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Last Monday marked the sixth anniversary of David Fleming's death.
So this seemed a good moment for an update on the ever-growing interest in his legacy to the world, with thousands of copies of his books sold, and both already on their second print run. See below for reviews, video from the launch events and newly uncovered footage of David himself.
And if you know anyone struggling to make sense of what's happening in our world, how to put it into context, and what we might do to make it better, I hope you'll consider buying them a copy.
Also see below for details of a week-long Schumacher College course on David's work in February, led by Shaun Chamberlin, Rob Hopkins, Mark Boyle and Stephan Harding.
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VIDEO - Editor Shaun Chamberlin discusses the books at the Dark Mountain festival
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Reviews
There is now a dedicated page on the Fleming Policy Centre website with at-a-glance summaries of the reviews to date, videos from the launch events, links to buy the books etc.
Please share this regularly updated page with anyone you are keen to tell about the books:
http://www.flemingpolicycentre.org.uk/david-flemings-posthumous-books/
Snippets from various reviews to date:
"This book is compelling in ways you do not expect ... I’m a sucker for beautiful books, and Lean Logic is a beautiful book ... The Lean Economy is exactly what we need. I couldn’t be more certain of anything ... Garnering all sorts of critical plaudits ... Eminently readable ... utterly brilliant ... A complete masterpiece. Kept me up in the night for a week .... Beauty and truth by master of convivial economics David Fleming … a place I can duck into now and again, to re-find hope ... I’m something of a cynic, and yet even I feel a fresh sort of excitement coming off of these ideas ... quite astounding."
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"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory." ~ Howard Zinn
~~~
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VIDEO - Jonathon Porritt and Shaun Chamberlin discuss Brexit in the context of David's work, at Oxford University.
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Asking a quick favour for David's legacy
In John Michael Greer's early review, he predicted that Fleming's work will still be in print in 50 years' time. To help make sure he's right, you can help in two ways:
1) For all the wonderful reviews opposite, the books still haven't hit the mainstream review pages. If you have any contacts who would be interested to receive a review copy, please let editor Shaun Chamberlin know at shaun@darkoptimism.org
2) Secondly, if you haven't already, please write a review of your own, for Amazon (no purchase required), Goodreads, your own blog, a forum, or wherever. Or just tell your friends! People spreading the word is how the books have got this far, and is what will get them further. Many thanks, especially to those of you who have already done this!
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VIDEO - Rob Hopkins and Shaun Chamberlin share insights and anecdotes on Fleming's life, influence and enduring importance, at Schumacher College
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