles" (p. 25). Moderns set the rules and standards for our society (p. 25). They value making a lot of money, climbing the ladder of success, "looking good," shopping, and trends (p. 27). "Time is money," they say; "bigger is better" (p. 27). "Modernism lays out a dream that most of us take to be a promise," Ray and Anderson observe. "If you follow the yellow brick road to success, you will end up with the good life: the diploma, the job, the house, the cars, the promotion or the stock options or both, the children, their education and their accomplishments. But this road is really not so much a life path as a career path. The guideposts to success are really signs to the marketplace" (pp. 47-48). While the Moderns are still trying to "think outside the box," the Cultural Creatives "have sailed beyond the familiar horizon" (p. 43), and they are living their lives "outside the box." This book penetrates our society deeply. The implications found here are far-reaching, and many Traditional or Modern readers may find this book alarming. In their insightful, landmark study of Cultural Creatives, Ray and Anderson use personal interviews, historical perspectives, and social analyses to reveal that our country may be on the verge of "great change" as Cultural Creatives replace Modernist standards in the new millennium. G. Merritt
Rating: 
Summary: The elitism is matched only by the paternalism
Review: This is yet another one of a long series of "cause" books so overburdened with the author's personal whining that whatever message might be present is lost. Let's be honest: If you are a "Cultural Creative" (what an ego!) you are most likely left-leaing politically, theologically and economically. The so-called wide swath of participants is actually a narrow ribbon.
The most disillusioning aspect about the whole work was the utter predictability of the whole thing. Take any subject (taxes, home schooling, abortion), listen to NPR, and immediately you know a "Cultural Creative's" stand. Not only their stand but their expressed purpose to guide the rest of us dumb yokels to their viewpoint by hook or crook. You see, ignorance (wrong choices) is just not allowable. A strong undertone of authoritarianism runs throughout as if he finds it unbelievable that anyone could disagree with his premises much less his conclusions.
Who in their right mind does NOT want a kinder, more educated, more humane, do I daresay wealthier society? We are worshipping at the altar of innocent primitivism here. Incans may have been happier without overtime, cars, TV or fast food but I prefer medicines, dentists, cell phones, air conditioning and plentiful food. At this point we glimpse the elitism and paternalism. Like sinners of old, we must be cleansed of our bad thoughts and repent (an evangelistic tone runs is rampant). We either adopt their viewpoint and "save the planet" or (I guess) allow Earth to self-destruct. The simple truth is: Americans are not ideologues much less misguided utopians. We are practical folk, weaned on experience and tradition, working with what we are given and can make. Our concerns are not for some nebulous future but for ourselves and our families. And with those goals in mind we each attempt to better ourselves, our children and the world about us.
Rating:
Summary: glad this was written
Review: Very interesting book - gives me hope for the future that the current path of destroying the environment and overburdening the earth may be changed. I just hope we can do it before its too late. Tread lightly.
Rating:
Summary: There is a Better Way
Review: Who are the Cultural Creatives?
They are defined as those with a new world view about what is real; about what is of importance. Their numbers have grown since the 1960's as paradigms have rapidly changed and greatly expanded.
Who are the Cultural Creatives?
They are women and men who think not only in terms of today, or indeed, yesterday, but of the world they will leave their great-great grandchildren. Some are activists, members of non-governmental organizations. Some quietly conserve, recycle, and take moments to lovingly touch others' lives.
They are people committed to living the nature/nourish life and resource protective view they cherish.
They seek truth, not sound bytes.
They seek authenticity. Ray and Anderson define the Cultural Creative view in relation to those they call Moderns and Traditionals. Like anyone, or anything else, it is impossible to drawn precise, clear cut lines and say this person is a Cultural Creative, a Modern, or a Traditional. It is rather the overall view the person has of life and how it is to be lived that 'categorizes' her or him. The Cultural Creative is the person who seeks to bridge cultures for the welfare of the planet. In the words of the authors:
The promise of the Cultural Creatives is the promise of developing an integral culture that can bring together the traditional and the modern, the planetary and the local, and inner and outer change.
A change in culture calls for new stories; for a new mythology. These are the things that as individuals and as a society give us a sense of identity and room for growth.
Culture is made in reframing old problems and familiar ideas into whole new forms, new poetry, and new images; and in developing a new sense of identity for those who join the movement for cultural change.
The Cultural Creatives are the ones seeking and developing the new stories, the new mythology to help us traverse this in between time as the old ways, as the modern ways, are being blended into new ways of thought; metamorphized through paths of spirituality, consciousness raising, peace initiatives, ecological global nurturance. Are you a Cultural Creative?
Anderson and Ray provide you with an 18 question assessment that will probably make you aware that you, at least in some ways, are. They provide you with an overview of the four steps involved in the transition to a culturally creative lifestyle. Not surprisingly, as with any great venture or quest, the first step to Cultural Creativity is an inner departure. The trigger for that may come from any number of sources that touch something inside, deep inside that calls up your need to think, to act, to do, to be creative in a new way. Are you a Cultural Creative? Perhaps you are; perhaps you would like to be. Anderson and Ray's work will help guide your path and show you that you are not alone but 50 million strong.
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