BOOK REVIEW:

Global Action Networks: Creating Our Future Together
Steve Waddell
Bocconi University Press 2011
Reviewed by Marc Hudson

The first chapter is “meh”. The last chapter is semi-dodgy. Everything in between is… solid gold. This management book, by a guy who has spent thirty years in the trenches of organisational change, is crammed full of useful insights, distinctions and anecdotes. Anyone who is interested in the how and why of network formation, the why and how of sustaining and enhancing networks, and the crucial tasks of identifying capacity gaps and figuring out how to plug them – in individuals and also groups – is going to love this book.

With chapter headings like “understanding networks,” “mastering change” and “growing the competencies required for success” (there are 8 of them, in his opinion), this book is structured but not dogmatic, dense but at no point verbose or boring. The author throws in insights from business, sociology, government and “activism” (at the inter-national level), most of which will have thoughtful Mancunians reaching for their pens and scratching their heads.

Wadell says his primary goal is “to provide practical assistance to people working in, and associated with global, multi-stakeholder, inter-organizational change networks.” Well, I’m not qualified on that, but it is going to be very useful here in Manchester over the coming years. If anyone wants to borrow the MCFly copy, email mcmonthly [AT] gmail.com. 

Book Reviewers Needed!

We need you to read books and then give us your opinion (in writing!). We’ve been too enthusiastic in blagging review copies, and publishers have been very generous.

Here’s how it works- you tell us which of the books below you want to review. We give you the book, and you have thirty days to deliver a review of roughly 600 to 800 words, saying what the book argues, whether you thought it was good or not (and why!) who should read it, You get to KEEP the book, but we would very much like you not to flog it, because we want to build up a lending library. Unless it was a stinker, of course, in which case – to the Oxfam!! Interested? email mcmonthly@gmail.com
UPDATE 19th Feb 2012: Sorry, offer is primarily for people who live in Greater Manchester. We will consider UK residents on a ‘case-by-case’ basis, but we do not have any budget for mailing books overseas. Apologies to the person who contacted us!!

Climate Change and Society by John Urry

Dynamic Sustainabilities: Technology, Environment, Social Justice by Melissa Leach, Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling

The Politics of Climate Change (2nd ed) by Anthony Giddens

The Governance of Climate Change: Science, Economics, Politics & Ethics eds Held, Hervey & Theros

Occupy World Street: A global roadmap for radical economic and political reform by Ross Jackson

Whose Crisis, Whose Future? by Susan George

Climate Change and the Crisis of Capitalism: A chance to reclaim self, society and nature eds Pelling, Manuel-Navarrete & Redclift

Low Carbon Communities: Imaginative Approaches to Combating Climate Change Locally eds Peters, Fudge and Jackson

Engaging the Public with Climate Change: Behaviour Change and Communication eds Whitmarsh, O’Neill and Lorenzoni

Citizen Participation in Global Environmental Governance, eds Rask, Worthington & Lammi

Related articles

• “Animal Farm” and Climate Change (manchesterclimatemonthly.net)