Critically acclaimed by some of the world’s top humanitarian, academic, and counter-culture icons, McGill’s Voice of Reason is an illuminating, yet distressing plea for safety and freedom in a world of uncertainty, violence, and liberty lost. Sometimes eloquently poetic, other times harshly incriminating and shocking, McGill delivers a lovely and inspirational, yet thought-provoking book about the balance of mind and heart.
Voice of Reason is a wake-up call for a world in deep crisis, a world which is becoming a global battlefield, and where our poor relationships are increasingly based on self-interest. Exploring the true nature of violence, the destruction of diversity by monocultures, and the cancerous growth of unchecked, predatory corporate capitalism, McGill paints a grim picture of today’s materialistic consumer life. Speaking directly to the heart of revolution, from Zuccotti Park to Tehran, McGill believes we must revolt against the endless manipulation and oppression of modern life, and reject the traditions of violence, which have made each of us agents of violence ourselves.
McGill explores many solutions to our cultural, political, economic, and environmental miseries, such as achieving greater individual consciousness and compassion, empowering youth, and restoring the woman to her rightful place, as the strong, loving maternal leader of peace and reason. As McGill writes, “The battlefields of life were first meadows and gardens. We made them into battlefields, and by the same power, we must release the dark spell, so they are meadows and gardens once again.� (bryantmcgill.com/vor)
"A peaceful voice for change in a corrupt world." ~ Larry Flynt / Hustler Magazine
"...an iconoclastic tome of contempt for unjust authoritarianism, with an inspirational silver-lining that gives it all wings." ~ Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D. / Stanford University / NYT Bestselling Author and Former President, American Psychological Association
"For a world consumed by a Culture of Violence, a Voice of Reason comes as a breath of fresh, positive air. The only hope of transforming the world from the tsunami of violence is for each of us to Become the Change We Wish To See in the World. Bryant McGill shows us the way." ~ Dr. Arun M. Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
"McGill has written a humanist manifesto through the roseate glasses of agape Christianity, Vishnu Sahasranama and Theravada Buddhism. Critical theorists will be challenged by the proposed consonance between Plato, poststructuralism and Lao-Tsu. Purists be damned!" ~ Constance Stadler, Ph.D., Assoc Prof., Political Science, NYU
“…conscious guidance to a positive way out of our global crisis ...beyond nationalism, beyond warmongering ...real power that comes from truth, awareness, love and compassion.� ~ John Breeding, Ph.D. / Best-Selling Author
Bryant McGill is a human potential thought leader, international bestselling author, activist, and social entrepreneur. He is one of the world's top social media influencers reaching a billion people a year. His prolific writings have been published in thousands of books and publications, including a New York Times bestselling series, and his Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, read by over 60 million people. He was the subject of a front-page story in the WSJ, has appeared in Forbes, Nasdaq's leadership series, and was listed in Inc. Magazine as one of, "the greatest leaders, writers and thinkers of all time."
McGill is a United Nations appointed Global Champion and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who received a Congressional commendation applauding his, "highly commendable life's work,"� as an Ambassador of Goodwill. His thoughts on human rights have been featured by President Clinton's Foundation, in humanities programs with the Dalai Lama, and at the Whitehouse. He has appeared in media with Tony Robbins and Oprah, in a Desmond Tutu endorsed PBS Special with Jack Canfield, and has delivered speeches at the United Nations' General Assembly Hall on Human Rights Day, with the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, and with Dr. Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
McGill's work has been endorsed by the president of the American Psychological Association, and has appeared in Psychology Today, and in meditation programs by Deepak Chopra. His writings have been published by Oprah's Lifeclass, Simon & Schuster, Random House, HarperCollins, Wiley, McGraw Hill, and Writer's Digest. His writings are regularly used in the curriculum at the university level, have been reviewed and published by the dean of NYU, Dartmouth, Stanford, and Yale, and were implemented into a campus installation at Bangkok University.
