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“Our world has become polarized,” the author explains. “Politically, ethnically, religiously, we expend an enormous amount of energy looking at the things that divide us.” Peace brings us together.
For my summer reading recommendations, I’m introducing you to A Peace of My Mind by John Noltner. He’s an award-winning photographer, author and speaker who assembled a stunning collection of photographs and essays from an eclectic collection of people who answered the question: “What does peace mean to you?”
The result is a compelling book that fits more into the “coffee table” genre than any other…it is fun to see this book on desks and conference room tables around town.
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Magnetic black and white photographs drew me in and simple wisdom caused me to keep turning pages. It’s rewarding to discover insights on spiritual, political and inner peace from people I would never, ever meet on my own. It’s no surprise the A Peace of My Mind artistic exhibit is touring the country and Noltner is a fast-rising star on the speaking circuit.
My favorite story in Noltner’s book is from college student Morgan Murphy who studied in South Africa. She tells of a young black man she met who refused to acknowledge the categories of race, creed or economic strata as a way to define people. “We are all one body, we are all South Africans, we are all the same people. There’s no racial difference anymore and so stop putting that in your head,” he told the young impressionable Iowan.
The black and white photography and the college perspective reminded me of the first chapter in our Good Leadership Today eBook. The cover photo was taken in the mountains Nepal, as a group of study-abroad college students paused to absorb their surroundings on a plateau. The center subject in that pic is my son Ben. Noltner reminds me a lot of Ben. You can read the original blog here – or get the Good Leadership Today eBook here.
Good leaders make a habit of shaping their life’s work around bringing people together – instead of dividing. And they express themselves in ways that cause others to see the world through fresh eyes.
Many thanks for those who have shared summer reading recommendations. Keep ’em coming. My youngest daughter is graduating from high school this week…so I will likely recommend “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.
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