Coming of Age in a Globalized World: The Next Generation, written by Fairleigh Dickinson University President J. Michael Adams and Angelo Carfagna, director of communications (Metro), was published the second week in February by Kumarian Press, Bloomfield, Conn. In the book, Adams and Carfagna detail the interconnections created by globalization and examine the case for world citizenship. They further describe possible approaches to global education and opportunities for acting as world citizens.

Angelo Carfagna, left, and J. Michael Adams.

As the publisher summarized, “Employing an easily understood ‘connect-the-dots’ metaphor, Coming of Age in a Globalized World: The Next Generation navigates the threads that surround and link humanity. Exploring the notion of an interrelated world, Adams and Carfagna stress the importance of world citizenship as they seek to reconcile the contrast between national bonds and global interests. They provide a comprehensive landscape of current issues and conflicts in global politics as they challenge the next generation to shape viable answers to the impending global issues.”

Of the book, John Brademas, president emeritus of New York University and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, said, “This thoughtful and lively book offers documentation and analysis to help us understand the proliferation of changes and connections throughout the world. Adams and Carfagna masterfully make clear the imperative of overcoming ignorance of the cultures, histories and languages of other societies. Globalization, they assert, means education!”

Adams explained, “We wrote this book because we wanted to attempt to carefully explain what globalization means and how it dramatically impacts everyone on the globe. We see changes all around us but how should we react? The answer really comes to down to adopting a global perspective and thinking and acting like a world citizen. We attempt to explain what this involves and how educators can help cultivate world citizens.”

While the text is primarily designed for college students who may not be familiar with the many facets of globalization, global education and world citizenship, Adams says that anyone interested in understanding the changes taking place in our world and concerned for the future will find something of interest.

Featured on the cover of the book are four photographs of young people from around the world, taken by the renowned photographer Steve McCurry. McCurry is perhaps best known for his haunting photograph of a green-eyed Afghan girl, which appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1985.

Adams and Carfagna have worked together on this project for four years. Carfagna said that the book “provided a wonderful opportunity to research and write about important global issues that directly connect to the mission of the University.”

He added, “This book is filled with information that may better explain our interconnected world. This book may also contain some inspiration to start on the road toward embracing the concept of world citizenship. But mostly this book is filled with hope that the next generation will help us overcome the problems that plague us and fulfill the promise of the future.”

Coming of Age in a Globalized World: The Next Generation is featured on the cover of the Kumarian Press spring catalog and also is the lead book highlighted inside. For more information go to http://www.nextgenerationbook.com or to order a copy, go to http://www.kpbooks.com .

February 2006

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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