Published in the "Journal for the Study of Peace and Conflict," Spring 2006
by Deborah Buffton 

Engage: Exporing Nonviolent Living
This book is designed to provide a way for small groups to explore nonviolence and to incorporate it into their lives.  Divided into twelve 2 ½ hour sessions, the book begins with an examination of different aspects of violence and nonviolence, moving to nonviolent responses to structural violence, then ultimately to the development and accomplishment of a nonviolent action.  It is a revised and expanded version of the 1996 publication From Violence to Wholeness, published by Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service.  A significant change in this version is "an inclusive general-audience spirituality," (xvii) making it comfortable for use by people of any faith tradition, or no faith tradition.  The authors recognize that, although there is a rich tradition of nonviolence and peacemaking in many religious faiths, "there is power in recognizing how the spirituality of nonviolence is a legacy of all humanity in many settings, and in creating a program where people from all—or no—explicit religious orientations can explore these depths." (xvii)

The title Engage was chosen deliberately to alter the general perception of nonviolence from being passive and weak to being a powerful source of positive change in the world.  Each of the 12 sections, which correspond to one session in the program, offers very detailed information on how to conduct the sessions from beginning to end, including lists of all necessary materials, planning instructions, and even indicating how much time each part of each session should take.  This may seem restricting to an experienced facilitator, but will certainly reassure those who are novices to facilitation and/or to the study of nonviolence.  And sessions can easily be modified should facilitators wish to do so.  Sessions include review of the previously covered material, introduction of a new topic, time for reflection, journaling, discussion, short readings and other activities, including a small amount of homework in preparation for the next session.  The book contains all readings and well as room to write notes and reflections.

The program uses a variety of active learning methods, including art, physical movement, writings, readings, role-playing, and discussion.  For sessions to succeed, those attending need to be willing to actively participate in the process and develop a sense of trusting the other members of the group.  This is especially important toward the end, when the group plans and carries out a nonviolent activity.  Thus the program both requires participants to be willing to become involved in the process and helps create a sense of community that may very well last long after the 12 sessions are over.

A very useful part of Engage is the lists of resources within each session and a fuller one at the end of the book.  These resources include books, videos, and contact information for groups involved in education and promotion of peace and nonviolence.  There are also suggestions for organizing other study groups to continue the work of nonviolence.

The revision does a good job of promoting a program of studying nonviolence that is accessible to both religious and non-religious alike.  This is a welcome addition to the bibliography of nonviolence and will be useful for church groups or civic groups seeking to create a better world.