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Prince of Wales Charles
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Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World Hardcover – 14 Oct. 2010

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A blueprint for a more balanced, sustainable world by King Charles III.

For more than 30 years His Royal Highness Prince Charles The Prince of Wales has been at the forefront of a growing ecological movement. Originally treated with scepticism, many of his ideas are now widely accepted and gaining increasing impact and influence. His work has sought to meet a huge range of modern challenges, from urbanisation to deforestation. In every case, however, the philosophy that is the foundation of his work has always been the same, but has always been unspoken, until now.

For the first time, Prince Charles, with the help of his two leading advisors, has brought together his vast knowledge and experience to set out this philosophy - a philosophy that is as robust as it is practical.

In Harmony, Prince Charles looks at different aspects of our modern world to demonstrate how many of the challenges seen in areas as diverse as architecture, farming and medicine can be traced to how we have abandoned a classical sense of balance and proportion. From the rice farms of India to America's corn belt, Harmony spans the globe, dissecting the specific practices of modern life that have put us at odds with the world and showing how this imbalance manifests itself throughout our lives.

Harmony shows how the imbalance that has emerged is at heart of a crisis which now threatens our very civilisation. It tells the story of how our disconnection from Nature has contributed to the greatest crisis in the history of mankind and how seeking balance in our actions will return us to a more considered, secure, comfortable and cleaner world.

Drawing on his own practical experience, Prince Charles charts how changes to how we look at the world could lead us toward a better future. He describes how knowledge and perspectives now largely lost could help us meet very modern challenges, including in the built environment, engineering, medicine and farming.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  4. Publication date
    14 Oct. 2010
  5. Dimensions
    24.13 x 16.51 x 3.81 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0007348037
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0007348039
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

‘An important book…By promoting the idea of a revolution in consciousness as the remedy for contemporary ills the prince shows he is a modern man.’ THE INDEPENDENT

‘A bold and courageous book.’ THE TELEGRAPH

‘The breadth is panoramic… The book has an engaging candour, inviting the reader into a one-on-one conversation…Harmony reacquaints us with a sense of our collective spirit.’ THE ECOLOGIST

‘A remarkable fusion of philosophy, ecology, theology, artistry, biology and cosmology’ SUNDAY TASMANIAN

About the Author

HRH Prince Charles is first in line to the throne. His wide range of interests is reflected in 'The Prince's Charities', 20 not-for-profit organisations of which he is President. The organisations are active across areas including opportunity and enterprise, education, health and the built and natural environments. The Prince's concerns about developments in these fields have been elaborated in many speeches and articles but Harmony is the first time his philosophy has been explained.



Tony Juniper is the Executive Director of Friends of the Earth and co-author of the award-winning PARROTS. He lives in Cambridge, and campaigns in the UK and worldwide on a broad range of environmental issues.



IAN SKELLY is a much-loved BBC Radio 3 presenter with a passion for music and the arts. Before working at the BBC, he was an award-winning travel writer for The Observer. He is also a published writer on the arts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; First Edition (14 Oct. 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007348037
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007348039
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 24.13 x 16.51 x 3.81 cm
  • Customer reviews:

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Prince of Wales Charles

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
256 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Jack
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightened
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2011
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I was astonished by this book. I was astonished by the HRH that wrote it. It has put my view of the man on an entirely different level, and happy I will be to have such a King.

The depth of learning on which his words are based is extraordinary, and I know this because he follows quite uncannilly my own. He brings up many issues I have, quotes the exact verses I have, and tries to help move us forward in ways I haven't yet got to grips with.

I know his basis in philosophy will make a lot wince, but I know what he says is true; it is the very path I started along myself. Since we appear to have walked the same road and come to the same conclusions, there must be something born of right thought in it.

His explanation of the lost ecological essence of the major religions is remarkable to me since I have struggled with the paradox of how far religion has moved away from our Source, the Earth. It is indeed this fracture that has made us believe we are masters of the planet. Man cannot create one blade of grass! We are made up of the rocks and minerals, the air, water, and bacteria of this planet - we are part of it, and it is all of us. We do not exist without it, we are One.

He has done a very remarkable and brave job of pulling the threads together. I agree entirely that we must control ourselves - our population size - or we will go beyond the Earth's willingness to sustain us. This is critical; solving our insane lack of selfcontrol, and sealing the rift between knowledge and knowing, selfishness and community, human and all else, is vital.

