The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future Hardcover – April 9, 2013

Wow. This book is powerful. I don't have a scientific education and lacked a framework to understand real economies until reading Wessels. If you've also been bothered by the way classical economists pretend arbitrary systems are natural, come hear about how the science of complex systems applies to the complex systems of the economy. Tom Wessels is very articulate and clearly has a deep understanding of each topic on which he writes. No book has granted me a better understanding of the recent past and present, nor made me more hopeful for our future, than this one.

I wish more people would read this book. The writing is good, with helpful references at the end of each chapter. As an environmental scientist, Tom Wessels has a well-founded and healthy perspective on economics, politics, and the future. He says no more and no less than he needs to. Anyone looking for a more educated view of the current state of the world should read this. Obviously, I don't claim that this book is a comprehensive analysis of and solution to our current downward spiral, but Tom Wessels is, as far as I can tell, correct in most of what he claims in this book.

This book is a very good introduction to ecology and offers some idea how efficiency and resilience does not go hand in hand in current societies. The writer is not extremely familiar with history of classical economics though. This is not a big issue for the book itself but might give readers without comprehensive knowledge of classical economics an overly simplistic view on economics in the 19th century. The strongest point of the book is the view of progress through the examples from symbiotic systems of nature.

I selected this book, with some trepidation, for use in my college humanities course on sustainability. I feared that it might be too science-based for my decidedly smart, but non-scientifically oriented students. I needn't have worried. Even the most science-challenged among them absolutely loved it. A beautifully written book that presents even the most complex ideas with clarity. Who knew that such a slim volume of elegantly radical perception would have the power to change lives?A must-read.

This message really needs to get out to our society in a simple, straightforward way. I don't see the average Joe reading this book, in spite of the fact that the content is well worth the read.

It came earlier than expected and while I didn't enjoy reading (it was for an assignment), it was in perfect condition.

Tom Wessels is a very intelligent, thoughtful, forward-thinking person. He shares some great concepts in this book. It should be read by every person in America (and elsewhere!)

This outstanding book presents us, in a very humble way, a great deal of carefully chosen and neatly connected science facts that manage to effortlessly bring the reader to the evidence. Understanding and respecting earth's ecosystems is crucial to everyone, not only to ecologists.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Well written on a very important topic, the book provides context of how we have stretched the earths capacity and provides a solid argument to rethink how to shift our thinking.

J'ai des affinités avec le point de vue développé dans ce livre et c'est une lecture agréable.Je dois cependant mentionner un point moins positif. J'ai vérifé une seule référence, l'article concernant l'histoire des rennes sur l'île de Saint Mathieu, et le résumé qu'en fait Wessels contient une déformation problématique.Dans sa présentation, la population passe de 29 en 1944 à 1350 en 1956, puis à 6000 en 1963 « souffrant d’une malnutrition sensible » (« notably malnourished ») avec une perte de 40% de leur poids corporel. L’hiver de 1963 est très rigoureux, et lors de l’observation suivante en 1966 il ne reste que 42 animaux dont un seul mâle, par ailleurs déformé. La population s’éteint complètement dans les années 80.Cette présentation suggère que la surpopulation a rendu les rennes faibles et mal nourris, après quoi un mauvais hiver a suffi pour les emporter. Une perte de 40% du poids corporel est en effet énorme. Pour un homme bien portant de 70 kg, cela signifie une chute à 42 kg.Sauf que si on lit l’article, on s’aperçoit qu’en 1956, le poids corporel a AUGMENTÉ de 24-53% pour les mâles et 46-61% pour les femelles par rapport au poids d’introduction. Autrement dit en 1956 ils sont en surpoids, et de fait l'article montre une photo de cette époque avec la légende: "Note the rounded body contours". La perte de 40% en 1963 est par rapport au poids de 1956, donc ils sont à nouveau normaux. L’article dit en toutes lettres, non pas qu'ils souffrent de malnutrition, mais au contraire qu’ils ont alors le poids de rennes domestiques.Il semble donc possible que leur mort soit simplement due à un hiver trop rigoureux, puisqu’il s’agissait d’un animal artificiellement introduit pas forcément adapté aux extrêmes climatiques de cette île de la mer de Béring.