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savaging's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in a long time.
It's the only book about economics that I actually feel like I understand. Hickel never floats away into theory, he's always grounded, asking how each idea materially affects ecosystems and human lives. I mean, imagine my joy to open an economics text and the first paragraphs are about insects! I've never felt so welcomed into a book about global economics.
I've also felt strangely hopeful since I finished this book. I say "strangely" because the billionaires aren't just going to calmly give up their fantasies of eternal growth, they'll gladly take the whole earth down with them. But Hickel actually convinced me that the well-being and joy of humans is tied up with thriving ecosystems, and that systems of real democracy can protect it all. He eroded my misanthropy and my sense of doom. For the moment at least!
I highly recommend this book.
It's the only book about economics that I actually feel like I understand. Hickel never floats away into theory, he's always grounded, asking how each idea materially affects ecosystems and human lives. I mean, imagine my joy to open an economics text and the first paragraphs are about insects! I've never felt so welcomed into a book about global economics.
I've also felt strangely hopeful since I finished this book. I say "strangely" because the billionaires aren't just going to calmly give up their fantasies of eternal growth, they'll gladly take the whole earth down with them. But Hickel actually convinced me that the well-being and joy of humans is tied up with thriving ecosystems, and that systems of real democracy can protect it all. He eroded my misanthropy and my sense of doom. For the moment at least!
I highly recommend this book.
rebeccazh's review against another edition
DNF 30% (not because this is poorly written). The climate crisis is deeply urgent to me and this is an important book. The first 30% or so is rehasing stuff that those who are familiar with the subject already know - the history of capitalism, its ecological impacts, and most importantly (!!) that capitalism and the climate crisis are continuations of colonization. Anyway I dnf-ed because it was really depressing reading and I'm not in the mood to read about this right now.
cchapple's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Really nice and direct excellent layout of Degrowth
juliagoesoutdoors's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to join the solutions and conversations on ecological collapse, warming temperatures, and environmental justice. This is the first book on this subject matter that didn't make me shut down with anxiety and feel totally hopeless because it focuses on the specific culprits and specific solutions.
Hickel writes a comprehensive picture of the multi-faceted problems we face and how the 'solutions' given to us by capitalism and the western world will only deepen resource use and colonization of the global south. It gives scientific and evidence-based rebuttals against faulty arguments supporting the possibility of "green capitalism" that is so popular among both liberals and conservatives.
Hickel also writes extensively on how indigenous cultures give us the clearest picture of ecological reciprocity.
I highly recommend this book, and will probably write a more detailed review after another read through:-)
Hickel writes a comprehensive picture of the multi-faceted problems we face and how the 'solutions' given to us by capitalism and the western world will only deepen resource use and colonization of the global south. It gives scientific and evidence-based rebuttals against faulty arguments supporting the possibility of "green capitalism" that is so popular among both liberals and conservatives.
Hickel also writes extensively on how indigenous cultures give us the clearest picture of ecological reciprocity.
I highly recommend this book, and will probably write a more detailed review after another read through:-)
lnt's review against another edition
5.0
We live in a society of consumerism and capitalism. Where the only thing they care about is growth and GDP.
An index that not only measures the wrong things, but also makes the world crazy about profit.
In this book, we're going to the key points of degrowth, and it's compelling and logical that it's the right path to follow. And degrowth doesn't mean stop growing, but rather grow
the society. Social growth. Make the people happy with basic needs, not 3$ tshirts and disposable items. Not with planned obsolescene. Not with so much advertising that
we're drowning in it. And we already have fluorisihing examples of Denmark, Finland, Sweeden, Norway, Australia, The Netherlands, etc. Social democracy is working.
Banning advertising, free quality healthcare, free education, they're all working. We just have to make the governments realise that, too. And we have to stop giving the corporations
so much power.
In the past 40 years, most of the world's income went straight to the pockets of the already richest people in the world. It's a rate of inequality that high is baffling.
Characters like Bezos are getting rich off the labour and lives of tens of thousands of low wage workers, and he's earning more and more money that his employees combined.
That's sounds so much like the slavery we thought to have abolished, right?
We're facing a global crisis and the time to act is now.
Capitalism focuses on eternal growth, but how can that ever be achieved when the Earth's resources are finite?
We're soon going to face lethal consequences, powered by greed and inequality, if nothing changes.
An index that not only measures the wrong things, but also makes the world crazy about profit.
In this book, we're going to the key points of degrowth, and it's compelling and logical that it's the right path to follow. And degrowth doesn't mean stop growing, but rather grow
the society. Social growth. Make the people happy with basic needs, not 3$ tshirts and disposable items. Not with planned obsolescene. Not with so much advertising that
we're drowning in it. And we already have fluorisihing examples of Denmark, Finland, Sweeden, Norway, Australia, The Netherlands, etc. Social democracy is working.
Banning advertising, free quality healthcare, free education, they're all working. We just have to make the governments realise that, too. And we have to stop giving the corporations
so much power.
In the past 40 years, most of the world's income went straight to the pockets of the already richest people in the world. It's a rate of inequality that high is baffling.
Characters like Bezos are getting rich off the labour and lives of tens of thousands of low wage workers, and he's earning more and more money that his employees combined.
That's sounds so much like the slavery we thought to have abolished, right?
We're facing a global crisis and the time to act is now.
Capitalism focuses on eternal growth, but how can that ever be achieved when the Earth's resources are finite?
We're soon going to face lethal consequences, powered by greed and inequality, if nothing changes.
triceratopper's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
I must have gone into this book with the wrong expectations. For the first 2/3 of the book, Hickel breaks down the problems with the current system - and only then does he get to degrowth itself.