Deep Economy

This book succeeds in identifying and drawing out a very large problem for our current world: our obsession with more and faster economic growth. What it does not do is provide a clear answer to this problem. After finishing the book, I realized the author did not intend this as a how to manual for solving this problem, so he didn't fail in that sense. He does suggest that local economies will help us resolve our myriad problems, and with that I agree. But the book leaves the reader wondering, "How do we persuade the rest of our society to change course?" The author also states very clearly at a few points that he believes this renaissance of small, local economies will not result from any deliberate plan, but rather from the coalescence of thousands of individual and undirected efforts. Of course, that statement left me wondering, "Then why am I even reading this book?"But I enjoyed this book.The author provides interesting information and his bibliography provided me with a good number of sources to follow up on for further study. This might be the book's greatest strength for the already converted. His anecdotal stories are refreshing and provide good perspective. All in all, the book was worth the time it took to read it. But, other than tidbits, this book didn't provide me with any significant new insights. Rather, it's more of a motivational and inspirational effort. For that reason, I think this book is best suited to the curious but unconverted. Those who have questions but still buy into the old dogmas that economic growth is our preeminent concern, that in order to feed the world we must continue with more and greater genetically modified food production, and that we need to continue mining the earth for every last mineral resource. This book could be to those folks what "Crunchy Cons" was to me some years back.This book is not a deep analysis of certain key problems. Rather, it is a survey of a handful of issues and introduces readers to big concepts. In that role I thought it did very well. However, while the author spends a fair amount of time discussing food independence (perhaps the second or third most important theme in the book behind energy and human satisfaction), he never mentions permaculture. He really goes no further than saying that more intensely managed farmland can produce more food per acre than our current industrial mono-cropping models. While permaculture has gained in popularity quite substantially since this book's publication, it wasn't unknown at the time he wrote the book. So it's suprising that he never mentions it. And I think it's unfortunate that he doesn't even alert readers to the power of permaculture design. For anyone interested, the internet is rife with information on permaculture. (Start by Googling Geoff Lawton or Ben Falk.) But suffice it to say that, in keeping with the spirit of local food economies, a permaculture approach to food production provides more potential for stability and sustainability than any other agricultural model found around the globe. This seems like a substantial oversight in this book, despite it's many other good qualities.To summarize, this book is interesting and encouraging. If you're already of a mind that local economies that provide more local stability are the future, this book may be redundant but still worthwhile. If you're not sure what you think or are looking for an alternative to the unquestioning "more efficiency and economic production" mantra of the mainstream political personalities of today, check this book out. And especially if you consider yourself a conservative who is increasingly non-plussed with the Republican party, give this book a considered and thorough read. You needn't agree with everything, but the underlying premises are spot on.

This brilliant book about the oncoming wreck of the global economy fails to answer the most elemental and yet essential question: How do we change human nature from wanting More! More! More! Almost 50 years ago, the General Motors' exhibit at the World Fair was based on the idea, "Technology can point the way to a future of limitless promise." If McKibben or anyone else wants to understand the future, they need only look at today's GM, or Ford. The world is heading for a similar wreck; the survivors will be those who get out of the way. This book is an example of the problem it laments; it is a dazzling example of the benign greed that is producing disaster, it offers cheery solutions well suited for miniscule groups of the conscientious, but it's not an answer. It merely uses more paper to explain the danger of using too much paper and other materials. Let's be realistic: GM's vision of the future produced gray smog, stop-and-go rush hour traffic, road rage, OPEC prices, the rust-belt, inner-city blight, White flight, auto thefts and car bombings, plus global warming, used car sales people and SUVs. It's all a product of free decisions in a free marketplace. Now, GM is collapsing but Toyota thrives with its little cars and hybrids. It's how we got today's mess. What's the solution? More free decisions in a free marketplace? McKibben is perfect when he points out small hunter/gatherer cooperative groups were normal for 99 percent of our history; but, he fails to come to grips with the monetization of relations among people during the past 5,000 years, and especially the last 300 years. Everything is now impartially subject to decisions based on free market pricing, which means the lack of hunter/gatherer cooperation is replaced by individualized competition. Our economy is a wolf-pack that has turned on itself. He cites the creation of the Industrial Age as beginning with Thomas Newcomen's invention of a practical steam engine in 1712; but he ignores the agonizing social upheaval people endured in fleeing old local sustainable farms and moving into cities. Any major change in our future will likely involve a similar human and material price. Someone needs to explain the "cost" of change and how it can come about. One solution I'm involved with on a daily basis is Amazon.com -- which by making it easy to "recycle" used and donated library books has spared whole forests. Until such recycling occurs for much more than books, we must be content with dire forecasts about the oncoming wreck of the economy. For most societies, the solution has always been collapse before radical change. McKibben offers little hope that America is different. Doable? Other reviewers are optimistic. But, I look at the sorrow of ruins and fear people are too attached to past and present mistakes to see or accept alternatives. Perhaps McKibben is right; he is certainly an antidote to my pessimism. His analysis is interesting -- if doable; and if doabvle, it is vital. This is a rough guide to a better future.

With the release of the 2021 IPCC report, it would be an excellent time to become reacquainted with one of my far pro-life, environmental writers.McKinnon challenges the twin cults of Self and More, evil that have some so much in the past 40 years to kill people, creatures and our planet in one of the greatest acts of genocide known to man. Contrary to his Right Wing critics, and perhaps the frustration of those on the Left, McKibben isn't convinced growth is bad. Like fellow pro-life, environmental writer, activist, and sometime politician, Bob Massie, (A Song in the Night) McKibben argues that the cults of Self and More habe perverted Adam Smith's dream, to a degree he wouldn't even recognize. By realizing Smith's true dream of community and character, as well as reasonable growth and development, McKibben offers a new old path toward a better future, if we are brave enough to see it; before it's too late.

Written in 2007 before the great global economic crash but covering all the reasons why it was inevitable.The ideas in it are much more widespread now but still well worth spreading further.

Mir gefällt das Buch sehr gut, da es wichtige Gedankenanstösse gibt und zum Umdenken/Ändern des Verhaltens aufruft. Die unreflektierte Wachstumsgläubigkeit wird entlarvt.