Making Global Sense, a proposed book by Judah Freed

Writing and Publishing Services by Judah Freed

MAKING GLOBAL SENSE:

Grounded Hope for the 21st Century
inspired by Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Why and How One Billion Global Thinkers are Building our World Anew

A Journey for These Times that Try Our Souls

Judah Freed, award-winning author and journalist

A proposed nonfiction book and documentary

Welcome to the proposal preview page
for agents, publishers and backers:

Overview
The Market
Comparables
Spinoff Projects
The Author
Endorsements
Project Status
Request Proposal

“Thomas Paine rallied Americans to a new sense of themselves and their possibilities. Judah Freed does likewise for citizens of the planet.”
— Bill McKibben, The End of Nature; founder of 350.org

“Making Global Sense is a vital and wonderful book, well written and inspired.”
— Barbara Marx Hubbard, Conscious Evolution.

“Making Global Sense is at once vast and tangible, disturbing and inspiring. ”
— Ocean Robbins, CEO of The Food Revolution Network

“Judah Freed shows how global awareness is already changing life on our planet. The book offers us real hope when we need it most.”
— John Mackey, Conscious Capitalism; CEO of Whole Foods

“Making Global Sense by Judah Freed is truly a masterpiece.
— Don Beck, PhD, co-founder of the Spiral Dynamics Movement

“Making Global Sense is compelling in its ideas and wonderful in its personal elements!”
— Herb Goldberg, PhD, The New Male; The Hazards of Being Male

“This is the first book I can remember reading that synthesizes so much into a coherent whole.”
— Shel Horowitz, co-author with Jay Conrad Levinson of Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green.

Overview

In these trying times of social, political, ecological, and spiritual upheaval, fear and hate drive many to trust bullies promising to save us from hobgoblins, or ourselves. Some seek more grounded hope. Making Global Sense is the first book to show why and how many of us are evolving a global sensibility, generating a “global sense movement,” building critical mass on earth for the urgently needed enlightenment of humanity.

Making sense of our world.

Award-winning author and journalist Judah Freed reports that at least one billion globally awake people worldwide are already working — spiritually and politically, alone and together — to build a sustainable civil society. He documents 12 world social trends to show how a billion of us on earth already are changing our world by making global sense, no matter what we may call a universal sensibility).

The author draws inspiration from Thomas Paine and his world-changing 1776 Common Sense, the essay that won public support for the American Revolution. The author updates Paine’s work to win support for our global evolution. He revives ideas and ideals of the 18th century Enlightenment to champion 21st century enlightenment — a common sense awareness of our sacred global oneness.

Part I, Our Global Awakening: Shows why a global shift is needed. Where Paine refuted the divine right of kings to rule by hereditary succession, Freed refutes the social, cultural, genetic, and spiritual inheritance of “alpha male rule” and “authority addiction,” hidden by “split perceptions.” He playfully interprets male-dominated Western History while weaving in Paine’s own life story. He says that a global sense of our oneness dispels authoritarian thinking, liberating equally women and “new men” (all races, lgbtqi). Global sense, he states, guides us to practice “mindful self rule” and “personal democracy” — the inner and outer yin and yang of why and how we can and do think globally and act locally. When we see all life on earth as one, we naturally tend to live more sensibly.

Part II, Our Global Power: Shows how this global awakening is now underway. The author spots 12 world trends that reflect and foster global awareness. The trends include environmentalism, holistic health, conscious commerce, social entrepreneurs, the internet, literacy, new spirituality, gender equality, and peaceful mass demonstrations. Paine provided facts and figures to support his reasoning, so does the author. An open global sensibility, he reasons, is a measurable societal force gaining momentum on the planet.

Global thinkers comprise at least 22 percent of all adults in North America over age 15, he reports, up to 30 percent in Western Europe, and 16 percent on average worldwide. In response to climate change, globalization, and threats to democracy, global thinking or consciousness may reach a pivot point in our lifetimes — IF we work at it.

Globally awake readers will feel they are not alone, nor powerless, because our innate connectivity gives each of us global reach. For healing themselves and our world, readers are encouraged to work on spiritual growth and social change at the same time. Readers not yet awake to our global oneness may now safely open their eyes.

Interwoven Narrative: The author’s ideas are persuasive, but a good story opens hearts and shifts lives more than logic. Judah balances head and heart by balancing his essay with his survival story. He recalls his 1950s childhood illness and abuse, school bullies, 1960s rebellion, life in a 1970s cult, then a long journalism career, world travel, activism, marrying for the first time at 60, and at 66 surviving lethal cancer. He now thrives with thanks for miracles, medical science, holistic health, community, shadow work, forgiveness, love, and Light.

