I got my hands on this massive, awesome tome the other day—the result of a decade-long research and analysis effort by Sean Esbjorn-Hargens and Michael Zimmerman into how to integrate all the different forms of ecology—and have been slowly working my way through it. This book feels very important so I’m taking my time, making sure to understand each paragraph rather than racing through the way I sometimes do.

I’m catching a lot of gems this way. Here’s one from the introduction, where the authors are laying out their goal for this book: to put together all the various ideas formed by the more than 200 movements within environmentalism to reveal a fuller, multi-layered, and more complete understanding of our home and how best to live in it.

“We do not assert that all perspectives are equal. Some truths are more comprehensive than others. Partial worldviews and partial perspectives reveal partial truths, which are accurate and essential but must be integrated int a larger, more comprehensive picture.”

To me, this underscores the importance of developing new ways to relate to each other—to view our contributions as offerings to the whole rather than viewpoints that must be defended to the death. Looking for agreements is one way to do this. Laying aside our need to be right is another. Having the humility to recognize truths that may be “more comprehensive” than our own piece of the puzzle is yet another.

What are your ideas on making a new culture? How do we put together the pieces to create bold, comprehensive solutions to our problems?