Abstract
This is a review of the monograph by Miriam Mary Brgles. The book’s interdisciplinary, community-based participatory design—92 semi-structured interviews and arts-based research in Croatia and Italy—and its core innovation stand out: redefining “lifestyles” to include relational goods, reflexivity, ethical values, and purposeful action for the common good. The review outlines the theoretical scaffolding (Laudato si’, Fratelli tutti, CST principles of the common good, solidarity, and participation) and five guiding questions on youth perceptions, interactions with vulnerable groups, and meanings attached to new lifestyles. Findings show a gap between high concern and lower personal engagement (aligned with Eurobarometer/EVS), stronger understanding among youth active in Catholic communities, motivations for volunteering rooted in empathy and growth, and small sustainable habits shaped by family and community contexts. Šiaudvytienė praises the monograph’s clarity, interdisciplinarity, and novel arts-based methods, while noting sampling limits (focus on already active youth) and calling for deeper analysis of ABR outputs. Overall, the book is presented as a rigorous contribution that positions youth-led, relational lifestyle change as pivotal for socio-ecological transformation.