Duane Elgin is Co-Founder of Great Transition Stories, an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School, an MA in economic history from the University of Pennsylvania, and an honorary Ph.D. for work in “ecological and spiritual transformation” from the California Institute of Integral Studies. In 2006, he received the Japanese Goi International Peace Award in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.”
His books include Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich (1981, 1993, 2010), Awakening Earth: Exploring the Evolution of Human Culture and Consciousness (1993), Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanity’s Future (2000), The Living Universe: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going? (2009), and Choosing Earth: Humanity’s Great Transition to a Mature Planetary Civilization (2020). With Joseph Campbell and other scholars, he co-authored Changing Images of Man (1982).
Duane has contributed chapters to 22 books and published more than 100 major articles, blogs, and reports. In the early 1970s, he worked as a senior staff member of a joint Presidential-Congressional Commission on the American Future, then as a senior social scientist with the think-tank SRI International where he co-authored numerous long-range futures studies including Anticipating Future National and Global Problems (for the President’s Science Advisor), Alternative Futures for Environmental Policy (for the EPA), and The Future of the Automobile (for Ford Motor Company).
Over the past 30 years, he has co-founded three nonprofit, trans-partisan organizations concerned with media accountability and citizen empowerment. As a speaker, he has given more than 300 keynotes and workshops to audiences ranging from business executives and civic groups to churches and college students, plus 23 online programs. With Peter Russell, he co-created “Pete and Duane’s Window,” a series of seven half-hour video programs.