Written in present tense with vulnerability unusual for a man, his tales illuminate topics in the essay. Examples: He tells of his dad’s youth in Chicago, frustrated manhood in Denver, beating his only son, the impact on them both; this story threads the chapter on how we make sense of life, split our perceptions, and change what makes sense to us. His tale of a tree limb crushing his old car, leading to healing with his mother before she dies, wraps the chapter on gender equality. His tale at the ’08 Democratic National Convention upholds his proposal for “direct republics,” an update of Paine’s blueprint for democracy. His visit to Gandhi’s home in India frames a chapter on finding our courage.

Lending a global character, his storytelling carries the reader to Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Bogota, Mumbai, Istanbul, Sydney, Fiji, Britain, and elsewhere.

His bestselling model for balancing an essay with narrative is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, in which Robert Persig balanced “an inquiry into values” with his moving story of a breakdown and breakthrough into wholeness — a kindred “character arc.”

Judah Freed is a gifted and accomplished writer. His book offers important ideas evolved over a lifetime and refined by 16 years of writing. He offers a rare blend of literary craft and marketing acumen, such as talking on BookTV or directing communications for a national charity. With a mature mind and a young heart, he has written one of those books you feel in your soul, one that if it catches on can go viral very comfortably.

The Market:

Making Global Sense mainly will appeal to readers who already are aware of our global connectivity — the “global thinkers,” the “Cultural Creatives,” and the “conscious consumers” with “Lifestyles Of Health And Sustainability” (LOHAS). Described in the book proposal by demographics and psychographics, they fund the $800 billion world market for holistic and green products and services, investing $21 trillion in green and ethical ventures.

Says Ted Ning at the The LOHAS Group, “The interconnections between global economies, cultures, environments, and political systems play a large role in the holistic worldview of the typical LOHAS Consumer.” They vote. They spend money like a vote. “Equally important are the interconnections of mind, body and spirit within individuals.”

LOHAS Consumers with global sense match the traits in The Cultural Creatives by sociologist Paul H. Ray and psychologist Sherry Ruth Anderson. “Cultural Creatives,” they write, “care deeply about ecology and saving the planet, about relationships, peace, social justice, and about authenticity, self actualization, spirituality and self-expression.”

Cultural Creatives tend not to realize that they’re part of an “Emerging Planetary Wisdom Culture,” lament Ray and Anderson. “If humanity is to survive this period of planetary crises, we need a collective positive image of a future that works for all.” Meeting the need: Making Global Sense.

Primary Market: “LOHAS Consumers” — Spiritual and globally aware people, active stewards of the planet, the early adopters and heaviest purchasers of green products and services, they evangelize all other market segments. They’re mostly woke Millennials, GenZers, Baby Boomers, and female, comprising 22 percent or 54 million of all U.S. adults over age 15 (out of 247 million total adults), and up to 30 percent Western Europe — 2017 numbers by Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), which has surveyed a half million people in 25 countries since 2005.

Worldwide, the percentage of LOHAS Consumers in nine representative nations averages 16 percent of all adults and young adults on earth. Given 5.2 billion adults over age 15, this 16 percent yields 830 million people living with global sense, in any lingo or culture, an enlightened consciousness of our oneness.

NMI and other sources say the percentage of LOHAS consumers in each nation varies — 22 percent in the USA, 17 percent in the UK, 16 percent in Germany, 30 percent in Sweden, 13 percent in Russia, 14 percent in India, 16 percent in China, 11 percent in Japan, 17 percent in South Africa, and 18 percent in Brazil. They average 16 percent.

Secondary Market: “Naturalites” —Conscious consumers who care slightly more about holistic health than planetary health. They buy green and organic as much as they can afford. NMI in 2017 reported they comprise 21 percent or 51 million of all U.S. adults over age 15. The global average for all Naturalites is 24 percent, yielding a secondary market of almost 1.25 billion adults on earth over age 15.

When the primary and secondary market counts are added together, the U.S. market totals 105 million, and the global audience reaches two billion. The author realizesl that in the USA barely half of the population are book readers, higher or lower elsewhere on earth, and only a tiny fraction ever buys any title. Still, he believes the foreign rights potential deserves consideration.

A lesser tertiary market identified by NMI are the “Drifters,” who have good intentions about sustainability but mixed follow-through. NMI’s “Conventionals” and “Unconcerned” segments are not markets for the title.

