Don Morris
ABOUT
Don loves his family and friends. He loves the human family, our kindred species, and our Mother Earth. He writes for us, our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come.
He is passionate about human and environmental issues … particularly … dignity, justice, respect, critical thinking, people having a voice, and truth-telling. After beginning his career as a police officer, Don completed two degrees, shifted to social work, and contributed for several decades in various helping profession roles.
Several years ago, a friend asked Don if there was one crucial common denominator that he had observed about big-picture human issues. Don’s answer was sobering.
The common denominator is that … there is a wide array of dysfunctional and harmful aspects of masculinity that drive many big picture human and environmental issues. Dysfunctional aspects of masculinity manifest globally in all domains and at all levels. They impact countless persons, relationships, families, communities, peoples, environments, and the earth. Commonly, dysfunctional masculinity dominates and distorts an array of man-made and man-controlled institutions, organisations, governments, states, empires, political organisations, religions and cultures. Don and his friend nodded and sat in silence for a minute or so. Then gave each other a knowing look.
Crucially … and in fairness … in all his books … many times … Don emphasises that … dysfunctional masculinity does not drive all men, nor the majority of men. But it drives too many powerful, wealthy, influential, dominant, controlling and harmful men … and has done for millennia … here, there and everywhere, throughout the globe. Don concludes that … historically and currently … all highly problematic and harmful macro issues are almost entirely generated by powerful, wealthy, influential, dominant, controlling and harmful men … who are governed by dysfunctional aspects of their masculinity.
The evidence and details of these conclusions are described and addressed throughout his books. Don hopes to bring this reality into the light of day so it can be widely recognised and mindfully addressed.
Don’s books are his retirement opus. They reflect who he has become as a person and as a professional. Don is a big thinker and an unrestrained advocate for decency, integrity, critical thinking and accountability in all human and environmental domains.
Don’s youngest son read Can We Do Better? and wrote a review. He told Don that his thesis would go gangbusters if just a handful of prominent people champion his books. Jokingly and seriously … Don’s son also said that if the books take off, Don will be a widely loved and widely hated. He told his dad to get ready to be trolled … big time. Don is philosophical about these possibilities. He was compelled and guided to write by head, heart and gut. And so … four books were written in about six years. We’ll see what unfolds.
Don and his books are both soulful and pragmatic. He is unafraid of ‘inconvenient truths’ … and is not daunted by complex, diverse and interwoven macro and micro issues. Writing has emerged as an extension of Don’s character, mindfulness, professionalism, education, and his lifelong commitment to learning.