Between Two Ages
Flat World? Globalization? It's Far More than That!
Everyone’s talking about “Globalization.” It’s a “flat world,” we’re told, a level playing field. “Outsourcing” of jobs is the big worry. Why pay an American $150 an hour for work... continue
Understanding our Moment in History
A presentation to the Kendal Forum, Kennett Square, PA -- Tonight I want to step back from the immediate issues that dominate the news, and consider two basic topics: First,... continue
About Between Two Ages
Between Two Ages: The 21st Century and the Crisis of Meaning, by Van Wishard, suggests that the next three decades may be the most decisive 30-year period in history. To understand why, Between Two Ages offers an eagle's-eye view of how the cultural, technological and spiritual tectonic plates of life have been clashing and reshaping our lives, and how civilized existence struggles with this epic transformation as we seek renewal
Introduction
In the winter of 1962 I found myself in Palm Springs, California, discussing the future of America with President Eisenhower. Ike had not yet moved to his Gettysburg farm, so he was staying in one of Palm Springs’ more comfortable hotels. I had recently returned from working with a public information and education program in South America, and Eisenhower was particularly interested in knowing of developments in Brazil, Peru and Chile.
Read Between Two Ages: Introduction
What Others Are Saying about the Book
The Honorable Mitchell B. Reiss,
Vice Provost of the College of William & Mary comments on Between Two Ages:
"In Between Two Ages, Van Wishard has provided us with a masterful synthesis of the main currents of history, ranging over the centuries with an expert's eye to identify the key trends in economics, technology and culture that have led us to this place in time.
"By itself, this would be an important contribution to our understanding. But the true significance of Between Two Ages lies in his placing this analysis within a profoundly moral and ethical framework. Van Wishard has not simply diagnosed the reasons for our spiritual malaise. He has also suggested how each of us can overcome this malaise and find a larger purpose or meaning to our lives.
....................................................................................................................................................................
Daniel Bell, Harvard University, author of The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, and America’s foremost sociologist over the past half century says“
Your book reminded me of H.G. Wells.”
....................................................................................................................................................................
"Van Wishard has captured his perspective of the past century in a remarkably short volume. His integrated review of the events of the last 100 years is impressive in itself, but his ability to define the meaning of those events and point us toward the really important questions of the next century make this book stand alone in its genre. Wishard is not afraid to define the basis for meaning for us as individuals and as a human family, and then offer alternative choices. Altogether scholarly, thoughtful and provocative."
Terry Pearce, management consultant and co-author of Clicks and Mortar.
....................................................................................................................................................................
"I've been in and out of this book, and I would sum up my reactions in three ways: 1) I will never be able to sum this book up or feel I have gotten all I could out of it--it would be on my list of books to take to a desert island and read over and over; 2) it is, together with Will and Ariel Durant's The Lessons of History, a remarkable short-hand survey of the past two centuries; and 3) at the end it cuts to the chase and agrees with Zbigniew Brzezinski--the big global challenge today is about moral, ethical, cross-cultural, philosophical 'grounding'".
Robert David Steele, author of ON INTELLIGENCE: Spies and Secrecy in an Open World.
