Widening Circles

The life story of one of the most revered environmental and spiritual leaders of our time

In Widening Circles, well-known eco-philosopher, Buddhist scholar, and deep ecology activist /teacher Joanna Macy recounts her adventures of mind and spirit in the key social movements of her time. Macy’s autobiography reads like a novel as she relates her multi-faceted life experiences and reflects on how her marriage and family life enriched her service to the world.

Macy’s formative years with an abusive father and oppressed mother set her on an irrevocable path of self-definition and independence. A short-lived stint with the CIA exposed Macy firsthand to the Cold War’s darkest threats: the construction of the hydrogen bomb and the building of the Berlin Wall. With three children in tow, Macy and her husband traveled with the Peace Corps to Africa, India, and Tibet, where her encounter with the Dalai Lama and Buddhism led to Macy’s life-long embrace of the religion and a deep commitment to the peace and environmental movements.

Joanna Macy was one of those rare people who, in the words of a Rilke poem, could genuinely claim to “live my life in widening circles / that reach out across the world.” In this absorbing, and sometimes thrilling memoir, the unique synthesis of spiritualism and activism that defined Macy’s contribution to the world are illuminated by the life- events and experiences that paved her uncommon path.

Joanna Macy was an eco-philosopher, activist, and scholar of Buddhism, systems theory, and deep ecology. A respected voice for over sixty years in movements for global peace and social and environmental justice, she developed a large international following. Her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the resonance between Buddhist thought and postmodern science. As the founding teacher of The Work That Reconnects, Joanna created a ground-breaking framework for personal and social change, as well as a powerful methodology for its application. Many thousands of people around the world have participated in her workshops and trainings, and her methods have been adopted and adapted widely in classrooms, community centers, and grassroots organizing. Joanna was the author of thirteen books including Coming Back to Life and World as Lover, World as Self. She lived in Berkley, CA.