McGill is on a quest to prove that life is still beautiful, and that all people have the power to have a better life and world � NOW.
Dear friends. I hope you will join me in thinking about the type of world we are together creating. Great and good things are still possible. We do not have to be victimized by the ugliness in the world any longer. The battlefields of life were first meadows and gardens. We made them into battlefields, and by the same power, we must release the dark spell, so they are meadows and gardens once again. ()
(I received a free copy of this book via ŷ First Reads)
Voice of Reason by Bryant McGill explores a way of becoming free and changing our current society through the individual. Each section goes through a different aspect of society that isn’t morally correct and talks about how, as an individual, we can change the system and become truly free and happy. It focuses on being true to ourselves and not supressing who we are. Voice of Reason focuses on the human community and seeing the human race as equals in order to live in harmony and happiness.
Page 14 mentions that each religion, race, culture, etc. sees their specific group as having significance over other groups. I agree that humans should be seen as equals and no group is more important than another group. We need to work together to build a happier society.
Page 57 talks about how we are taught to act based on certain standards and not be true to ourselves because we risk losing everything. I agree that we all want to fit in and be considered normal. We are exposed to this even as a child growing up and trying to fit in to certain groups in grade school. There are so many people in the world that acting out and being honest and true to yourself would not completely ostracize you. Someone out there would agree.
On Page 58, it is mentioned that we are in a prison of “self-hate�. I agree with this because we never think that we are good enough. We feel like we need to push and punish ourselves emotionally and sometimes physically as if it will somehow make us better. We do this in order to be good enough and relate to the world.
I did not agree that we are forced to live corporate lives with jobs we don’t enjoy as mentioned in section 6. We are free to choose whatever path we want to take. If we want to create and be accountable for our own work, we are free to start our own companies. If we are unhappy in our career, we can go back to school and learn new skills. Corporations function with human talent. Our work is accountable and appreciated. If we are in a job that we enjoy, it’s enough to work together as a company to create a successful business and using our talents to work toward a common goal. No employee is unnecessary in any company.
Page 70-71 talks about how the media conditions us to believe that we are never good enough. The perfect life is someone who has everything and is flawless. Page 70 states “The coveted perfect life is a created standard, which is purposely unattainable.� We are conditioned to believe that we can be happy if we have more things. I agree that the media really pushes this, but I also believe that it is possible to see past this. The expression “The most important things in life are free� is, of course, true. People are starting to now realize that the perfect images in the media are false. There are campaigns such as Dove Beauty Campaign that encourage us to love ourselves as who we are. Common themes in many movies portray the message that love is more important than money. I think this is a very important step in the right direction for humanity.
Page 72 states “There is no happiness outside of ourselves.� It is mentioned several times throughout the novel that true happiness comes from serving others and caring for people we love. I agree with this.
Page 84 states that “America is a nation of illusions: illusions in the media, schools and government, where the Iron Curtain of propaganda holds its citizens in a state of darkness and ignorant apathy.� This statement is ridiculously dramatic. I don’t agree that we’re being brainwashed by propaganda. I think that we have been led astray by aspects in the media that are clearly misguided and used as tools to gain profit. I don’t agree that there is propaganda in the government or schools. I truly believe that they are doing what they believe is the best for America and society.
Page 109 talks about peaceful protests and how they are the most useful way to speak up against what is occurring. It talks about how protests, even peaceful ones, seem to turn violent with police interference. Protests disrupt the everyday lives of citizens. When that many people gather in one place, it is hard to keep it under control. Protests get attention and have been successful, but police must interfere to ensure the safety of everyone. I disagree that they should resort to violence to control the crowds. It is unnecessary in a lot of cases. It is difficult to be noticed or heard any other way, though protesting is not a safe way in today’s society to get your message across.
