Well-Being: Expanding the Definition of Progress
Insights From Practitioners, Researchers, and Innovators From Around the Globe
Edited by Alonzo L. Plough
Reviews and Awards
" wonderful and easy read that both stimulates the mind and the spirit, Well-Being: Expanding the Definition of Progress offers a refreshing and much-needed perspective on the meaning of well-being that is at once rooted in the discourse and worldview of various indigenous communities and in other modern framings around equity, justice, and resilience. From Paraguay to New Zealand to Europe and North America, this book brings together leading thinkers, practitioners, ministers, and philanthropists to consider our collective global understanding of well-being and how it might lead us toward a more equitable world for our grandchildren. We will be reading it and reflecting on it in our work at WE in the World and WIN." -- Somava Saha, Executive Lead, Well Being In the Nation (WIN) Network, Founder and Executive Lead, Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World
"Alonzo Plough has carefully curated insights that illuminate the centrality of communities, social systems, and social determinants, and make explicit the connection between race, residential segregation, and health outcomes in the US. In so doing, Well-Being teaches us what it truly means to build a culture of health." -- Angela Glover Blackwell, JD, Founder in Residence, PolicyLink
"A compelling analysis of why a focus on well-being is optimal for the human condition - with health equity at the center - and how to achieve it through community-based policymaking." -- Arachu Castro, Ph.D., MPH, Samuel Z. Stone Chair of Public Health in Latin America and Director of the Collaborative Group for Health Equity in Latin America, Tulane University
"The fundamental culture shift in business catalyzed by the B Corp movement reflects the same change in our definition of progress desperately needed across all sectors. This book makes a compelling case for using well-being as our collective north star by combining visionary ideas with practical examples for putting these ideas in action." -- Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-founder, B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B Corp movement
"As recent days have shown us our current systems are filled with challenges. It is imperative we go beyond traditional national measures like GDP and be more inclusive of cities in our global operating models if we wish to respond to systemic stressors and inevitable shocks ... Well-Being is an important read for policy makers and practitioners alike." -- Grant Ervin, MPIA, Chief Resilience Officer of the City of Pittsburgh
"Powerful and practical, this reflective collection of futuristic essays paints a fascinating universe of considerations for defining the very soul of health and well-being." -- Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School