ON CIVILITY: Restorative Reflections

"A paean to civility that couldn’t come at a better time. 

"...Although civility may still have something to do with 'manners,' as the author sees it, the concept also encompasses 'compassion, dignity, human value, human worth, forgiveness, and self-dignity.' Overall, the book is both an exploration and a celebration of these fundamental values."
~ Kirkus Reviews

"John-Robert Curtin's On Civility is an insightful, instructive collection of poetry. ..

"Curtin’s prose poems are philosophical, drawing on his experiences with mediation and conflict resolution. They’re also concerned with self-help; many read like instructions or self-affirmations, placing emphasis on accepting responsibility and creating one’s own destiny. Incivility in the workplace, the strengths and failures of communication, and the power of listening are addressed in poems like “On Listening: A Gift of Compassion”:

Listening to understand is a gift that you can bestow
on others while you receive a tremendous
return on investment. I learn very little when I am
listening to respond and at best, I only amplify my own
ignorance as I convince myself of my own importance.

"Witty moments lighten the elsewhere heavy tone: one entry asks whether “converting oxygen to CO2 your primary purpose,” while another, “On Being Trumped or Chumped”—an apparent criticism of President Trump—is quick to integrate with the book’s overall theme. It makes the essential point that one person’s normal is another’s abnormal."
~ PETER DABBENE, ForeWord Reviews

"Your book of poems ON CIVILITY is a tribute to your life's work. It is wide in its scope and engaging in the images you 'paint' with your poems. Your poems are instructive as well; and provide both those of us professionally involved and the wider readership with an accessible and wide ranging essay on the very important challenge facing us all—how to be civil to each other in a pandemic. Well done.”
~ Professor Patrick Pietroni DSc (Hon), FRCP, FRCGP, MFPH, Director Darwin International Institute for the Study of Compassion (DIISC)

"Your book is wonderful! I really like the poetic voice, as well as the organization of the volume that carries the reader through from one act of contemplation to the next. Additionally, it's gorgeous, and the design suits the tone of the poems and the overall pacing of the book."
~ David Anderson, Ph.D.,Professor of English, University of Louisville, Board Member of The University Press Kentucky.

"We are the culture in the Petri dish called Earth, and that shared reality requires individuals to perform and act autonomously yet cooperatively. J-R’s reflections for essential human affiliation can detoxify and reclaim relationships too often allowed to go unmaintained."
~ TONY BELAK, Esquire, Mediator Ombuds

"… A beautifully crafted and insightful book which holds your attention and encourages reflection and introspection on the path through life and the people we meet along the way. Highly relevant in these times (COVID-19 and US riots) in developing a personal philosophy of actually and actively listening to bring about change..’"
~ Dr. Paul Quantock, Chairman, The Foundation for Entrepreneurial Participation, Hull, E Riding of Yorkshire, UK

“J-R Curtin has written a book that is timeless and timely!  On Civility will restore your soul, mind, and heart.  Become a better version of yourself as you read this poetic meditation.

"It is simply one of the wisest books I’ve read. It is made for this time!  It has taught me lessons that I can apply within so that I can make a difference in other people’s lives.”
~ Carlos Revas, Director of Fitness and Wellness Operations at Proformance Health & Wellbeing, Louisville, Kentucky.

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