Magic Publications Catalogue

About Magic Publications

Magic is people practicing valuescience—scientific methods and principles applied to discern and to realize value to discover common human purposes and to further them. To these ends we publish three types of materials:

1. explanations of Magic's internal structure and operations by which we aim to evidence valuescience;
2. descriptions of our programs for the benefit of the general public, resting on a valuescience approach to philanthropy; and
3. content and supporting documentation from our programs, showing how we've applied valuescience to specific issues, people, and places.

We also distribute a few items closely related to our own work, which are written and/or published by others.

Our intention is to make what we are and do—and the analysis and vision underpinning these—widely accessible. We will appreciate hearing your thoughts and feelings about Magic, this catalogue, and its contents.

Publications which are highlighted as links below are currently online on our website.

If you are a person with writing, editing, illustrating, design, production, marketing, or distribution skills, and you think you may enjoy collaborating in our publishing activities, or if you imagine that you might enjoy making Magic in some other way, we will welcome your inquiry.

To contact us, please write Magic, Box 15894, Stanford, CA 94309; call (650) 323-7333; fax (650) 323-4232; or e-mail ecomagic@ecomagic.org.

Publications List

Magic's Structure and Operations

MAGIC: An introduction.

Includes sections on mission, analysis, approach, programs. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Who Makes Magic?

How Magic is organized. Includes sections on residence, service community, non-profit corporation, and operating principles. Describes criteria for affiliating with Magic, lists rewards and responsibilities of doing so in various ways. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 28 pages, $3.50.

Magic Social Contract

Agreement for those residing at Magic. Ten provisions: five focused inward; and five outward. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

A Word to Guests

Guidelines for visitors to Magic with sections on how we are, what we ask, and what we offer. Essential for those who comtemplate overnight stays, repeated informal interaction, or regular on-site volunteer work. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 16 pages, $2.00.

Give and Take at Magic

Describes Magic's activities to resurrect gift economy. Summarizes financial operations, including compensation to personnel, asset management, promotional activities. 8.5" x 11" sheet in 2-fold brochure format, $.50.

Supporting Magic

Outlines support to Magic: gifts, donations by those who receive services, word-of-mouth appreciation. Touches upon principles for asking and accepting support. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Magic Residential Service Learning

Overview of the Magic service-learning community. Includes ideas on which it is based, its past, its present, and plans for its future. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 6 pages, $.75.

Magic Program Descriptions

Beyond Illusion: An Ecological Approach to Value

Course prospectus for 1992-99 precursor to current valuescience course, including sections on: rationale for course, description of activities, list of objectives, and outline by topic with study questions. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

For a Common Good

Describes Magic services to engender cooperative action and peaceful resolution of conflict. Lists experience and achievements in several related areas. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Fruition

Introduction to program conducted from 1990 through 2005 in cooperation with wholesale nursery operators and school personnel to salvage surplus fruit trees and to teach children how to plant and care for them. Explains issues addressed in classroom presentations. Outlines terms of participation for distributing partners. 8.5" x 11" sheet in 2-fold brochure format, $.50.

Magic Mentors©

Introduction to mentoring program primarily for teens. Includes notes about philosophy, approach, scope of services. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Planting for the Second Hundred Years

Outlines project to teach ecology to volunteers while enhancing native California oak populations and habitat on public access recreational openspace lands owned by Stanford University. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Sustainable City

Outlines program to bring an ecological perspective to land use planning in Palo Alto and nearby communities. Describes successful demonstration projects to calm traffic, plant trees. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Swimming Magic©

Introduction to swim instruction program based on method developed by Magic and used to establish swim component of Stanford Center for Disease Prevention's Health Improvement Program. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25. (Please see Swimming Magic in Magic Program Content (below) for booklet describing Magic swim instruction.)

Winning Together

Introduction to team-building and cooperation skills development program for youth and adults. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Yoga and Friends

Briefly describes program comprised of hatha yoga class. Class emphasizes somatic awareness as path to loving. Brief overview of Magic on reverse. 5.5" x 8.5" format, single sheet, $.25.

