If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

The More: A Journey to Sustainability

by Brent Leigh

180 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0467; ISBN 1-55369-065-6; US$18.95, C$28.50, EUR18.60, £12.90

The More is a compelling adventure story that constructs a positive vision for the future, a future where the patterns of nature inspire a new economy, where chaotic events shift spontaneously to a higher order, where a society poised for collapse transforms to a culture of caring. The reader joins the vibrant characters in this book in defining an ethic shift that can sustain the world, and with each step you hold a greater sense that countless others are sharing the journey.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      table of contents and excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book     The More opens with a dramatic fall form the towering rock face of the "Chief", rendering James Garwood unconscious. As he is evacuated from this climbing Mecca to nearby Vancouver we learn of James's unique character and those of his friends who will now carry out a week-long hike in his absence.     As five strangers begin their journey in the wild splendor of British Columbia's West Coast Trail, they discover a compelling relationship with each other, with their surroundings and with a society radically changed in their absence.     A paper left by James drives an eploration of ideas as unique as the journey they begin along the stretch of coast known to mariners as "the graveyard of the Pacific". Though it they discover how the patterns of nature inspire a new economy, how chaotic events shift spontaneously to a higher order, how a society poised for collapse transforms to a culture of caring.     As relations between the group deepen, they begin to see an emerging social order paralleing the organic patterns of nature. Insights arising from the challenges they face on the trail provoke a sequence of personal transformations.     These transformations are tested as dramatic news from the outside world is relayed by other hikers. This catastrophic change in world affairs threatens the group's understanding until they realize that it signals a unique human order is moving, as they have, to a new system of belief.     Reaching the trail's end, a twist of events leads to an unexplected conclusion which aids each member of the goup to move his or her beliefs to actions. Their commitment to life as it could be, is paralleled by the world at large - leaving little doubt we are all on a journey to The More. Testimonial about The More "The more is the Wealthy Barber of stories in sustainable living." Pam Withers, co-author of Values Shift: The New Work Ethic and What it Means for Business.

---

About the Author     Brent is a third generation British Columbian. Since graduating with a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies, form the University of Oregon, Brent has authored and planned sustainable futures for corporations and communities alike.     He is committed to the concepts and belief system presented through The More and welcomes inquiries and dialogue from readers at www.themore.info     Brent lives in a small rural community south of Whistler, B.C. with his wife and two sons, where he continues to write and invent.

---

Table of Contents and Excerpt

The More: A Journey to Sustainability
Part One: Context
	The Life Wish:		Speaking to the core
	Driving Passions:		Awakening the change agents
	The Ascent:		A distant view of The More
	A Compelling Life:		Going without the leader
	The Goal:		Seeing the journey's end
Part: Two: Concept
	Surfacing an Awareness:		The endless field of light
	Quality of Choice:		Transformational change
	The Trail Head:		Living beyond old growth
	Exploring an Ethic:		Caretakers with nature
	Quest for Meaning:		The new reality
Part Three: Modeling
	Patron Saint of Sailors:		Humanizing systems
	Patterns of Understanding:		Spontaneous change
	Inspiring Organic Growth:		Building the natural economy
	Hole in the Wall:		Freeing stakeholder activism
	Operation Nightingale:		Executing the mission
Part Four: Insight
	A Projected Wellness:		The good world view
	The Spiritual Quest:		An endowed morality
	Reversing the Tide:		A new relation with man
	A Great Awakening:		The voice from within
	The Preordained Unity:		Spiritual determinism
Part Five: Transformation
	The N-gen:		An awakening character
	Among Giants:		A Commitment to The More
	Destiny & Decision:		Choosing a new path
	Adrenaline Surge:		The invincible spirit
	A Calling:		Seeing The More
Part Six: Testing
	Dark Side:		The enemy within
	Lesson to a Culture:		The value ethos
	Chaos to Order:		The network as life
	The Caring Power:		Convergent wills
	To Better States:		'Net democracies
Part Seven: Commitment
	You Heal With Words:		A universal language
	Life to the Fullest:		Returning to wellness
	The State of Grace:		A system of belief
	Beliefs to Actions:		The caring culture
	The More:		A global ethic shift

