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Change the Story, Change the Future

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Change the Story, Change the Future

A Living Economy for a Living Earth

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

The stories that guide people’s actions and beliefs should depict a world that works for everyone, not just the wealthy.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Innovative

Recommendation

Humans have always told each other stories to frame daily life. These narratives people share determine what is meaningful to them, how they view the world and what they value. The best-constructed stories create deep personal connections. But David C. Korten, co-founder of Yes! Magazine, says that the wrong stories can be destructive. He believes people should pattern their beliefs and actions not on the quest for profit, but on stories that improve their lives and help the world. Korten argues that the dominant social narrative is passé, and he offers a replacement that advocates fairness and sustainability. While always politically neutral, getAbstract suggests his iconoclastic, provocative essay – which aligns to New Age thinking – to those who are curious about a different point of view and to those who wonder if citizens and policy makers can turn to a new story to shape a fresh societal and economic model.

Summary

“The Sacred Money and Markets Story”

The world is in terrible shape. Values are upside down and inside out. Money is the be-all and end-all in modern society. People hold money sacred and treat the environment like a disposable rag. The health and sustainability of the planet dwindles next to the demands of the global marketplace, the power of institutions and an array of destructive economic realities. These concepts form the basis of the contemporary Sacred Money and Markets story.

Stories are crucial to culture. They define reality and assign value. Powerful stories shape the thoughts and actions of those people who hear them. Listeners consciously choose which stories to believe and honor. The right stories provide notable benefits to humanity. The wrong stories prove immensely destructive. The Sacred Money and Markets story benefits the wealthy and the powerful, but brings pain and destruction for most of humanity. However, the Sacred Money and Markets story remains the dominant narrative across the globe. It provides the frame through which most people view the world and, therefore, think and act.

The Sacred Money and Markets story is the misguided...

About the Author

David C. Korten, the co-founder and board chair of YES! Magazine, is president of the Living Economies Forum. He wrote When Corporations Rule the World and The Great Turning.

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