Making Waves and Riding Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom, by Charles Halpern

(274 pp., Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008)

Charles Halpern is one of those rare individuals who not only talks wisdom but also walks it, dispenses it and turns it into compassionate action. A highly successful lawyer and teacher, Halpern cofounded the first public-interest law firm in the nation, was dean of the law school at City University of New York, and served as president of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, which supports social justice projects internationally. Weaving through all of this activity is Halpern’s spiritual search, which has increasingly inspired and directed his work. In Making Waves and Riding Currents, Halpern looks back at his life and career and reflects on how “the practice of wisdom” is essential to the project of creating a better world. His story, in which we encounter the likes of Ralph Nader and the Dalai Lama, is truly inspirational.

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From the Spring 2008 issue of Inquiring Mind (Vol. 24, No. 2)

© 2008 Wes Nisker

Wes “Scoop” Nisker is an author, radio commentator, Buddhist meditation teacher and performer. His books include the national bestseller Essential Crazy Wisdom (Ten Speed Press, 2001). His CDs, DVDs, books and teaching schedule are available at www.wesnisker.com, where he also continues to publish blog posts. Nisker cofounded Inquiring Mind in 1984.