Publisher:
Amazon

Publication Date:
03/11/2024

Copyright Date:
N/A

ISBN:
N/A

Binding:
Paperback

U.S. SRP:
27.82

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EMPOWERMENT (A Journey of Discovery)

By Warren Pennicooke

IR_Star-black
IR Rating:
5.0
Erudite and witty, fully indexed and meticulously referenced, Warren Pennicooke’s EMPOWERMENT (A Journey of Discovery) is a thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining investigation of the cultural history of empowerment. A serious philosophical book with the easy reading charm of a novel.
IR Approved
From rebels and revolutionaries to community activists and everyday heroes, this is the story of empowerment and self-discovery as a vital driving force in human history.

In the prologue to this fascinating and immensely readable book, Warren Pennicooke defines his book’s title: “Empowerment is a journey of self-discovery and change. It is about uncovering our unique gifts and abilities and finding the courage to use them effectively.” While the book will go on to cover important historical and cultural upheavals driven by engaged movements (e.g. the civil rights movement, the French Revolution, and grass roots climate activists), Pennicooke is always keen to explore how these uprisings came to be driven by empowered individuals. By centering his focus on the personal experience of empowerment and self-determination ahead of simply charting their effects as agents of change, the book becomes an intriguing blend of self-help guide and cultural history.

Pennicooke writes clearly and succinctly. The first chapter explores the morals and philosophies of empowerment. He is able to discuss sophisticated theories with winning humor, including a refreshingly irreverent take on Kant’s universal principle (i.e. one should always respect the humanity in others and only act in accordance with rules that could hold for everyone), which Pennicooke refers to as “a never-ending loop-de loop.” Later he will expound on Egyptian mythology in a similarly unpretentious way and demonstrate his skill in accessing and explaining theory, both ancient and modern, in very simple terms. An example would be his extrapolation of the ethical quandary of the doctrine of double effect exemplified by the dilemma faced by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his plot to kill Hitler (and thereby save millions of lives).

As the book progresses through centuries of change, including the Industrial Revolution, the Suffrage movement, and the Black Panthers, Pennicooke’s references become more wide-ranging. He is unafraid to take detours and make digressions, including the demise of Blockbuster and the Covid-era rise of pseudo-science, but he is always skilled enough to seamlessly return to his main narrative. In doing so, he takes a reader along for an enjoyable ride in which they can remain confident in reaching their destination and glad that they have been taken along the scenic route.

After the historical groundwork is laid, including an astute section on the influence of religious and spiritual beliefs on societal change that emphasizes the importance of figures including Martin Luther King, Pope Francis, and Gandhi, Pennicooke focuses on how these lessons can be utilized as a positive force for change in the contemporary world. He uses business examples and political movements, but again the focus is on individualized need ahead of organizational efficiency—and how this can snowball into successful unified action.

As EMPOWERMENT draws to a close, Pennicooke reveals the ultimate aim of his investigation: the pursuit of happiness. As he writes, “[t]he actual currency of our lives is our happiness. Happiness is more than just a fleeting emotion; it is a state of being that we can cultivate over time.” By becoming empowered, by understanding what self-determination and self-discovery mean on both a philosophical and practical level, individuals have the best opportunity to cultivate that happiness. In EMPOWERMENT, Pennicooke provides guidance from history and current events to explain how that may be achieved.

Erudite and witty, fully indexed and meticulously referenced, Warren Pennicooke’s EMPOWERMENT (A Journey of Discovery) is a thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining investigation of the cultural history of empowerment. A serious philosophical book with the easy reading charm of a novel.

~Kent Lane for IndieReader

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