The list of primary texts for the reader has been narrowed down. I’m compiling and designing an open document (magazine?) with readings on what it means to do social good. I am particularly interested in the idea of commentary from Biblical and Talmudic traditions. In both of these longstanding traditions, a scholar prepares a section of text (can be a page in a book or on a poster, etc.). The text is set on the paper in such a way as to leave intentional areas for commentary by others.
Peter Hocking recently told me about a project like this that he collaborated on at Brown University. The director of Hillel there did a series of posters with texts chosen by him. He then had scholars write in certain areas of the poster to document the dialogue between them about the text at hand.
I am particularly interested in using this form to document differing points of views and departures that contributers may find interesting. I am hoping to design an ‘open’ way of setting the commentary in motion. I want each person who encounters the primary and secondary texts to be able to respond with her own perspective or criticism. I want to set the stage for commentary.
[NOTE: In my own process, I have always used the idea of commentary without thinking of it as such. I think of the notes in the margins of my books as a kind of quick index of my own responses, a shortcut back to my own ideas. I have never imagined anyone else then responding to my responses. I am interested in opening this process up for further reflection by more people. Prem Krishnamurthy referred us to a project in which a designer scanned pages with notes from a particular book at libraries all over a country in Europe. The resulting project is a compilation of many commentaries. Still looking up the details on that project.]
PRIMARY TEXTS for my commentary document
Rules for Radicals
First Things First Manifesto (both versions for comparison)
The Gift
Relational Aesthetics
Work for the Public Domain
Design for the Real World
NEW TO THE BOOKSHELF for general thesis reading
The Gift by Lewis Hyde
The Lure of the Local by Lucy Lippard
Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek
To Hell with Good Intentions by Ivan Illich
More_as_it_develops 
Hey, I’m excited to see what you come up with. Your process is really interesting, and those are some fine books you are reading. I will be re-living those books vicariously through your thesis!
Just for kicks, I did a sound design project based on Rules for Radicals and an animation based on a quote about Samuel Mockbee
Hey, Mike! Do you have any other recommended readings? I’m making a Design For Social Good Reader for a publishing project. Am taking excerpts from lots of good sources and designing them so that they are in conversation with one another.
If there are things I should be reading, please let me know. Hope you are well!
Can’t think of anything off the top of my head.. Oh maybe Buckminster Fuller – a bit dated, but he’s a bit of a cult leader in the design world of the 70s.