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xln98's review against another edition
4.0
Bad Kapital
_______
“Know no limits.” “All limits are self-imposed.” “You are your only limit.” “With hard work there are no limits.” “The only limits that exist are the ones in your own mind.” “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon..."
This short passage from Giorgos Kallis book 'Limits' succinctly points out the ubiquitous nature of 'growth' & society's romantic and ambitious beliefs about surpassing our limits.
Plants grow, children grow, and we grow from challenging experiences, so why on earth would we even consider uttering the word de-growth? It seems largely counter-productive to reverse what has led us to live in the most affluent and healthy societies to date.
So the question is why de-growth?
To begin, Hickel takes us on a journey to understand how such a term could have been created in the first place. He begins with a re-telling of the foundations of capitalism, the enclosure of the commons, the uprising of serfs and the revolt against those who held capital, along with an assessment of life before capitalism. Such an account was particularly eye-opening, considering the only re-telling of the rise of capitalism I can recall was during my university classes, whereby the riches of the industrial revolution crowded out any critical discussion on the violent foundations of capitalism.
Hickel then introduces us to degrowth, however, lets us first be clear with what degrowth is not. Degrowth is not an aversion to growth in all circumstances, degrowth does not necessarily imply that all sectors in an economy need to stop growing, nor is degrowth about stopping sustainable development in developing countries where growth may be necessary.
Pulling from a journal article by Hickel: "Degrowth is a planned reduction of energy and resource use designed to bring the economy back into balance with the living world in a way that reduces inequality and improves human well-being." (https://bit.ly/3YPELDL).
As such, degrowth is another way of framing the economic debate around the purpose of an economy. Of course, growth is necessary for the industries that are of great importance to our collective well-being, such as the need for investment in green energy & technologies, however, Hickel invites us to think about what truly needs to grow in an economy and what doesn't. A simple example is the advertising industry, whereby a contraction in such an industry would drastically reduce consumption -> reduce materials needed for production -> reduce emissions -> reduce the impact on the environment. Another more contemporary example is that taken by the New Zealand government recently, whereby the government has legislated to ban smoking cigarettes for future generations of Kiwis. This democratically planned contraction will definitely have a negative impact on GDP, but is this necessarily a bad thing? Through the lens of degrowth, I do not think so.
Degrowth is not simply about the economy as well, as it also has implications for health, work, leisure, and many other facets of life, which I will leave to you to find out in the book.
We can have prosperity without growth. It all begins with asking what is most important to live a good life.
_______
“Know no limits.” “All limits are self-imposed.” “You are your only limit.” “With hard work there are no limits.” “The only limits that exist are the ones in your own mind.” “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon..."
This short passage from Giorgos Kallis book 'Limits' succinctly points out the ubiquitous nature of 'growth' & society's romantic and ambitious beliefs about surpassing our limits.
Plants grow, children grow, and we grow from challenging experiences, so why on earth would we even consider uttering the word de-growth? It seems largely counter-productive to reverse what has led us to live in the most affluent and healthy societies to date.
So the question is why de-growth?
To begin, Hickel takes us on a journey to understand how such a term could have been created in the first place. He begins with a re-telling of the foundations of capitalism, the enclosure of the commons, the uprising of serfs and the revolt against those who held capital, along with an assessment of life before capitalism. Such an account was particularly eye-opening, considering the only re-telling of the rise of capitalism I can recall was during my university classes, whereby the riches of the industrial revolution crowded out any critical discussion on the violent foundations of capitalism.
Hickel then introduces us to degrowth, however, lets us first be clear with what degrowth is not. Degrowth is not an aversion to growth in all circumstances, degrowth does not necessarily imply that all sectors in an economy need to stop growing, nor is degrowth about stopping sustainable development in developing countries where growth may be necessary.
Pulling from a journal article by Hickel: "Degrowth is a planned reduction of energy and resource use designed to bring the economy back into balance with the living world in a way that reduces inequality and improves human well-being." (https://bit.ly/3YPELDL).
As such, degrowth is another way of framing the economic debate around the purpose of an economy. Of course, growth is necessary for the industries that are of great importance to our collective well-being, such as the need for investment in green energy & technologies, however, Hickel invites us to think about what truly needs to grow in an economy and what doesn't. A simple example is the advertising industry, whereby a contraction in such an industry would drastically reduce consumption -> reduce materials needed for production -> reduce emissions -> reduce the impact on the environment. Another more contemporary example is that taken by the New Zealand government recently, whereby the government has legislated to ban smoking cigarettes for future generations of Kiwis. This democratically planned contraction will definitely have a negative impact on GDP, but is this necessarily a bad thing? Through the lens of degrowth, I do not think so.
Degrowth is not simply about the economy as well, as it also has implications for health, work, leisure, and many other facets of life, which I will leave to you to find out in the book.
We can have prosperity without growth. It all begins with asking what is most important to live a good life.
barning's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to know more about the Extinction Rebellion topics. Unfortunately, it is really US-centric, and most of the topics can be summarized with ‘don’t be like the US,’ which is good advice and explained in detail. My point is that I was surprised how many topics in this book are already tackled by the EU and how many things are ‘common sense’ for people of the political left. Sometimes it’s hard to read because the author throws around huge amounts of numbers that are hard to follow.
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:-)