A Call for Revolution

Starred review from October 8, 2018
This impassioned book from the Dalai Lama, co-written with his interpreter, Sanskrit expert Stril-Rever, is a vociferous call for the youth of the world to take more concern for and control of the planet’s destiny. The set-up and source material of the book come out of a conversation the Dalai Lama had in 2017 with four young French visitors he received in Dharamsala, India. The book calls for a revolution of compassion, which the Dalai Lama advocates for by invoking the neurology behind compassion combined with the central Buddhist insight of the interdependence of all living beings. Compassion, he says, could end the “endemic poverty” that plagues the world, which he cites as the most pressing daily ill for the majority of the globe. He also argues (surprisingly and almost in passing) that religion has failed to improve humanity (“None has succeeded in creating a better human being”)—a significant assertion for a spiritual leader and one that will speak to the young people this volume is aimed at. Instead, he writes, it is people who create better versions of themselves. This slender volume is an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with the Dalai Lama’s simple-seeming teachings for improving a complex, globally interconnected world. Agent: Marleen Seegers, 2 Seas.

This concise book is the spiritually revered 14th Dalai Lama's appeal to youth for progressive change on an interconnected planet and features coauthor Stril-Rever (My Spiritual Autobiography). The 1989 Noble Peace Prize winner calls on young people for a "revolution that has no precedent in human history." The book centers on the need to cultivate a "revolution of compassion" to resolve the current issues afflicting society, from global warming to the rise of divisive geopolitics, and explains that selfishness, violence, greed, and opposing politics are threatening the very future of life on Earth. His Holiness has grown increasingly convinced that the current generation has the capability to transform the future into an era of "peace and dialog" and find the solutions to all kinds of problems. Written from a Buddhist perspective, this call to action contains a simplified message without a religious connotation. VERDICT For anyone seeking reflections on the social issues challenging the human condition and inspiration for how to attempt to resolve them.--Gary Medina, El Camino Coll., Torrance, CA

November 15, 2018
This book is a collection of near monologues from the Dalai Lama. In it, he gives a dire warning about the state of the world. Humanity's wars, fantaticism, and disregard for the health of the planet will lead to our destruction if we do not do something. But he also offers hope and talks of his faith?faith that the current generation can change the course of history. He encourages readers to begin with inner compassion, seeing the connectedness of all humanity and then moving outward to love and serve others. Drawing on his deep interest in science and the French Revolution, the Dalai Lama does not rely on organized religion to move us forward but rather relies on the idea that compassion is healthier for all. An extremely quick read, and a fascinating one, this is a good example of generational knowledge being passed down: a global leader encourages young people to rebel in the cause of peace.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)