Books that Create the Future

The books in our online bookstore will stretch your mind to consider more effective approaches for creating healthy, vibrant communities. Purchasing these books through the affiliate links on these pages is one more way you can support Creating the Future’s programs while enhancing your own education - a win win!

At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68

by Taylor Branch

Taylor Branch has written the definitive biography of the American Civil Rights movement. This is history-writing at its finest, taken from primary sources including extensive interviews with people who were on the inside. More than a good read (you cannot put these books down), you cannot find a better set of textbooks on how to create change. We cannot recommend these books highly enough.

Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets

By: John P. Kretzmann & John L. McKnight

This guide summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighborhoods across the U.S. It outlines what local communities can do to start their own journies down the path of asset-based development.

Community Engagement Step-By-Step ACTION KIT 2nd Edition

By: Hildy Gottlieb

Step-by-Step guide for creating a Community Engagement Plan. Tons of re-printable worksheets, prioritizing tools, thought-starters, monitoring instructions, and a complete guide to Implementation Planning.

The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters

by Peter Block

The new approach to change management that is presented here will completely flummox control freaks. Block posits a refreshing series of truths that, if adopted, will transform workplaces into journeys of meaning.

Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward

By: James O. Prochaska, John Norcross & Carlo DiClemente

Three acclaimed psychologists studied more than 1,000 people who were able to positively and permanently alter their lives without psychotherapy. They discovered that change does not depend on luck or willpower. It is a process that can be successfully managed by anyone who understands how it works.

Friendraising: Community Engagement Strategies for Boards Who Hate Fundraising But Love Making Friends - 2nd Edition

By: Hildy Gotlieb

The only book of its kind, anywhere! Filled with strategies and how-to steps for building engaged friends (no, not just donors) for your organization. If your board hates asking for money, they will LOVE this book!

Board Recruitment and Orientation: A Step-by-Step, Common Sense Guide 3rd EDITION

By: Hildy Gottlieb

The best-selling board recruitment manual in the industry! This comprehensive 6-step process is guaranteed to help you energize your board!

The Clock Of The Long Now: Time and Responsibility

By: Stewart Brand

“How do we make long-term thinking automatic and common, instead of difficult and rare?” This book is such a refreshing look at our work and the chance we have, every day, to affect the future.For visionary thinkers, we cannot recommend a book more highly than we do this one.

Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards

By: Richard P. Chait, William P. Ryan & Barbara E. Taylor

Governance as Leadership redefines nonprofit governance. It provides a powerful framework for a new covenant between trustees and executives: more macrogovernance in exchange for less micromanagement.