"Many of the experiments in cohousing are extremely valuable to a society so distracted by materialism and so shell-shocked by the frantic American lifestyle. What kind of experiments am I talking about? Consensus decision-making; participatory design; alternative sources of energy; alternative sources of information; shared resources and designs that reduce each person"s ecological footprint; aging gracefully and vigorously; neighborhood activism in surrounding towns and communities; and collaborative management of neighborhood resources, to name just a few. In general, residents of cohousing are living actively rather than passively."" David Wann, editor

"Cohousing communities offer an alternative American Dream where residents work collaboratively to create strong, vibrant neighborhoods that use fewer resources and provide more-supportive environments. David Wann"s book offers valuable insights into why people are not only drawn to this type of neighborhood but have taken considerable risk and effort to create cohousing neighborhoods. It shows us both the mundane and extraordinary aspects of creating and living in community in contemporary America."

-- Kathryn M. McCamant, cohousing architect, developer, and co-author of Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves.


"Reinventing Community is an accessible and inspiring book, a rich tapestry of voices and insights from modern pioneers who are creating human scale villages, friendly to people and the sustainability of life on this planet.

-- Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity
"The folks David Wann profiles in Reinventing Community are the vanguard for the future -- they're learning today, often by painful and sometimes humorous trial and error, what it takes to go beyond the solitary and alienated survival tactics of modern urban life to the full flowering of the human spirit of tomorrow, in community."

-- Eric Utne, founder of Utne magazine and editor of Cosmo Doogood's Urban Almanac.


"Dave Wann"s fascinating smorgasbord of lively, engaging first-person tales helps us understand why small cooperative neighborhoods like these have such vital appeal"and why cohousing is now the fastest-growing kind of intentional community in North America today.

This anthology is also one of the best overviews of community living I"ve seen yet"the small unexpected pleasures; the ongoing sense of connection; the steady support of neighbors and friends; the safety, especially for older people and children; children always having many near-siblings at hand to play with; the potential clout with local officials"as well as the inevitable conflicts, challenges, heartbreaks, and innovative community solutions."

--Diana Leafe Christian, editor of Communities magazine and author of Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities.