‘I am a big believer in the power of purpose: that companies and individuals should have a meaningful purpose that guides their thinking, decisions, and actions. But until I read Robert Govers' Imaginative Communities, the thought of applying purpose at the community level never occurred to me. Read this brilliant book and you, too, will see how to bring a sense of belonging and meaningful purpose to your communities, no matter their size.’
B. Joseph Pine II, Co-author, The Experience Economy
'It has been said that countries should measure their gross national imagination, a critical resource for success in the twenty-first century. This important new book shows why this is crucial in an age of fractured identity – and how so many places have forged initiatives that put themselves on the map but also inspire the rest of the world.'
Dr Parag Khanna, Author of Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization
'
Robert Govers has written a terrific book. With miraculous clarity he guides the reader on a world tour of the subject of community reputation and its management. He presents a breathtaking range of places and kinds of actors – cities, regions and nation states – from the Americas to Central Asia and on to the Pacific. His examples are new, thought provoking and illuminated by his personal experience as a researcher and consultant. Best of all his conclusion underlines the need for citizens to focus not on presenting a better image but on building for a better reality.'
Nicholas J. Cull, Author of Public Diplomacy: Global Engagement in the Era of Social Media
'A really important addition to our understanding of people, places and their purpose. Govers’ book is a refreshing and highly readable departure from "practitioner" texts that simply apply tired marketing principles to the management and promotion of places. Incisive and genuinely thought provoking, this book deserves a place on the desk of every senior policy-maker in national, regional and city governments worldwide.'
Simon Anholt, Founder of Good Country
Get a free copy of the first chapter