Science is a mode of enquiry and it has given us much, but it is only that. There is much that we do not know, much that we never will. We are viewing the world through a letterbox and it's about time we got a much wider holistic outlook whilst there is still beauty to be dreamed.
41 people found this helpful
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Lucy Emm
5.0 out of 5 stars Arts or Science must we choose
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2011
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A quick dip into this book is all that is necessary to establish that it is written by the Prince and not ghost written in his name. The terminology the enthusiasm and the vast accumulated sometimes first hand knowledge, which only one such as the Prince would possess; is demonstrated throughout. The author accepts that he has his critics which he refers to as the ''usual suspect but is not deterred.

The book is a balance between an academic work and a dose of realism. It is not a book which can be read from begining to end in one go it requires time.

Many of the ideas put forward by the author fly in the face of people such as some academics and those who believe that science is the answer to all. The author questions the effect on society of technology such as computers as the 'fait accompli' with which so many are forced.

This book reminds the reader to appreciate the beauty that exists whilst is still does.

Anyone who considers themselves to be well informed should spend time with this book with an open mind and then, ask themselves,

"Have I got my priorities right?"

 Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World
15 people found this helpful
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Milena Borden
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2019
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This is a very nicely written and carefully researched book with lovely illustrations. A great read for those who care about the environment in an apolitical way. It covers a broad range of issues including traditional farming, restoration and energy saving strategies. It is a classy but accessible book and makes a great present, coffee table or bedside read.
One person found this helpful
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Lord P
4.0 out of 5 stars A good summary of issues affecting us all.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2013
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I'm not a fan of Royalty but my rating of the Prince of Wales rose measurably in response to this book. It is an intelligent appraisal of where we are at, and far more than a coffee table book, though as beautifully produced as such an item. His analysis, influenced no doubt by the views of his erudite co-writers, spells out the difficulties the world faces. Yet despite our staring ecological disaster in the face, the book puts a positive slant on what can be done to rescue the situation. He's not talking just about the economic and ecological issues facing us all, but about our existence as a species with a spiritual component. In my humble view we're doomed since greed, selfishness and seeking short term gain seem (to me) to be essential characteristics of the human species. Unless these human shortcomings are overcome the positive outcomes he suggests are possible will surely still be overwhelmed until the situation is too late to rectify. But a good read nonetheless. I only wish his perspective was realistic.
6 people found this helpful
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Barbara Steward
5.0 out of 5 stars A wise gentleman ahead of his time.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2018
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Great book, clearly and interestingly demonstrates what damage we are doing to our earth and solutions too. Easy to read despite this being such a complex emotive subject. You can feel Charles voice, concern, despair and strong desire to remedy so much. He has a lot of knowledge regarding nature and pollution, organic methods. We should have listened to this guy years ago, when he was actually mocked for such insight into the greed and destruction that sometimes seems to be irreparable in our soil, sea and sky.
9 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars His privileged viewpoint is hard to swallow
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2017
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This book is designed with a golden cover and photos of the HRH Prince Charles on many of the pages. The photos are exceptional, giving the reader access to a collection that would only be available to a prince. The message in the book is obvious to any of us that live close to nature, those of us who have known since the 1990's that climate change is an issue for our planet and that we should live in harmony with nature. It is reassuring that HRH Prince Charles uses his power to emphasise this point, however, the book is written from his egotistical, self centred and glass towered perspective which comes through clearly in the narrative which is sometimes difficult to absorb. The mathematical analysis relating our relationship to the environment to a sacred geometry is interesting. It's too bad that HRH Prince Charles cannot communicate in a language that is not self promoting or privileged as this is not natural to most of us.
3 people found this helpful
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Vitor Hugo
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive / Impressionante
Reviewed in Brazil on 30 December 2022
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It's amazing get access to what king Charles III, still as prince of Wales, think about life. I learn a lot reading this book. His majesty not only put the environmental problems at table, he appoint solutions from organic farming to traces of a new economical system respecting the planet's capacity. It's impressive.

