Book excerpt: The Spirit of Caring Movement is based on the simple yet transformative belief that the cultural emphasis on materialism and self-interest is not what is most important to people. Instead, most people are yearning for a meaningful connection to others and to a purpose greater than themselves. This movement validates the basic goodness of people and seeks ways to have this goodness reflected as a top priority wherever people work, play and live. It seeks to strengthen ethics and meaning in schools, business, law, media, healthcare, neighborhoods, and other areas of our lives.