Thinking Not So Big

Kids understand implicitly the pleasures of a cozy nook. Adults can learn something from our children as we go about designing our homes.

"When I was 10 years old, my elementary school teacher assigned the class a puzzle, which she wanted us to solve by thinking creatively. The solution offers the essence of how to think about design. Here's the problem: Without taking pen off paper, and using only four straight lines, connect the nine dots. At home I spent hours on the problem and grew increasingly frustrated. I knew my teacher wouldn't lie to us, that there must be an answer, yet it appeared to be an impossible assignment. During the middle of the night, however, I awoke with the answer clear in my mind. I reached for the problem and magically connected the dots with four straight lines. What I discovered was that, if I stayed within the box created by the dots, I couldn't solve the problem. Once I broke the confines of the outline, the problem solved itself."

"Is there a way to think beyond ordinary boundaries to create a house that works better for us? This is the secret to designing a Not So Big House--the ability to think creatively, responding to needs and wishes, not to preconceived notions of what a house should be."

--from The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka

The following are links to some people and organizations that clearly think outside of the box.

New Society Publishers, "The Activist Book Publishers"
Provides access to books, links, and information on all kinds of activist issues.

Global Ideas Bank
An International Suggestion Box for socially innovative non-technological ideas and projects, with £1,000 UK sterling awards annually for the best ideas or projects submitted.

New Civilization Network
A global network of people visualizing a better world and working on building it.

The Official Robert Anton Wilson Website
The official site of a man who couldn't stay in a box if he tried. Wonderful links page.

Gesundheit! Institute's Rip-Roarin' Home Page!
Dr. Patch Adams is an uncontrollable individual who believes in such outlandish things as all people being loved and happy and well.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences
The purpose of the Institute is to "support research and education on consciousness, human potential, and personal and social transformation".

Theosophical Society in America
The Theosophical Society "is a nonsectarian, undogmatic, worldwide organization devoted to human solidarity, cultural understanding, and self-development."

Worldwatch Institute Online
Worldwatch is "a nonprofit public policy research organization dedicated to informing policymakers and the public about emerging global problems and trends and the complex links between the world economy and its environmental support systems.