É fantástico ter acesso à mente de Charles III, ainda como príncipe de Gales. Aprendi muito lendo este livro. Sua majestade não só aponta os problemas ambientais, ele apresenta soluções que vão deste produção de alimentos de forma menos agressiva, orgânica, até traços de um novo sistema econômico ou a evolução do atual de forma a respeitar os limites de capacidade do planeta. É impressionante.
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R. Bruce Stock
5.0 out of 5 stars The future King of England has done his homework.
Reviewed in Canada on 29 June 2022
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With this book, he has delivered a compelling grasp of the menacing realities of our troubled planet, with its environmental challenges. Without a political bias, he provides extensive insights into how our future can be preserved for tomorrow.

R. Bruce Stock
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Harmony is a book with a difference.
Reviewed in India on 25 October 2022
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.Harmony ' by king Charles is a marvellous book. It's a gold mine of wonderful ideas, where at some places you get dust and soil and stones, while at others you get lumps of gold,and therefore your exploration of the gold mine is worth doing. Charles says, you can't solve environmental and related problems, if you won't change your orientation .Our orientation, he says, should be, "Put Nature at the heart of your consideration ".Yet, in modern times, the people have no place for Nature in their hearts. Charles suggests us 'to travel back in time and to see the world as the ancients saw it'.This is fully true-but today people and govts cut down millions of trees in the name of civilisation, having no reverence for Nature;whereas people in ancient times had deep reverence for trees, streams, rivers and all objects of Nature. So the truth unfolded in this comparison is that a treeless ,anti-life modern civilization is not preferable to the world of our forefathers who were nature lovers and tree lovers. And if we could follow their tenets, 'we realise the timeless view of things which is rooted in human condition and human experience'.Such a feeling or perception is akin to spirituality that the modern men are terribly neglecting. Adopt all palliative measures, you can never solve the environmental problems; get down to the roots of the matter that gives us the life giving earth or the life giving landscape and have the feeling that the trees are your lungs, then the ecological problems will be solved in a few years.
Harmony is therefore a superb book, for you get the good taste of it long after you have finished it.I laud king Charles for his inimitable contribution.
N.Negi,an English Prof, author of the book Publicly Speak Ecology( see Amazon ;a foreword by king Charles to it is solicited.) and a Youtuber with the channel, Environment and public speaking.
email: profnnegi@gmail.com
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Ikar
5.0 out of 5 stars Harmony von Charles HRH The Prince of Wales
Reviewed in Germany on 21 November 2014
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Dieses Buch in der heutigen Zeit zu lesen ist eine reine Freude. Prinz Charles of Wales ist ein hoch intelligenter Mensch der den Kreislauf unsres Seins und unsres Planeten schon lange verstanden hat. Er beleuchtet alle Aspekte unsres Seins aus einer humanen Sicht. Eine reine Freude bereitet es auch dass dieses Buch in einem sehr feinen Englisch geschrieben ist, zusätzlich die schönen Fotos. Ein überaus empfehlenswertes Buch.
3 people found this helpful
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gentle rain
5.0 out of 5 stars An environmental read, a read for all weary of industrialism
Reviewed in the United States on 10 February 2011
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I absolutely love this book. It is a must read for every environmentalist, activist and should be for every student.

It is about our environment and the tell tale signs of how damaged it is, why and how it got this way and what we can all do about it. He speaks of "modernism" and the human races' shunning of its bond to nature and how this is unnatural to us and how shunning nature affects us. He briefly covers many subjects, many people do not realize what aspects of our lives that the environment and nature affect. He talks about Nature and its relation to health, healing, communities, crime, behavioral health, food, architecture, religion, math, etc. (The first two chapters are not for the faint of heart, however just like getting over a bad habit, you to admit you have it in order to start recovery so don't lose heart!)

I like the middle chapters; the history (and culture) of how before medieval times we all "lived off the land", how we got here stiffed with our current attitudes and about the Catholic churches involvement.

I shun "modernity" myself, I have felt this way a long time and frankly, I think it was great of Prince Charles to put it in black and white for people that think and feel like I do (a huge impact on people, today-a must read!). He is a very intelligent man, very in tune to all things around him, eloquent and also some humor here and there. The environment and nature touches our lives in so many aspects(aside from the current and immediate dangers), he brings this all together in one very well thought out/laid out book.

A definite addition to my activist library. I bought one for myself and 6 (so far) for friends, family and associates. It's that good and the message is that important! You will feel enlightened by the time you are at the end of the book. Enjoy!
13 people found this helpful
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