Description

This extraordinary book urges us all to nurture dreams--our own and those of others. Every important social, community, and personal change starts with a spark of inspiration flamed by creativity and will. But all too often, dream-chasers never even start the race. An ideal book for volunteer managers who play the role of "dream-catchers" every day. Aren't most volunteers "dreamers"? (See Susan's December 2000 Hot Topic for an exploration of this issue.)

Readers of Making Dreams Come True without Money, Might or Miracles will discover how to:

• Become vital "dream-catchers": taking up the role of listener, encourager, facilitator, enabler and midwife to colleagues, students, friends and loved ones chasing dreams.
• Identify the "anchors" and sails" that hinder or help dreams to come true.
• Recognize what makes dreams die...and what makes them live.
• Create a "dream-friendly" environment in which dream-chasers can move from reverie to action.
• Deal with lack of funds and the presence of barriers and bigots.

Table of Contents

- Foreword by Susan J. Ellis
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: A Few Words…(well, maybe more than a few)

• Few Words about Dream-Catchers
  
• A Few Words about Dreams
  
• A Few Words about Money
  
• A Few Words about Barriers and Bigots
  
• A Few Words about Organizations
  
• A Few Words about Ivan

- Chapter 2: The Rules of the Game

• Rules for Dream-Catchers
  
• Rules for Dreamers

- Chapter 3: Location! Location! Location?

• VOLUNTAS-A Dream-Friendly Environment
  
• Think Tanks and Reflecting Polls
  
• The Support Circle
  
• Collective Dreaming

- Chapter 4: Anchors and Sails

• Lifting Anchors
  
• Unfurling Sails

- Chapter 5: Keeping Dreams Alive

Dreams Die Because…
…Others Are Too Happy to Do Your Dreaming for You
…Of an Inability to Concentrate
…Of Distractions from the Environment
…They Are Escape Fantasies
…Of Perfectionism and Fear of Failure
…They Are Crippled by Craving for Glory
…People Are Enslaved by Debt
…Of Money
…They Are Subordinated to Obligations of Conscience
…They Involve More Risk than People Are Willing to Take
…Of Lack of Inspiration
…Of Ignorance and a Lack of Valid, Relevant Information
…Of Majoritarian Thinking
…Of Conventional Wisdom
…Of Failings of Faith
…They Are Not the Best Dreams They Could Be

- Why Dreams Live
- Chapter Infinity: The End as the Beginning

Readers' Reviews

From Midwest Book Review
"Five Stars. In Making Dreams Come True Without Money, Might Or Miracles, philosopher, provocateur, and volunteer activist Ivan Scheir draws upon his more than thirty years of experience and expertise to explain what both dreamers and "dream-catchers" must do to bring dreams to life; why dreams die and how to keep them strong; the importance of a dream-friendly environment and how to create one; "rules" for dreamers and dream-catchers; how to look beyond money as a need, obstacle or trap; and the simple (yet profound) ways anyone can catch someone else's dreams and support them to reality. Making Dreams Come True Without Money, Might Or Miracles is a unique self-help, self-improvement guide that is enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone trying to bring to fruition their own dreams, hopes, aspirations, and desires."

"…a clear departure from the vague 'follow your dreams' mish-mash that has only made me more discouraged as a young person, and instead gives inspiring and highly practical examples of how to make dreams come true."
-- Sara Zia Ebrahimi, student activist and Outreach Coordinator, Self-Education Foundation

"I've just read Ivan Scheier's book and loved it!...a book for the volunteer weary who may be wondering if it has been worth it all. "
-- Anne Honer

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Brief Excerpt

Excerpted from Chapter 1
The Dream-Catcher of this book shares some but not all characteristics with the Native American artifact. My Dream-Catcher is a person, not a device. He or she takes up the task of helping people achieve their dreams, where "dream" means a goal, a purpose, a cause or a vision (more in the purposive than the mystic sense). Like the Ojibwe device, the Dream-Catcher of this book will help filter these dreams. The human Dream-Catcher, however, filters out the harmful influences rather than the bad dreams. My Dream-Catcher acts like the webbing to impede the distractions and dissuasions that prevent an individual from realizing his or her pursuit. Similar to the Native American object, the Dream-Catcher will provide the feathers of wisdom and courage to enable the dreamer to focus on and to follow her or his true aspirations.

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