The Art of Community (2016)

This book is a guide for leaders seeking to build a community, to strengthen the community they already have, or who may not think of themselves as community leaders but who are envisioning a group they hope to create. These communities can be formal, with official memberships and administrations, or informal, tied by shared values and commitments. Some people think communities happen by accident, or have to emerge organically, but Charles Vogl emphasizes that there are solid, timehonored principles for consciously building them. Drawing on 3, 000 years of tradition, Vogl lays out seven enduring principles that every community of every kind must master to be effective and supportive. He describes each principle s purpose and provides extensive handson tools for implementing them. He also helps leaders ensure that their communities remain healthy and lifeaffirming and not degenerate into rigid cults