Page 115 mentions that “Real education needs no official validation, it is validated by its usefulness and integrity, which are currencies universally accepted.� It is virtually impossible to start a career in any field unless you have spent an enormous amount to learn in an institution. I believe that learning in an institution doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not gaining “real education� but I think that knowledge should not depend solely on that. With the internet, you can easily become an expert in any area you want. To discredit your knowledge because it is not “formal� is not proper.
Page 136-137 talks about how we have become anonymous through technology and that the traditional sense of community has been nearly eliminated. Technology connects us in ways that were never possible before. We can now communicate with people all over the world and relate and connect to them. Technology may have nearly eliminated this traditional sense of community, but we have now become a world community. Anyone can chat and learn about new cultures and make friends and connections across the world. We are not stuck in “cubical prison-tombs� as we can be free to be anyone and truly express ourselves through technology.
I agree with a lot of the things that were mentioned in Voice of Reason. I agree that humanity, where we are right now, is not right. We need to be in a better place. I believe that we are already heading in that direction now. A lot of the things that were mentioned in this novel are apparent to a vast majority people and we are working to change them now. Today’s society is not completely hopeless as a lot of changes have been made within these past 100 years. Racial and women equality is present in a lot of countries now. Though there are still impoverished countries, we are trying to help. There are many organizations that aim to change poverty. I understand that physically helping impoverished people is different from actually making a change in the fundamentals of society. Poverty exists because something is off in society, but by helping these people and acknowledging them, we are taking a very great step in the right direction. It’s not going to happen overnight. I believe that the novel should take a different tone: instead of reprimanding us for not changing right away, it should focus on the good changes that are already taking place and praise them and encourage them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The red pill or the blue pill - "Voice of Reason" is a focused journey of introspection, guided by the elegant writing of Bryant McGill. The book allows the reader to transcend the structure of running on "auto-pilot" in today's world, and instead open your eyes to the possibility that what you believe is flawed. It introduces the the possibility that you can make a change in your perception of your place in the world, that you can shoulder the responsibility of yourself in a way that will enable you to contribute positively to the present and the future in your own life. And then it goes on to show you how the ripples of that can affect the world at large. Much like Morpheus in "The Matrix", Bryant's writing offers us the red pill or the blue pill, the rest is up to you.
This book is a loving bucket of water splashed unto your face with the INTENT of waking up your mind and spirit! Bryant takes you on a well thought out and honest tour of YOU. He is quite the tour guide, 'pointing out all of the special qualities that you have to make a difference in the world also yourself, he points out all of your strengths that you've traded in for weakness, he steers you away from the huge human swallowing potholes on "This is how everyone else does it" Street and opts to take you on a scenic drive on "Revolution Road"!
I love this book and can't wait to share it with others!
Voice of Reason is a call for humanity to awaken to our highest purpose and responsibility, so that every soul can live a beautiful life! This book is a must read! As Gandhi said, "We must be the change we want to see in the world." Bryant's book gives each of us the clarity, tools and understanding to be able to do this with dignity and grace. Bryant is a rare and brilliant thought leader, who personally embodies his high integrity message with every soul he encounters. I have had the humbling opportunity to be his witness for three years, and can tell you he lives the message he espouses. While my review here may not be unbiased, it is informed, and I can attest that this book is a message from Bryant's heart, and that he has labored to send out this message in hopes of being supportive of the dream for all of us to have lives of joy and safety. I hope you will read this book, and I know you will be enriched by its powerful message.
This book is for YOU. NO! Not for anyone else, just you. Most of us according to Thoreau 'lead lives of quiet desperation.' We hide our despair with `normal' behavior. The first 65% of this book, if you can take it in, will convict you. However, there is hope.
The lesson to be learned here is to listen to yourself. Where do you get your messages from, your own inner-guide and voice of reason, or Madison Avenue? Is your original voice even yours, or was it branded into your soul through commercials between cartoons? Who are you, really? - Bryant McGill
This is not a book to read for enjoyment. Sorry. If you are even a bit aware, you can see where we are headed and the bad news is no one but you will get YOU through.