Marketing Plan: The book proposal features a 17-page section summarizing a comprehensive marketing and publicity strategy. Activities covered include the marketing team, advance endorsements, radio and TV, internet and social media, print media, freelance writing, live appearances, organizations, book trade marketing, giveaways, and the author’s contribution. The author brings to the project solid endorsements, marketing know-how, and a soul-deep passion for the work.

Attached Publicists: Ilene Proctor (society/politics); Cathy Lewis (spirituality, business).

A grounded book of common global sense could go global.

Comparable Titles:

Market Positioning: Making Global Sense extends the lineage of general nonfiction “big ideas” titles for global thinkers. The author will position his cross-niche title as next in the long line of popular world-changers with a global vision. Forerunner books are more complementary than competitive.

Likely readers value the following titles, which all advance the shift into global consciousness:

> Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken (Penguin, 2017). Reports solutions already working in the world, as does Making Global Sense.

> Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World, by Paul Hawken (Penguin, 2007). Documents the impact of activists, as does Global Sense.

> A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle (Plume/ Penguin, 2005). Affirms that transcending ego will end conflicts and suffering in the world. Global Sense adds that a global sensibility helps us transcend authority adduction and alpha male rule to transform our world from within.

> The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World, by Paul H. Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson (Crown, 2000). Named and studied globally aware Americans creating a better world. Cultural Creatives worldwide are the primary market for Making Global Sense.

> Conscious Evolution: Awakening the Power of Our Social Potential, by Barbara Marx Hubbard (New World Library, 1998, Revised Edition 2015). Updates her groundbreaking work on human potential. Making Global Sense advances our evolution by reporting on 12 evolutionary world trends.

> The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformation in Our Time, by Marilyn Ferguson (Houghton Mifflin, 1980; Tarcher/ Penguin, 2009). Became the #1 New Age handbook for personal and social transformation.Global Sense carries this energy forward,

> Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, by Robert M. Persig (Morrow, 1974). Interwove a powerful life story with essays on a paradigm shift into wholeness, akin to Global Sense.

> Future Shock and The Third Wave by Alvin Toffler (Bantam, 1970, 1980) plus Megatrends by John Naisbitt (Warner, 1982) are the “paradigm shift” trilogy, Global Sense builds upon the trends they spotted.

> The True Believer by Eric Hoffer (Harper, 1951, 2002); the “longshoreman philosopher” explained how totalitarian mass movements exploit dependence on authority, an insight updated and extended in Global Sense.

> Common Sense by Thomas Paine (Philadelphia, January 1776) inspired Making Global Sense.

In the 243 years since Common Sense, in the 68 years since True Believer, the 49 years since Future Shock, the 45 years since Zen, the 39 years since Aquarian Conspiracy, the 21 years since Conscious Evolution, 19 years since Cultural Creatives, 14 years since New Earth, and two years since Drawdown, the market has grown exponentially for a spiritual book voicing a grounded global sensibility.

The success of such “Big Ideas” titles for self and world improvement validates the faith and vision of the respective publishers. They ably cross-market global titles that transcend narrow niches. They realize the megatrend opportunity. They realize Cultural Creatives of all generations still want a book voicing “a collective positive image of a future that works for all.”

Making Global Sense is a good idea whose time has come — the right book at the right time.

Spinoff Projects

Documentary: Making Global Sense was written with the visuals in mind for a companion documentary or miniseries. The documentary has a startup team. Already attached as the Narrator is Rolland G. Smith, fabled 11-Emmy TV news reporter, anchor and producer (parodied as “Roland B. Hedley” in Doonesbury). Attached as a Producer is Richard A. Cooper, Directors Guild of America. Attached for the production facilities is Allen McLain at SkyTheory (skytheory.com), leading indie digital soundstage and post house in Denver.

The author wants to develop a documentary collaboratively with the publisher or backer. He has the experience to participate in scriptwriting, production and post.

Related Books: Making Global Sense presents the author’s vision for world enlightenment and his evidence it’s already underway. To provide useful “how to” details for realizing the vision, the author has begun writing two prescriptive follow-on books:

Mindful Self Rule: Global Sense for Spiritual and Personal Growth.
Personal Democracy: Global Sense for Relationships and Social Change.

Each book is about 55 percent written. The bones are there, but the author wants to flesh out his own narratives and add more anecdotes from other people.

Global Sense series: The author will create titles modeled on the Chicken Soup series, featuring inspirational stories from readers using global sense in their lives. Possible titles include Global Sense for Mindfulness, Global Sense for Healing, Global Sense for Women, Global Sense for Conscious Commerce, Global Sense for….

