500 Ways to Change the World

by Global Ideas Bank

500 Ways to Change the World is a think tank for social inventions, great ideas, and proven projects that will help improve the world we live in. Inside, you will find hundreds of examples of creative... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060851767
• ISBN13: 9780060851767
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

I misunderstood what it was going to be about...

But, it's still a pretty good book. I thought that it was going to be about "going green," and 500 ways to do it. But, the book is more about changing the world through "social inventions." "Social inventions can be clever thinking on a modern problem--say, disposable credit-card numbers to prevent theft-or innovations thousands of years old to solve equally ancient conumdrums." Some of the ideas give you a website that goes along with it, such as "apologize worldwide on the web," where you can anonymously apologize for past wrongdoings or, leave your name if you feel really brave. Some are ideas haven't happened yet, but could, if more people made it possible. Such as, people staying after a particular movie, to have discussions about it. Some are funny, yet clever, such as: police in Blackpool give lollipops to people leaving clubs to keep the noise level down. Police in Staffordshire recommend that citizens paint their garden tools pink or other bright colors to keep thieves from stealing and re-selling their tools. Also, some officials in Germany suggested that dogs should have license plates, so they are able to be identified if their owners are not following the law. Like the previous reviewer, I agree that at first glance, the ideas seem very involved and use larger words to make a point. This may turn others away and make it less accessible. But, if you sit down and actually read it (This is not a simple idea book) you could come across some great ideas to use in your city, neighborhood, etc. Sadly, a majority of the ones come from Europe, New Zealand, and Australia, but there are some in the United States. (Mostly in big cities) It makes sense, because Europe is way ahead of us on some issues. Hopefully, this will inspire some of us to make the world a better place, or at least, get our brains working on how to do it.