Book Review: “How to Change the World” by John-Paul Flintoff

Don't be dissuaded by this book's ambitious title. It's not about leading a revolution or coming up with a groundbreaking invention. Instead, author John-Paul Flintoff promotes the idea that history is created, according to Tolstoy, by "an infinitely large number of infinitesimally small actions."

Flintoff believes that we all have the power to change the world around us. He uses interviews and anecdotes from everyday life as well as examples from history and literature to provide fresh insights into the nature of change. In addition to Tolstoy, Flintoff draws on the work of Iris Murdoch, Gandhi, Hume, Socrates, Dale Carnegie and other great thinkers to illustrate his points. Rather than focusing on monumental struggles, he suggests that we can change the world by concentrating on simple acts that are purposely done to improve the lives of others. Once we are aware of the power of selfless action, we can magnify its effect by coming together to tackle some of the world's larger problems.

Flintoff uses the fall of the Berlin Wall as an example of how a group of people who are each doing something very small can change the course of history. Although world leaders attempted to take credit for the collapse of the barrier between East and West Berlin, it was massive protests and the actions of soldiers charged with guarding the wall who chose to look away that quickly brought the wall down.

The lessons taught by How to Change the World are especially useful for young people whose idealism has not yet been tainted by cynicism. In order to conquer the defeatism that can come from thinking of ourselves as just one among billions, Flintoff suggests that we abandon the global perspective and zoom in on the much smaller circle of people with whom we interact on a daily basis. Flintoff writes, "If we are really interested in changing the world, we have to put other people first. … We may be alone in the realms of our private thoughts, perceptions and feelings, but the world we want to change consists of other people."

Flintoff includes as an appendix a list of 198 methods of nonviolent, everyday actions that can bring about change. The list, which was compiled by Dartmouth Professor Emeritus Gene Sharp, includes actions from around the world and throughout history. Some of the actions, such as signing petitions and sending letters of opposition or support, are so familiar, we may overlook them as agents of change. Other actions, such as nonviolent interjection, require bravery and a lack of regard for one's own safety. Flintoff cites the example of an anonymous Chinese man who was photographed facing down the tanks in Tiananmen Square as a supreme act of nonviolent interjection.

The takeaway from How to Change the World is that the quality of action can be just as important as its scope, especially when groups of individuals make concerted efforts to bring about positive change. A final section at the end of the book titled “Homework” is a bibliography for readers who want to investigate specific topics. Flintoff also includes websites and blogs that are worth exploring.

Teachers will find that the easy-to-read format of the book and its lack of ideological agenda make it a useful tool for introducing students to works by some of the world's greatest thinkers and for opening their eyes to the value of their own positive actions.

John-Paul Flintoff is a British author, journalist and life coach who focuses on the power of positive thinking. How to Change the World is part of a six-volume series of books published by The School of Life, a London-based organization that helps people "live wisely and live well." Each book in the series tackles a fundamental problem with a combination of practical advice and applied philosophy.

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