John-Paul Flintoff has combined journalism, writing and activism with what he describes on his website as being "mad keen on making things." He's the author of Sew Your Own, which explored what your average citizen could to do to avoid relying on sweatshop-produced goods. His new book, How to Change the World, is from the School of Life series published by Picador. He lives in London, where he's a reporter for the Times. Flintoff agreed to an interview with us via e-mail.
You take approaches in this book that suggest you're not trying to create a guide for citizens who want change, but presenting a mix of timeless ideas with an understanding of how we relate to each other now, what with social media and the constant flood of information that comes with it. Who did you have in mind as "the reader" while you were writing it?
I do believe that absolutely everybody should be allowed to notice that they have an effect on the world already, and that they could change the kind of effect they're having to one that makes them happier. In other words, I really believe this is for everybody. We all have dreams we'd like to realise, and worries about things we'd like to avoid/prevent.
It seems that every month there is one march or another in Washington, D.C., and the press reports wildly different estimates of the size, interviews a few protesters, and a week later it's as if nothing happened. Are marches effective anymore?
Perhaps it's not just the marches that aren't entirely effective but the journalism. Marches can be a way to draw attention to an issue--which is one of the three key mechanisms of change. (The others are avoiding having anything to do with systems/situations you dislike, and creating a better alternative to what's currently available.) But if everybody's marching, then the messages get a bit blurred. People should try something else instead.
If you could share just one thing you'd suggest to people on changing the world, what would it be?
Like it or not, you already have an effect on the world around you. It's unavoidable. If you smile, others may smile too. If you frown, they'll frown. So think about the kind of effect you're having, and how you might like to change that. Ask yourself what you would do if you somehow just knew you couldn't fail. Then break down your magnificent goal into small steps, because nobody ever achieved anything except in small steps. Each small step will give you courage to move on to the next, slightly bigger step. We all have the power to live an inspiring example to others--so what's stopping you? --Matthew Tiffany, counselor, writer for Condalmo