Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save The World
By Jason Hickel
Recommended by Marie-Claire in Queenstown, New Zealand:
“I read this book last year, and it totally shifted my perspective on our economic system. I went from having a vague sense that it could be better, but no understanding of why or how, to seeing what parts of Capitalism are problematic, where they come from and how they fit into the economic system as a whole. I did find the start a bit depressing - it was a summary of our environmental context as of a few years ago when the book was written. After that it gets more positive, and I found it quite inspiring.”
From the Publisher:
A groundbreaking exploration of the best possible solution to the climate crisis: a new economic model, and a new way of viewing our relationship with the natural world
The world has finally awoken to the reality of climate breakdown and ecological collapse. Now we must face up to its primary cause. Capitalism demands perpetual expansion, which is devastating the living world. There is only one solution that will lead to meaningful and immediate change: DEGROWTH. If we want to have a shot at halting the crisis, we need to restore the balance. We need to change how we see nature and our place in it, shifting from a philosophy of domination and extraction to one that's rooted in reciprocity and regeneration. We need to evolve beyond the dogmas of capitalism to a new system that is fit for the twenty-first century. But what does such a society look like? What about jobs? What about health? What about progress? This book tackles these questions and traces a clear pathway to a post-capitalist economy. An economy that's more just, more caring, and more fun. An economy that enables human flourishing while reversing ecological breakdown. An economy that will not only lift us out of our current crisis, but restore our sense of connection to a world that's brimming with life. By taking less, we can become more.