In Conversations with Critical Thinkers experts in the field of critical thinking talk about the experiences and ideas they have wrestled with in their careers as educators, writers, psychologists, and program evaluators. By focusing on the personal and practical aspects of critical thinking, these informal conversations show how theory translates into practice both in, and out of, the classroom.

First published in 1993, Conversations offers an inviting introduction to a process that can deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world, improve our ability to communicate and act effectively, and enrich the quality of our individual and collective lives. While appealing to general readers, Conversations has also been used as a supplementary reader in college classes and in various workshops.

We invite you to read the Introduction to give you a sense of the themes explored in this volume.

To order copies, please print out this form and mail with a check payable to The Whitman Institute at P.O. Box 2528, San Francisco, CA 94126.

Building Family Unity Through Giving: The Story of the Namaste Foundation
By Deanne Stone  1992, Revised 2008   27 pages

How do parents capture and hold their children’s interest in participating in the family foundation? Those were the questions Bob and Wendy Graham asked themselves when they started the Namaste  Foundation in 1987. The challenges were compounded for the Grahams, a blended family that combined two sets of children from very different backgrounds.

The Grahams hoped that giving the younger generation real responsibilities and an equal voice in running the foundation would give them an immediate sense of ownership. Instead, the children initially felt frustrated and confused by their new responsibilities and unsure of what their parents expected of them. Building Family Through Unity Through Giving traces the foundation’s early years, from the family’s bumpy start to their gradually coming together as a functioning board and more cohesive family.

The foundation was the major, but not the only way the Grahams hoped the children would learn to manage and use money responsibly and to build self-confidence. The parents also created a parallel education program, described in the booklet, which included hands-on investing and volunteering in projects locally and overseas. 

Families starting new foundations as well as those preparing to include the next generation on the family board will find the Graham’s example as instructive today as when their story first appeared 16 years ago. And to learn how successful the Grahams were in meeting their goals, the new edition includes a check-in with the family today.

A free PDF version of the booklet is available here

To order copies, please fill out this form and mail with a check payable to The Whitman Institute at P.O. Box 2528, San Francisco, CA 94126.