How the Force Can Fix the World

From widespread unemployment and mounting international hostilities, every day we are swept into more political chaos—so one brave man looks to the Star Wars universe for answers to our most urgent problems.

“You can’t stop the change — anymore than you can stop the sun from setting.” Anakin Skywalker was never able to live with this wisdom shared by his mother on the day he left home to train as a Jedi Knight. That failure led him to becoming the fearsome villain we all know as Darth Vader. 
 
We’re living in a time of unprecedented and rapid change. An age of chaos. Democracies are in decline worldwide. Dictators are ascendant. Civic organizations are crumbling. People feel lonelier and more rudderless than in any other time in recent history. We’ve tried to slow down, and in some cases we, like Anakin, have tried stop the change, but failed at every turn. The fears that come with living in an age of disruption have produced public anger, and that anger has swelled movements of hate. 
 
Author Stephen Kent believes part of the solution is hiding in plain sight. A story that binds together multiple generations with a common language, a moral framework, and a sense of wonder. It’s Star Wars. 
 
What if we looked to Star Wars for more than just entertainment? How the Force Can Fix the World takes this challenge on by analyzing the core principles of the Star Wars franchise: HOPE, CHOICE, HUMILITY, EMPATHY, REDEMPTION, BALANCE and rejecting FEAR. Together, these are the Star Wars roadmap for living better lives, and maybe even fostering a better politics.
 
The path that we’re on — where fear leads to anger, and anger to hatred — will only end in suffering. But Star Wars shows us the way back from the brink. Shared stories of virtue that are beloved across cultures and political divides are hard to come by, but Star Wars is one such story. Turn on the news; things are pretty broken right now — but the Force can fix the world.

• "My friend Stephen Kent has written a definitive analysis of how the virtues of Star Wars transcend political differences and can help us live better lives. In a time where belief in redemption, empathy, and even hope is borderline rebellious, this book is a real force for good — go get this book!"
   
  Glenn Beck, host of The Glenn Beck Show and founder of TheBlaze
• "With so much division and frustration these days, we could all use a book that helps us see a brighter path ahead. Stephen Kent beautifully weaves together threads from the beloved Star Wars franchise to show us how we can each be a hero--by being more humble, more optimistic, and more brave."
  Kristen Soltis Anderson, Columnist for the Washington Examiner, Host of SiriusXM's "The Trendline,” Pollster and Founding Partner of Echelon Insights
• “From Naboo to New York, Stephen Kent engagingly weaves the themes, principles, and lessons from our favorite galaxy far, far away into the current events and crises happening right in front of us, demonstrating step-by-step how Star Wars might just teach us all to be better humans."
  Clayton Sandell, Broadcast Journalist, Producer of ABC News’ “The Force of Sound: Creating sounds in a galaxy far, far away”
• “Our politics have taken a sharp detour around our shared humanity. There’s division, unkindness, and profound confusion surrounding how we relate to one another, especially those with whom we disagree. We need a guide to lead us back to one another. And as Mr. Kent ably demonstrates in this book, Star Wars can be that guide.”
  Betsy Hodges, 47th Mayor of Minneapolis