Earlier this year, I told all of my parent friends that if there was one book all parents need to read, it’s Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn. Now, I’d like to spread the word to everyone—parents, teachers, leaders, politicians, and everyone on Earth—about a book that is a definite-must read by anyone alive today, and it’s called Most Good, Least Harm by Zoe Weil.

If you feel helpless in the world around you—as if you’re at the mercy of the BP oil spill, nuclear threats, environmental destruction, and war pulsing all across the globe—this is the tool that will make you feel empowered and ready for action! Weil’s book, subtitled “A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life,” is just that—an easy to read, easy to incorporate (for the most part) set of principles that, if followed, can foster a better world for ourselves and our fellow humans as well as more satisfaction and spiritual connection in our own lives. (And by spiritual, I mean that in an open, connected way; Weil does not endorse any religion in her book.)

Abbreviated MOGO, Most Good, Least Harm is a lifestyle based on seven key elements. These include pursing joy through volunteering, striving for balance in your life, finding and creating community, taking responsibility for your actions, making connections and self-reflecting on issues around you, modeling your message and working for change, and “living your epitaph.” Weil explains each of these keys thoroughly and simply in her book, and many of us are likely already doing many, if not most, of these things in our lives. In order to use these seven keys, Weil also maintains that we need to instill the three R’s in our lives—reverence, respect, and responsibility. And if we can’t make a MOGO choice—such as when we purchase electronics that are made with minerals mined from genocide-torn areas—we can use our three V’s—our voice, vote, and monetary veto—to make change so we can have MOGO choices in the future.

The reason the lesson is only easy “for the most part” is that many people will either not want to change—to question where their products come from, to stop purchasing things they do not need, to reduce their travel and waste, to refrain from harming animals in any way—or have a hard time doing so. In my own case, I was a vegetarian for nearly three years before I got married, and I’ve had conscience issues with raising my daughter as a meat-eater just because the rest of my family eats meat. Weil’s book has helped me to remember why I chose that lifestyle in the first place, and has given me the courage to bring up the issue once again. Currently, my family is compromising on the issue—while my daughter and I do not eat meat, the other two household members do, but not as much as they did before. We’re also sticking to our other decisions—such as not buying chocolate, sweatshop clothing, or using plastic bags—more consistently, rather than the “when we remember to” as we’ve done before.

It’s very easy to live with this mentality—particularly when you live in a Midwestern town rapidly becoming a city like we do, with little to no options on the “alternative” level. That’s what Weil’s book is about—making the “alternative” into a mainstream reality and using our purchasing power, our voices, and our political votes to change what is into what we’d like to be.

Please consider reading Weil’s book—and as she suggests, pass it on to friends, family, your library, etc. so that as many people as possible can start living their own versions of MOGO.