Recommended Books

The Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses by Stacy Mitchell (2006) Documents the challenge and problems created by mega-retailers, how government policy has helped them, and successful strategies communities are employing to reverse this trend. Highly recommended. Click on any book image to find it at a local indpendent bookstore via IndieBound.
Going Local by Michael Shuman (1998) Examines community programs for self-reliance and economic strength in a global age. Highly recommended. Shuman more recently authored Small Mart Revolution and has a new book on local investment due in early 2012.
The Case Against the Global Economy -- and For a Turn Toward the Local Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith eds. (1996) This collection of essays from around the world describes campaigns to promote local economic strength and stability as well as analyzing larger issues of corporate globalization.
Better, Not Bigger by Eben Fodor (1999) Demonstrates often overlooked economic costs of sprawl while promoting human-scale development.
The Economic Renewal Guide by Michael Kinsley (1997) Introduces the Rocky Mountain Institute's Economic Renewal Program -- plans for building prosperity by thinking outside the conventional development paradigm.
Changing Places - Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl by Richard Moe and Carter Wilkie (1997) Includes a good listing of relevant local and regional groups to contact.
Home from Nowhere by James Kunstler (1996) The more solution-oriented sequel to the widely acclaimed Geography of Nowhere.
Up Against the Wal-Marts - How Your Business Can Prosper in the Shadow of the Giants by Don Taylor and Jeanne Smalling Archer(1994) A somewhat dated, but still-useful resource for business owners in all fields. Contains a wealth of strategies and tactics to help independent businesses compete successfully with the chains.
Making a Place for Community by Williamson, Imbroscio & Alperovitz (2002) A far-reaching and extensively researched exploration of politics, economics and strategies for localization that excels at linking economic democracy to political democracy.