Connected Wisdom: Living Stories About Living Systems gathers twelve stories from different cultures that each reveal a unique example of a "living system." Through them, Linda Booth Sweeney shows that what we now call systems thinking has been around for a very long time. A Balinese folktale tells the story of a gecko who cannot sleep because of the sparks from a firefly. He traces the cause of his complaint from one animal to another to the mosquitoes he depends on for his survival. Like this gecko, young readers will understand that all life is inter-related, and will be able to grasp the concept of the living system of "interdependence." In a Burmese folktale, a king spills a drop of honey on his windowsill, too little to bother cleaning up. Yet the drop draws a fly, which attracts a lizard, which is followed by a cat, then a dog, and the owners of the cat and the dog, each armed with a stick. When civil war erupts, the king and readers understand the living system of "linearity," in which an effect is disproportionate to its cause. Clear and simple notes accompany these and the other stories in Connected Wisdom . Says Sweeney, "If kids understand living systems, they're more likely to think and act in informed ways and less likely to jump to blame a single cause for the challenges they encounter. As kids appreciate and learn about living systems, they see that connections in nature, people, problems and events bind us all." Connected Wisdom is a large-format, full-color volume that is as suitable for gift-giving as it is for classrooms and libraries. "As our new century unfolds, it is becoming more and more evident that the major problems of our time are systemic problems, which means that they are all interconnected and interdependent. To solve them, we need to learn how to think systemically -- in terms of relationships, patterns, processes, and context. In this book, Linda Booth Sweeney has assembled a wonderful collection of ancient folk tales and myths from around the world, which convey the profound "systemic wisdom" of peoples who lived close to nature and had a deep intuitive understanding of life's networks, cycles, and processes of transformation. I highly recommend Connected Wisdom as a superb tool for teaching and learning the systemic thinking that is critical in our globally interconnected world." --Fritjof Capra, author, The Web of Life and The Hidden Connections "The moment you touch and open this book, its wisdom is evident. This is the wisdom of wholes, of belonging, and connecting the dots to see the richer tapestry of life." --Raffi, singer, author, founder of Child Honoring "Bravo! Your book is a triumph. Connected Wisdom: Living Stories about Living Systems belongs in every classroom." --Joanna Macy, Eco-philosopher, author, and educator "A beautiful book of beautiful stories for a new generation of system citizens. Milton Glaser's art design, Guy Billout's illustrations and the timeless stories remind us of what beauty can teach and the wisdom of cultures who have come before us. An aesthetic milestone of the systems movement." --Peter M. Senge, MIT and SoL. author or co-author of The Fifth Discipline, Presence , and The Necessary Revolution "Connected Wisdom is spectacular -- mouth watering! I love the simplicity of language [the author] uses to tell the stories, and the framing of them. The artwork is delightful and the book design and materials are knock-your-socks off." --Anne Starr, Partner, The Learning Circle "Our actions, connected to the people and the natural world around us, are not only worth seeing, it is the point at which you are actually seeing. Connected Wisdom uses simple language, pictures, and parables to explain and beautifully illustrate natural principles in our relationships to each other and the natural world. This book helps parents and children alike see our world made up of many parts for what it is - connected." --Steve Swenson, Aldo Leopold Foundation "A gorgeous collection of fables, illuminated by thoughtful summaries. Connected Wisdom gives us a clear view of living systems through the power of storytelling. My first glance gave me that ever-warming Aha! of interconnectedness." --Peter C. Stone, author of The Untouchable Tree, An Illustrated Guide to Earthly Wisdom & Arboreal Delights "So well presented, so clearly written, so enticing to the teacher in me, so appealing to the self-directed learner. I love the way [Linda Booth Sweeney] connects classic folk tales to what's real for students (of any age) and to the larger context of natural systems. She prepares the reader for each tale such that we marvel at the universality of the spoken traditions of old…. I have only one stumbling block about this book: I always read with a pencil in hand - to mark meaningful phrases and ideas that I will want to refer to in a second or third reading. Connected Wisdom is so beauti