Multimedia: Making Global Sense was conceived as a book-based multimedia venture. The author has decades of experience producing studio and location video and audio content. Some key projects:

eBook: The mss supports conversion into a basic mobi and epub or the most immersive interactive ebook imaginable.
Audiobook: The authors willing to narrate all of it, part of it or none of it. Available as a separate voice reading the quotes of Thomas Paine is Philadelphia-based professional Paine re-enactor, Steve Gulick.
Teaching Series: The author will interview global visionaries and explore ideas. Possible episodes: Global Sense for Lightworkers, Global Sense for Relationships, Global Sense for Success, Global Sense for Leaders, Global Sense for Going Green, Global Sense for….
Meditations: The author will record and produce versions of his guided “Global Sense” meditations.
Recorded Talks: The author has recorded and will record his live talks on audio and video.

Workshops: After launch, the author will periodically tour with his self-funding “Global Sense Workshop,” supported by live talks that funnel into the weekends, including (speak-for-sales events).

The Author

Making Global Sense is Judah Freed’s fifth book. Prior works twice won the Silver Nautilus Award for the best social change book of 2007 and 2012. He won the Evvy Award for the best personal growth book of 2005. He’s delivered speeches across the USA and on four continents. He’s talked about his books and ideas on dozens of U.S. and oversees radio shows. He produced and hosted a Philadelphia program about Thomas Paine for C-SPAN BookTV.

A journalist since 1976, an author since 1982, Judah Ken Freed has served as president of the Colorado Authors League, director and trade shows chair of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, and director of the Denver Press Club. He founded the 1,000-member Denver Book Club and the new Kauai Independent Authors and Publishers Association (Kiapa.org). He’s attended and/or shown books at BEA, ALA, INATS, LBF, Frankfurt, and other book trade shows. He is a member of IBPA, COVR, Society of Professional Journalists, and the American Society of Newspaper Columnists.

Judah currently is the Director of Publishing for RIP Medical Debt, a national charity based in New York that buys and forgives unpayable medical debt. He works from home on Kauai in Hawaii.

Advance Endorsements

In advance of a publishing contract, showing the book quality (and author’s knack for marketing), the title already is blessed with 15 blurbs from key thought leaders (in alphabetical order):
.

Martin Adams, executive director of Progress.org, author of Land: A New Paradigm.
Don E. Beck, author and co-founder of the global Spiral Dynamics movement.
Jed Diamond, men’s movement author of MenAlive and The Warrior’s Journey Home.
Herb Goldberg, PhD, pioneer author of The New Male, The Hazards of Being Male.
Jill Heinerth, award-winning underwater explorer and filmmaker of We Are Water.
Shel Horowitz, co-author w/ Jay Conrad Levinson of Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green.
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods and the co-author of Conscious Capitalism.
Barbara Marx Hubbard, author of Conscious Evolution, global visionary futurist.
Marian McCain, Australian author of Elderwoman, editor of GreenSpirit Magazine.
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, the Climate March, bestselling ecology author.
Jordan Paul, PhD, relationship counselor and author of Becoming Your Own Hero.
Jules Pretty, OBE, sustainable agriculture expert, author of The Edge of Extinction.
Ocean Robbins, CEO of Food Revolution Network, founder of Yes! Magazine.
Leslie Sponsel, PhD, ecological anthropologist and author of Spiritual Ecology.
Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of California EPA, author of Lives Per Gallon.

More than 20 other authors have committed to writing blurbs before publication.

Project Status

Making Global Sense with 20 chapters was completed in 2016. The book body was 81,400 words with six line-art figures and 11 tables. The author is now revising the work, updating his research, adding two new chapters fresh narratives, plus tables, charts, line art, and a few photos (20 or so total), for a finished book with front and back matter (index) around 100,000 words.

Given the urgent national and world situation, to get a quality book out during 2019, the author is considering publication this year of Part I (the vision) with key chapters from Part II (the proof) as one united book of about 15 chapters. For prospective publishers, distributers and backers, he will bring mockup “advance review copies” to meetings at trade shows this spring (BEA, INATS).

“Please appreciate that I’d planned to release this title independently through my own Hoku House in early 2015. However, my inner guidance told me to forego indie publishing and instead place the book with a true traditional publisher (or find a backer for Hoku House). My heart and gut says that in order for Making Global Sense to do the most possible good in the world, the book deserves more support than I can ever provide on my own. I need to let go and get out of the way.” — Judah Freed.

Request Proposal

The current book proposal and chapter outline with sample chapters are ready for submission upon request. The full manuscript with ongoing revisions also is available upon request, current as of the date sent. Kindly contact Judah if interested.