Charles R. Leadbeater

"In Up the Down Escalator Charles Leadbeater takes on the high priests of pessimism from left and right. He examines the arguments of commentators like Naomi Klein, John Gray and Roger Scruton, showing that the vogue for pessimism has gone too far. Pessimism is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy: we are talking ourselves into a state of helplessness." "Instead, he argues, there are good grounds for modest optimism that the state of the world could improve in coming decades, provided that sustained innovation in science, technology and business are matched by social and political change to make globalization more equitable and environmentally sustainable."--BOOK JACKET.

"The conversion of many building societies from mutual ownership to shareholder organisation has led some commentators to write the obituary for the entire mutual movement." "However, this book - the first comprehensive review of Britain's mutual 'sector' - shows that mutuality is for from extinct. In fact, mutuals are poised to play a for bigger role in the twenty-first century economy." "The report highlights the factors that make mutual enterprises more effective and innovative and the barriers to their success. It sets out a programme for a radical 'mutualisation' of services in the UK. Mutuality was a 'big idea' in the last century; it can be again in the next, offering a way to combine economic dynamism with social responsibility and community spirit."--BOOK JACKET.

From astronomy to activism, from surfing to saving lives, Pro-Ams - people pursuing amateur activities to professional standards - are an increasingly important part of our society and economy. For Pro-Ams, leisure is not passive consumerism but active and participatory, it involves the deployment of publicly accredited knowledge and skills, often built up over a long career, which has involved sacrifices and frustrations. The 20th century witnessed the rise of professionals in medicine, science, education, and politics. In one field after another, amateurs and their ramshackle organisations were driven out by people who knew what they were doing and had certificates to prove it. The Pro-Am Revolution argues this historic shift is reversing. We're witnessing the flowering of Pro-Am, bottom-up self-organisation and the crude, all or nothing, categories of professional or amateur will need to be rethought.^ Based on in-depth interviews with a diverse range of Pro-Ams and containing new data about the extent of Pro-Am activity in the UK, this report proposes new policies to support and encourage valuable Pro-Am activity. From astronomy to activism, from surfing to saving lives, Pro-Ams - people pursuing amateur activities to professional standards - are an increasingly important part of our society and economy. For Pro-Ams, leisure is not passive consumerism but active and participatory, it involves the deployment of publicly accredited knowledge and skills, often built up over a long career, which has involved sacrifices and frustrations. The 20th century witnessed the rise of professionals in medicine, science, education, and politics. In one field after another, amateurs and their ramshackle organisations were driven out by people who knew what they were doing and had certificates to prove it. The Pro-Am Revolution argues this historic shift is reversing.^ We're witnessing the flowering of Pro-Am, bottom-up self-organisation and the crude, all or nothing, categories of professional or amateur will need to be rethought. Based on in-depth interviews with a diverse range of Pro-Ams and containing new data about the extent of Pro-Am activity in the UK, this report proposes new policies to support and encourage valuable Pro-Am activity.