On Belonging: Finding Connection In An Age of Isolation
By Kim Samuel, Activist, Educator, and Founder and Chief Belonging Officer of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness.
An exploration of the crisis of social isolation, the book considers belonging across four core dimensions: our relationships with other people, our rootedness in nature, our ability to influence economic and political decision-making, and our search for meaning and purpose in our lives.
Endorsements
“In this important book, Kim Samuel explores how we can find greater emotional, intellectual, ecological, and spiritual connectedness. There’s no human being alive who does not have a wealth of gifts to give. On Belonging shows how we can help every person know their worth and share what they have to give. It reveals how we can realize our right to belong.”
— Graça Machel, founder, Graça Machel Trust and former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique
“As we step gently together toward a future that contains a great deal of uncertainty - from the climate crisis, to the ever-changing political landscape - the need to belong feels more important than ever. In this book, Kim Samuel brings together interviews with an incredible group of humans, all coming from different places but who collectively strive to come together in meaningful ways.”
— Kluane Adamek, Yukon Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, Canada
“We can’t live without human connection. This book shows how we can all overcome the disconnection and reawaken the beauty. Read this book, y’awl!”
— Quincy Jones, legendary recording artist
“Kim Samuel has dedicated her entire life to ending isolation. Now with her lucidly written new book, On Belonging, she is showing the world that the keys to happiness are not ego-driven isolation or artificially imposed divisions, but mutuality, reciprocity, and relationships. On Belonging is a book urgently needed to heal the wounds caused by isolation and separation. Either we swim together or we sink together. Kim Samuel’s voice is a voice of wisdom, love, and compassion, and this is one of the most important and timely books of the year.”
— Satish Kumar, editor emeritus, Resurgence & Ecologist
“Through powerful storytelling and analysis, this book helps us turn our focus to what really matters.”
— Wade Davis, Explorer and Bestselling Author
“This is an important book, both for describing a problem that is fundamental yet often neglected, and for proposing meaningful and effective solutions.”
— Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch