Book Description

There is still time to bring peace, justice, and beauty to the world . . . Alexander Polikoff focuses his formidable skills on nothing less than the prospects for Homo sapiens. Using the metaphor of passengers on a boat, he considers both the condition of our warming planet and - from the Big Bang to Iraq - the triumphs and failures of its passengers. This look at an imperiled vessel and a history pervaded by the scourge of war leads to a bleak prognosis. Then along come Jonathan Schell, offering an explanation for those occasions when superior force has succumbed to the "lesser force" of common people, and Paul Hawken, finding millions of common people already hard at work confronting despair, power, and incalculable odds. Though it's a long shot, Polikoff concludes that if the strongest passenger can step back from empire, embrace a new consciousness, and lead the others toward Schell's "cooperative power," there is still time to bring peace, justice, and beauty to the world. This compelling story about the central issues of our time places Jared Diamond, James Hillman, Chalmers Johnson, and many others in an intellectual frame that will forever illumine the way you think about our planetary voyage. Praise for Waiting for Gautreaux "An inspiring and fascinating book." -Scott Turow "History as it should be written." - Alex Kotlowitz "An important story, told with great passion . . ." - Chicago Tribune "Polikoff animates his story with humanity and intelligence." - Publishers Weekly "A thrilling story . . ." - Washington Monthly