You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves. - Bryant McGill
Once in a lifetime something comes along that changes the paradigm for a generation. This book is the catalyst for that shift in reality. We desperately need a fresh perspective that can provide us with the tools to recreate and rehabilitate our future. Bryant McGill is a visionary with all the makings of a prophet. This book is a must read for anyone who wants elevate their mind to a higher plane.
A call to consciousness and choosing to be the change we need in the world, McGill invites readers to use our freedom to make a positive difference. House churches and small congregations may find each essay makes a fine sermon to share, and small groups may find much to explore.
This book changed my life! I have personally bought and handed out more than 20 copies of this book to my friends and family. I believe in the message of this book with all my heart.
I appreciate many of McGill's ideals and agree there needs to be a shift. Love & compassion are part of the solution but free speech and right to protest must remain in tact no matter what as well. Although I appreciated many of the author's thoughts, the book itself wasn't that compelling. Perhaps it was the writing style or the elaboration on many points without true recommendations but just wasn't able to connect with the writing as much as I anticipated I would.
”Voice Of Reason� is politically and religiously a worthwhile controversial read. A new view point on human life. Expressing the need for love, peace, and healthy habits. I respect Bryant for his boldness to speak his mind raw on such a controversial topic. A topic many avoid to discuss, even afraid to acknowledge its existence. At one point I even wanted to stop reading. Then I remembered an earlier point in the book (which I agreed with) where Bryant stated, everyone's point of view should be respected and heard. It is up to the reader to agree, disagree, or partially agree. Bryant Mcgill did not hold back and it is evident in his bold statements and writing skill. Bryant expresses a strong detailed point of view. His passion on the topic is undeniable. I truly enjoyed the creative comparisons Bryant used. An example is the comparison of vampires and life. I strongly agree with a major point of the ”Voice Of Reason.� Love is the answer to all human obstacles. All should be done with the consideration of the greater good of all.
American citizens need to revolt against the endless manipulation/oppression (authoritarianism) of modern life (military, law enforcement, government bureaucracy), & reject the traditional acts of violence, starting within ourselves.
The author suggests solutions to the many cultural, political, economic, & environmental issues/problems.
Wow, a very powerful book. You need to put your thinking cap on. It would have been nice if you would have included a bibliography.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written informative psychological, sociological & political in nature book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors, repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great movie, PP presentation or paid-per-view mini TV series (A & E, History channel). There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Autographed book. Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I love the idea of this book. I started out reading with enthusiasm; however, what was said in the beginning pretty much said what was in the entire book. Way too "wordy". So sorry. One cannot impress a reader simply by finding a use for as many words in the dictionary as possible. Just the same, I who am honest to a fault, will do my best to be kinder, and more loving. I will do my best to listen attentively to others and show them the respect they deserve, and that is thanks to Mr. Bryant McGill.
Voice of Reason thought-provoking ideas leaves the reader to self-reflect on his/her perception of the world around them. Soul-searching deep inside in order to work on changing one's interaction with the rest of humanity. If instituted singularly, faith, love, and hope can spin the world towards a new era of enlightenment. Best part is in spreading the message of Voice of Reason. Mr. McGill suggests - at the end of reading his book - to leave it in a place where someone else can find it and pass it along. Who knows how many people Voice of Reason may reach.
Read this book. No, seriously: read it. In his book Bryant McGill speaks the bold truth that no one has ever dared to speak before him. Voice of Reason is a huge eye-opener. His book covers a variety of philosophical debates such as the role of the government in various countries, and the equality of the sexes. This is the type of book that has the potential to make a real difference in the world. I won this book through ŷ First Reads.
I enjoyed the book even though it is not really my cup of tea and I thought you made some very profound statements that will stick with me. I won the book from the author and since finishing I have paid it forward and giving it to one of my staff. Thanks Mr. McGill