    Part One - Chapter One

The Life Wish: Speaking to the core

    As Tomo prepared himself for the continued ascent up the face of the Chief, physical demands of split fingers and burning muscles yielded to a more pervasive calling. What James had just said spoke to the center of his being, and he sensed his future course had changed forever. Tomo forced their conversation to the back of his mind and attempted to concentrate on what James was saying about their route up the sheer rock wall.
    "I'd say we've climbed about 300 vertical meters," James said, glancing casually over the edge, then pivoting to look directly overhead. "I would like to get past that roof above us. Looks like it's about a 30-meter climb. The overhangs we crossed this morning were a challenge, but that's got to be the crux of this route. Would you like to exchange lead?"
    The two men had been alternating the lead position all morning. Tomo knew James was offering him the prize of the day by suggesting he lead over the toughest overhang. It was more his state of mind than the severity of the climb that found him declining James' offer.
    James seemed to sense his preoccupation and indulged it, saying, "It was Rumi who said: 'Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.'" James cupped his hand firmly behind Tomo's neck. Their eyes locked. The moment passed, and James transferred the same firm grip to the rock fissure above Tomo's head. Lifting himself like a feather caught in an updraft, he drifted skyward on a current of intent. It occurred to Tomo that James was utilizing the intersection point of physical and mental prowess that occurs in late-30s age to his advantage.
    Tomo watched James climb fluidly as before. He thought of how good climbers have great body awareness, like ballet dancers asserting every ounce of energy to the edge of their toes or fingertips. As James stayed in aggressive balance with the rock, there was a controlled efficiency to everything he did. It crossed Tomo's mind that climbers are referred to as having a death wish. Watching James was proof of a life wish.
    As he approached the A3 overhang Tomo saw that, in relation to James's body, it was bigger than expected. Not a word was spoken as James free-climbed the overhang, clipping to successive bolts for protection. He smeared his rubber-toed shoes into the stone, hugging his way across the underbelly of the rock. A muscle and friction grip on reality.
    Tomo's mouth was dreadfully dry, and he stared up as James neared the outer edge of the overhang. James spoke in caution for the first time as he approached the bolt where the horizontal ceiling broke once again to a vertical wall.
    "Tomo, this bolt looks like my grandfather set it. I'm going to set my own nut for protection."
    James clipped to the bolt with his left hand, then reached behind his back and pulled free a rock-jamming nut. Tomo could see him position it in a crack and test its strength. He wondered how James was able to continue holding his body horizontal against the ceiling and wished he had pushed through on the existing bolt. He watched James draw his arm back and gather some rope in his teeth to make a loop. Then, reaching forward to clip his rope, James seemed to freeze.
    "Come on, James," Tomo whispered, trying to break the spell that held James' muscles locked in position - but his grip broke first. James' body peeled off the ceiling. Time stood still. Even as gravity took hold, each stretched second implied that James would float to safety. Tomo braced himself to break the fall, James' warning about the last bolt fresh in his mind. Within the same few seconds, James recovered his lost balance in mid-air and was perfectly positioned with knees bent towards the wall in case he swung that far.
    His weight hurled down, transferring a great force on the last anchor bolt. The rope sprang taut, and the anchor ripped out, violently spinning James around. Flying backwards, he continued on an almost uninterrupted arc towards the vertical wall that intercepted the roof. Tomo could see that James was going to crash head first. He heaved at the line to fight the downward thrust of James' body. As the full weight transferred to the line it slammed Tomo against the rocks, locking at the anchor set in the belaying perch. Tomo scrambled to regain his position, wrenching to see if James had also hit the wall. Tomo determined that James was in a 'hang-dog,' and prayed that his friend was in this laying-open position merely to rest his muscles.
    Three calls... Nothing.
    The pendulum motion slowed as Tomo caught sight of James hanging face up in his waist harness, suspended directly above Tomo from the center of the overhang. Tomo thanked some unknown source for this coincidence and very slowly started to lower James. Bringing him to position, Tomo set James on the rock ledge slowly and knelt down beside him.
    First he instinctively checked his airway. James was alive and breathing. Next, Tomo gently manipulated James' neck - it did not appear to be broken. Reaching to undo the chin-strap of the helmet, he saw a spider-web crack radiating from the top right-hand side of the plastic shell. As Tomo pulled it off, he watched James' face, which conveyed a look of peaceful sleep - a child-like quality that disguised the danger he was in. Tomo pulled out his water bottle and splashed James' face.
    "Come on, James. Wake up - Oh, for...." Tomo threw his head back, trying to collect his thoughts. "Your hair isn't even messed up," he added in frustration as he refastened James' helmet.
    It was only then that Tomo registered other noises, sirens. Looking to the parking area, he saw that people at the base of the Chief had realized what had happened. Emergency response units were moving up the highway from the nearby town of Squamish.
    Someone was shouting from below and, as Tomo concentrated on the voice, he was surprised how audible it was. But before he could make out what was being said, the clap of a helicopter drowned out all sounds as it hovered in from the north. It flew directly toward the cliff, and the pilot nosed the aircraft toward the ledge on which Tomo crouched.
    The pounding of the motor reverberated against the wall, and Tomo looked down at James, astounded that the noise alone did not stir him. Tomo smacked his own helmet with his hand and pointed to James, trying to indicate what had happened. The pilot spoke into his headset but made no further motion as he pulled on the controls and banked away.
    Tomo felt an odd sense of detachment as the helicopter retreated to the parking lot adjacent to the highway. Within moments, he could see some equipment being loaded from the emergency vehicles to the helicopter. Then the helicopter lifted almost as quickly as it had landed.
    Tomo realized this emergency response team was assuming the worst, and his mind raced to determine how he could confirm their assumption. He looked overhead at the broken black basalt, then realized the wall behind the ledge they were on had a large smooth surface. He stood up, gathered a fistful of climbing chalk in his hand and scrawled the letters "COMA" on the wall. Tomo finished the last letter as the helicopter hovered within one hundred feet of the cliff adjacent to them. A man with climbing helmet and harness made sure Tomo was looking at him, pointed at the wall, and nodded deliberately to indicate they had Tomo's message. He then held up the end of a thick line coiled in front of him and pointed above, to Tomo and then to the base of the Chief. Realizing they were going to lower the rescue equipment from above, Tomo nodded back in the same deliberate manner.
    The man in the helicopter signaled to the pilot, then turned back to Tomo with a thumbs-up sign as they lifted away from the face. As the drama continued, Tomo looked down at the calm expression on James' face, and the notion of a life wish took on new meaning.

---

Catalogue Information

---