The work of change is a journey of inches, sometimes, and McBride's message is accessible, meaningful, and available to everyone who is unhappy with the way things are in the world today.

McBride's perspective as a Black, Christian man who has been involved in community and advocacy work for decades is informed and informative. He is candid about his experiences and there is profound depth of humanity in his words. This isn't preaching- it's a true call to action, with recognition of where we've come from and hope for the world to come.

This is truly for all of us. Bridging our differences and becoming the world we want to see is the message, with practical steps considering many different lenses. ( )

McBride's book, Troubling The Water is a timely and thoughtful reminder of the necessity of continuing the work exemplified by the Civil Rights Movement in the US, particularly, by its commitment with non-violence. While McBride is no blind to the facts - and consequences - of a sociopolitical system that advances the few at the expense of the many, he is equally aware of the necessity, when thinking and implementing solutions, to include everybody as potential beneficiary. In other words, a solution predicated on exclusionary practices is no solution at all. And that means that radical belonging is not a catchphrase but a necessary condition. This fact does not exclude or ignore the anger that present conditions create. On the contrary, it assumes anger as a requirement (along the lines of Audre Lorde's The Uses of Anger), a tool with which the pain and the damage done have a chance to recover, heal, in order to be able to contribute to the creation of a just world. While the book does not have all the answers, it has plenty of the questions required to interrogate today's social issues and their actors, as well as to create a space in which all are invited to dialogue.

Ben McBride's main focus and experience with radical belonging applies to racial tensions in the USA. With that said I feel that the principles shared in this book can be applied to so many other tensions. His powerful explanation of "Quadrants to illustrate what othering looks like in our everyday lives" (p18) serves as a blueprint on healing for so many other -isms in our world. Understanding where we stand in the context as the Powerful, the Privileged, the Persecuted and the Prevented is such a powerful realization.

This is a highly spiritual book. Honestly I found myself wanting to share so many quotes from it with my spiritual community. I would love to see these practices in the context of a workshop. How can radical belonging show up in different communities? I would love to read more examples of this work out in the wild.

Thank you Ben McBride for sharing this work with all of us. I will definitely be recommending it to everyone. ( )

One word. Fantastic

GREAT READ!!!

The takeaway is this book is like a prayer or a missive in the darkness. It’s good balm for the soul if you’re already someone who tries to live in the practice of making your community a better place.

Ben McBride has a lot of experience in faith communities and community building. We share the community of Oakland so I too have intimately observed the struggles of the bay area to overcome the inequities of systemic racism. While this book is not short on ideas to facilitate people examining their own privileges and shortcomings, the book falls a bit short in actionable steps to include non-participatory social power-brokers, who in my experience, cause a decent portion of resistance to inclusion.

In the plain English of Oakland, this book probably will work well for activists out there negotiating how to practice self care while creating awakening to the commonalities we all share. But, this book may not work so well for someone who lives in a nicer neighborhood in Oakland who just wants their street “tent free”.

Hey, Ben I don’t want to put too much on you man but I was thinking this book might work well reorganized as a workbook for community organizers or a workbook for the non-believer in radical inclusion.

At least for Oakland, that’s my most common stumbling block dealing with people. All the people who can’t see humanity in others. I loved this book but I want a book for the people that wander into deep east or down on international and come back only screeching about filth. That’s my Oakland Christmas wish list. A structured method to reach those unconvinced in universal humanity.

A gem that resonated with me was on page 188, where he says “The world is infected, at every level, with othering”. That’s a quote I will carry with me. Because it’s true. I think if you hold that belief to be a fundamental truth you may enjoy walking through the vignettes of experience within this book.

The chapters are:

Understand Othering
Embrace Belonging
Build a Bridge
Confront Your Biases
Expand the Circle
Evolve Your Movement
Prioritize Radical Self Care
Do Something Now

The content of the chapters is true to their names.
I think this is a great book for activists seeking to feel less alone in their quest for expanding the circle of inclusion. If only we could get those unwilling to help to believe in it.

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