Magic Program Content

Atherton-Fair Oaks Traffic Study and Plan

Product of a process of reconciliation between neighbors in two adjacent jurisdictions. Describes existing conditions; makes recommendations; includes exhibits (description of traffic controls, support for traffic management standards, before and after volume and speed data, etc.) and bibliography. Applicable to other locales. 8.5" x 11", perfect bound, 60 pages, $12.00.

A Better Home Brochure

Ecologically informed design for cooperative living

A Better Home

Prospectus for an ecologically informed residential dwelling construction project. Discusses goals, resources; requests assistance. Outlines current operations of Magic, and role of project in furthering service objectives. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 8 pages, $1.00.

Business in Palo Alto: How Much Is Enough?

An examination of what Palo Altans want. Analyzes past events, the current situation, and observable trends in Palo Alto and beyond. 8.5" x 11", 6 pages, $1.50.

California Oaks and Global Climate Change

Reprint of article published in International Oaks, Journal of the International Oaks Society. Begins with a summary of recent and projected human alterations to the gaseous composition of the atmosphere, and with an overview of appraisals of resultant effects on climate. Reviews some of the literature examining possible impacts of sudden climate change on oaks and other biota. Discusses how we at Magic are adapting our research, advocacy, and field work to the accumulating evidence of human-driven global climate change. Suggests how people may husband oaks through what appears likely to be at least a difficult transitional period, and how we may reduce human threats to their longer term well-being. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Can We Afford Not to Live in Community?

Reprint of article published in Communities magazine. Fall 2002 issue. 8.5" x 11", 5 pages, $1.50.

Can We Use Science to Know Our Ends?

A reprint of a letter to the editor published in the April 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Bioscience. Presents summary argument for valuescience—science is the sole demonstrated means by which humans improve ability to discern and realize value. 8.5" x 11", 1 page, $.25.

Contemplating Intentional Community?

Questions derived from twenty years of interaction with participants and prospects. Explores three fundamental topics: philosophy, resources, organization. 8.5" x 11" sheet in 2-fold brochure format, $.50.

Debris Blowers in Palo Alto

Participants in Magic's Liveable City Project explored costs and benefits for portable debris blowers used in landscape maintenance, formulated recommendations for regulation to further common interests, and joined with others in a successful campaign to ban gasoline powered debris blowers in residential areas of Palo Alto, California. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 16 pages, $2.00.

Evergreen Park Association Charter

Simple charter for longstanding (founded 1980) neighborhood association. Clauses on purpose, membership, steering committee, meetings, dues, quorum, chair, secretary, treasurer, amendments, and adoption. 8.5" x 11", 2 pages, $.50.

Evergreen Park Tree Tour

A walking tour of a twelve-block Palo Alto neighborhood. Includes seventy-five specimen trees of various species. Contains elements of natural history, urban ecology, how-to for aspiring tree planters, neighborhood organizers, and tree caretakers. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 32 pages, $4.00.

Feel for the Water

Reprint of articles by Magic personnel for New Zealand Triathlete magazine. Uses everyday concepts to explain dynamic lift and drag, laminar and turbulent flow, and propulsive qualities of various swimming movements. 8.5" x 11", 10 pages, $2.50.

Fruition Curriculum

Materials for use with Magic's Fruition program, conducted from 1990 to 2005, in which children planted and cared for fruit trees. For teachers of grades 1-8. Raises issues of biology, ecology, resource conservation, and economics. 8.5" x 11", 10 pages, $2.50.

Growth and Progress in Cities and Towns

Distinguishes growth from progress. Debunks common myths. Proposes framework for assessing appropriate size, and planning towards end of growth in a city or town. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Holistic Resource Management of Fire, Livestock, and Oaks on Stanford's Academic Reserve

Prepared for Stanford Planning Office. Based on extensive field and library research, and interviews with rangeland management practitioners. Treats HRM, fire hazard reduction, HRM grazing regimes, protecting young oaks. Bibliography. 8.5" x 11", saddle-stitched, 24 pages, $6.00.

