Small Planet Institute

The Small Planet Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by mother-daughter team Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Institute describes itself as believing that hope has enormous power. It identifies core, often unspoken, assumptions—economic, political, and psychological—that drive humanity toward unsustainable directions, and focuses on solutions ranging from the crisis of needless hunger to the crisis of democracy itself. The Institute offers evidence-based, life-serving frames of understanding and stories of possibility to enable people to perceive and join in solutions emerging everywhere. The Institute's work spans books, fact sheets, blogs, and public speaking. Since its founding, Frances and Anna Lappé have released more than 20 books, including the Institute's newest, Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want. They have contributed chapters to many books and given hundreds of speeches at distinguished colleges and universities as well as TEDxTalks. Together and individually, they have appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and many other television and radio programs. A central part of the Institute's identity is Frances Moore Lappé's groundbreaking book Diet for a Small Planet, which revolutionized the meaning of food choices and sold more than 3 million copies. A 50th-anniversary edition was released with a timely introduction and new and updated plant-centered recipes, featuring eighty-five updated recipes including more than a dozen new delights from celebrity chefs such as Mark Bittman, Padma Lakshmi, Alice Waters, José Andrés, Bryant Terry, Mollie Katzen, and Sean Sherman. The Institute's website features recent blogs, fact sheets, and publications on topics such as political polarization, masculinity, and the power of hope in politics. Its motto, 'Democracy depends on us,' and its call to action, 'Hope comes from action,' reflect its mission to inspire civic engagement and systemic change.

The Small Planet Institute was founded in 2001 by mother-daughter team Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé. Since its founding, Frances and Anna have released more than 20 books, including the Institute's newest, Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want. They have also contributed chapters to many books and given hundreds of speeches at distinguished colleges and universities as well as TEDxTalks. Together and individually, Frances and Anna have appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and many other television and radio programs. The Institute is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and maintains an active website featuring blogs, fact sheets, and publications on topics such as political polarization, masculinity, and the power of hope in politics. A key part of its legacy is Frances Moore Lappé's book Diet for a Small Planet, which sold more than 3 million copies and was reissued in a 50th-anniversary edition with new recipes.

• 2021

  50th-anniversary edition of Diet for a Small Planet published with new recipes.

• 2001

  Small Planet Institute founded by Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé.

Nonprofit think tank promoting hope-driven, evidence-based solutions to hunger and democracy crises.

• Diet for a Small Planet (50th-anniversary edition)

  Book that revolutionized the meaning of food choices, sold more than 3 million copies, with 85 updated plant-centered recipes.

• Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want

  The Institute's newest book, co-authored by Frances and Anna Lappé.

1. 1Small Planet Institute, Cambridge, MAsmallplanet.org
2. 2About Us | Small Planet Institutesmallplanet.org
3. 3Small Planet Institutewikidata.org