Human Ecology, a Science for Living Well

Proposes broader definition of science. Touches upon methods, history, and content of modern science. Suggests ways to further scientific understanding. Advocates wider application of science to everyday life by diverse people. Offers ecology as means to discern and promote common interests. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 36 pages, $4.50.

Invasive Plants in the Foothills Region of Stanford University Lands

Presents findings from a survey of plant populations on the several hundred acres in the foothills portion of Stanford's Academic Reserve lands. Offers recommendations for preventing—and in some instances reversing—degradation which has resulted from the arrival and spread of noxious invasive species. Color photos, maps. 8.5" x 11", 28 pages, $15.00.

Language We Live

Explores connections among language, thought, and perception. Analyzes seventeen aspects of modern English for embedded consciousness (e.g. guilt, regret, subjectivity, reification, time, humility, possessiveness, etc.). 5.5" x 8.5" format, 16 pages, $2.00.

Liveable Streets

Story of a determined group of residents who closed and modified streets to bring greater safety, quiet, and stability to their neighborhood. Details political aspects of fifteen-year project. Invaluable for anyone embarked upon or contemplating such a venture. Map. 5.5" x 8.5," perfect bound, 72 pages, $9.00.

Making Magic: Ecological Community in an Urban Neighborhood

Reprint of feature article about Magic published in the Communities Directory. 8.5" x 11", 7 pages, $1.75.

Oak Regeneration on Stanford University Lands

Prepared for Stanford Planning Office. Describes decade-long project to restore native California oaks and their habitat on lands damaged by overgrazing. Details monitoring, planting, and caretaking activities and results. Two dozen graphs, maps, photos. Bibliography. 8.5" x 11", saddle-stitched, 40 pages, $10.00.

Oak Regeneration in Stanford Arboretum

Describes monitoring, planting, and caretaking activities and results. Graphs, maps, photos, diagrams. 8.5" x 11", saddle-stitched, 12 pages, $3.00.

No Net Growth!

Alternative to pro-growth draft of Business and Economics section for revised Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan (1995). Notes changing context for urban growth, relationship between size and pathology, inadequacy of traditional economic analysis to fully assess community costs. Presents survey of residents. Explains externalities. Proposes stability in place of growth. 8.5" x 11", saddle-stitched, 8 pages, $2.00.

Planning to Learn

An ecological approach to analyzing land use alternatives. Begins with fundamentals of ecology. Uses ecology to discern common human values. Examines current trends in human condition. Discusses implications of various settlement patterns. Outlines a scientific planning methodology. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 28 pages, $3.50.

Planting and Caring for Fruit Trees on Home Grounds

Discusses advantages of bare root trees, handling and storage, siting, ground preparation, root pruning, planting, staking, early pruning, pest control, sources of assistance on San Francisco Peninsula. 11" x 17," double-sided, $1.00.

Pleasure Through Planning

Values clarification and life-planning ideas. Detailed instructions for one-hour life-planning exercise. Encouragement and guidance for those seeking to live consciously according to deep personal values. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Propagating California Native Bunch Grasses

Detailed, step-by-step instructions for growing native California grasses from seed and preparing them for transplanting into the landscape. 7" x 8.5" format, 4 pages, $1.00.

Public Ownership of US Streambeds and Floodplains: A Basis for Ecological Stewardship

Reprint of article published in the April 2003 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Bioscience. Analyzes how public proprietary interests in streambeds and floodplains afford enormous untapped opportunity to protect them. Describes a legally and scientifically sound strategy to limit human interference with fluvial geomorphic processes and thereby regenerate diverse habitats and secure their myriad benefits. Shows how numerous successes in claiming and protecting public submerged lands and floodplains in dozens of states confirm the validity and power of this strategy. 8.5" x 11", 6 pages, $1.50.

Redefining Wealth, a Beginning

Closely examines wealth. Critically assesses dictionary definitions, economic approaches. Elucidates an ecological approach. Explores consequences of conforming economic ideas to principles of ecology. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Reflections on Science

Suggests ways to further understanding of science as social process. Proposes that people apply science more conscientiously in everyday life so that we may more effectively discern and promote common interests. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 36 pages, $1.50.

Shoes, Feet, and Health

Describes functional purpose of footwear, historical abuse of feet, and difficulty of securing proper fit in mass-produced shoes. Lists qualities of running shoe essential to proper fit. 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Stanford University - The Second Hundred Years

Produced by Stanford student interns at Magic. Offers alternative vision for a university. Includes conceptual framework; discussion of purposes of education; analysis of current uinversity operations; proposals for governance, admissions, finance, residential living, curriculum, research criteria, and external social relations. Suggests paths to transformation. Extensive bibliography. 8.5" x 11", perfect bound, 70 pages, $13.50.

Survival and Love

Examines evolving roles of survival and love in human adaptation from an ecological perspective. Suggests that merging of human futures is resulting in failure of narrow self-interest as adaptive strategy. Proposes ecologically-based culture of loving. Click link to read online. Paper copy: 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Swimming Magic

Techniques and philsophy for aspiring swimmers and for swim instructors. Innovative instructional method used successfully for nearly twenty years to teach people ranging from elite athletes to severely physically limted. 8.5" x 11", perfect bound, 64 pages, $12.50.

Thoughts on Addiction

Examines history and current status of addiction. Proposes evolutionary approach. Discusses means to shed addiction. Click link to read online. Paper copy: 5.5" x 8.5" format, 12 pages, $1.50.

Using Computer Simulation to Plan a Sustained Yield Urban Forest

Reprint of landmark article by Magic personnel for Journal of Forestry. Proposes benefit-based standard (canopy—as measured by pavement shading) for street tree management. 11" x 17" sheet in 8.5" x 11" format, 4 pages, $1.00.

Valuescience Booklet

Exposition of central idea underpinning Magic. Defines valuescience. Examines meanings assigned value and science in common usage and alternatives to these. Explains how science is sole demonstrated means for more accurately discerning and more consistently realizing value. Describes obstacles to valuescience and suggests means for individuals to hone practice. Click link to read online. Paper copy: 4.25" x 7" format, 48 pages, $5.00.

Vision Palo Alto 2020

A realistic and positive vision for Palo Alto. Served as a basis for discussion in the Comprehensive Plan revision process in 1993-5. Advocates that Palo Altans develop an accurate understanding of our place in nature and act cooperatively to secure our and others' satisfaction.

Wildfire and Oak Regeneration at the Urban Fringe

A paper reprinted from USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-160. An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at the symposium on Oak Woodlands: Ecology, Management, and Urban Interface Issues, March 19-22, 1996, San Luis Obispo, CA. Describes the effects of a 1992 wildfire on young, naturally occurring oaks located within a 500-acre oak woodland owned by Stanford University. Graph, Map, Table. 8.5" x 11", 6 pages, $1.50.

Written and Published Outside of Magic

The Art and Practice of Loving

Written by Frank Andrews. Published by Tarcher. Andrews is a physical chemist and tenured professor at UC Santa Cruz who teaches and writes about loving because, "that's the most important thing." Book is filled with quotations from diverse traditions; elaborates one hundred forty-four practices for loving. 5" x 7" paperback, 228 pages, $11.00.

Directory of Intentional Communities

Third edition, 2000. Published by Fellowship for Intentional Community. Descriptions of hundreds of North American communities and dozens overseas, including contact information, precepts, size, founding date, location, lifestyle, et cetera. Excellent articles about communities movement. 8.5" x 11" paperback, 440 pages, $25.00.

Other Requests

Mail List for One Year

Receive quarterly calendars, notices of special events, irregular updates about people and projects. We maintain the confidentiality of our mail list, and will secure your permission before releasing your contact information to anyone. $5.00.

Written Materials beyond Catalog Listings

Magic has provided copies of our articles of incorporation, corporate bylaws, board meeting minutes, returns filed with oversight agencies, and various working papers for people to use as models for similar ventures. Please be as specific as you can when you make your request, and understand that we will be constrained by our resources and other commitments when we respond.