Limits to Growth

Transition Handbook: Book of the Month for July, 2010

Quite possibly the best guide towards creating a more resilient, sustainable community out there, The Transition Handbook is just as much a manual for a steady state community. It focuses on creating a community and economy more local and able to survive without oil – entirely.

This is a great guide book for your life, as well, with insights into how to make yourself and your local community stronger, more self-sufficient while also improving your well-being and long-term prosperity.

Limits to Growth

Plenitude: Book of the Month for June, 2010

Juliet Schor is a co-founder of the Center for a New American Dream and a well-resumed author. She has partnered in the past with the likes of Tim Jackson and Bill McKibben. A personable, well-spoken women from Boston College, Juliet has a new vision for the economy: plenitude.

Plenitude: The Economics of True Wealth offers not only a great argument against economic growth as we’ve known it, but a vision for a rethinking productivity and innovation for our future. It is provides an integrated approach to work on all these fronts towards a new way of living that is low-footprint and puts people back to work, createing new forms of wealth and well-being. Read my article on Post Growth and check out the video of her talk at Town Hall Seattle on Vimeo here.

Limits to Growth

Limits To Growth: Book of the Month for May, 2010

Donella H. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and Dennis L. Meadows have recently revisited their landmark work, Limits to Growth, that released 30 years ago. The revised edition is now available on paperback, too. This book was one of the very first major works to bring into light the conflict between continued economic growth and the environment.

A striking view of the consequences of our economic expansion, this book shows us that we’re eating into the biosphere’s reserves and not replenishing them. As the authors point out, “We… believe that if a profound correction is not made soon, a crash of some sort is certain. And it will occur within the lifetimes of many who are alive today.”

Economics as if People Mattered

Small is Beautiful: Book of the Month for April, 2010

In what many call a break through in economic thought, E.F. Schumacher’s undeniable classic, Small is Beautiful, sets the tone for an economy built for people and planet, not profit and expansion.

“As relevant today as when it was first published, this is a landmark set of essays on humanistic economics. Small is Beautiful is the classic of common sense economics upon which many recent trends in our society are founded. This is economics from the heart rather than from just the bottom line.” – Google Books

Bridge at the Edge of the World

The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Book of the Month for March, 2010

“If we continue to do exactly what we are doing, with no growth in the human population or the world economy, the world in the latter part of this century will be unfit to live in,” says Gus Speth. Where do we go from here, then? We’re not leveling out, we’re growing at a fast rate!

Speth outlines this situation as a severe slap in the face of modern capitalism. Our task is now must be to change the destructive system of our world economy. This book explains out to do just that: save the world from itself.

Deep Economy

Deep Economy: Book of the Month for February, 2010

Bill McKibben, author, activist, and environmentalist, gives the world this “powerful and provocative manifesto” challenging predominant economic thought.

This book is a great introduction to sustainable economics and outlines a move beyond growth. This new economy is focused on local economies, local food, community involvement, and localized energy. This economy is one of resilience and independence. More importantly, this new economy is a better one for us and our grandchildren.

Prosperity Without Growth

Prosperity Without Growth: Book of the Month for January, 2010

Tim Jackson’s pivotal book expands upon the Prosperity Without Growth report released not to long ago. I would recommend if you read only one book this year, make it this one!

Prosperity Without Growth shows in straight-forward logic, with research to back it up, that not only can we transition to a post-growth economy but we must. Jackson explains why further growth is actual harmful and how our society’s growth addiction is not conducive to prosperity and human well-being any longer. He goes further by show we can make the transition.

Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train

Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train: Book of the Month for December, 2009

This is the book that inspired my writing on the steady state economy and a sustainable way of life. What better way to end the year than to highlight a book that has inspired many to think differently about the growth.

Brian Czech opens the book with a compelling argument against growth and finishes with an argument for a steady state economy. This is definitely the book to read if you’re still looking for an introduction, or if you are interested in a good steady state book for the holidays.

The Road

The Road: Book of the Month for November, 2009

Cormac McCarthy’s view of a post-apocalyptic world where a father and son try to survive long enough to reach the coast has been hailed by many. George Monbiot called it “the most important environmental book ever written.” I haven’t been moved by a novel like this since I was a teenager reading the Lord of the Rings. Of course, this time I was moved more by shock and awe.

Not only is this a gripping novel, it is a look into one of the many possible futures our rampant, uncontrolled consumption could lead us. Read it because it is a great novel, but take from it the important lessens of humanity – both good and bad.

Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning

Heat: Book of the Month for October, 2009

George Monbiot‘s pivotal book on climate change destroys climate change deniers in the first chapter, then relentlessly goes after the solutions to our pressing global problem. This book is well researched, incredibly written, and comprehensive. By far the best climate change book I have read so far. Best of all, it offers solutions and hope instead of doomsday predictions and fear.

George Monbiot is easily my favorite investigative journalist. If you are looking to read more of his stuff, check out his website for all of his articles. He writes at length for the Guardian and has written a few other books as well.

Defeating the Climate Change Argument

What’s the Worst That Could Happen?: Book of the Month for September, 2009

Greg Craven has figured it out – why bother debating about whether or not climate change is happening and we’re causing it. The experiment is being run right now, we’re part of it. If it turns out to be a successful experiment, we’re all in some big trouble. It’s risk management – what’s the worse that could happen if we do nothing? IF we do something?

This is a great book, well thought out discussions about decision making. Greg’s journey all started with a little video.

Beyond Growth

Beyond Growth: Book of the Month for August, 2009

Herman Daly is the “godfather of ecological economics.” His works are many, and his contribution to the discipline is lengthy. This book is a great overview of the topics and reasoning beyond key concepts in ecological economics.

Some warning, Daly is a heady writer, I would recommend reading another book or two on the subject before trying to decipher his loquacious text. It is a very good book though.

Ecological Economics

Ecological Economics: Book of the Month for July, 2009

The definitive textbook on the subject, but don’t let the title or the fact that it is a textbook scare you. It is very well written, and deciphers the subject step-by-step so even a laymen could learn it.

I would also recommend reading the companion work book.

Slow Money

Slow Money: Book of the Month for June, 2009

The concept of slow food has been a movement for some time, but its ideals can easily be applied to our economy and use of money. As descirbed by the Slow Money Alliance website:

“Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money presents the path for bringing money back down to earth- philosophically, strategically, and pragmatically- and with an entrepreneurial spirit that is informed by decades of work by the thousands of CEOs, investors, grant makers, food producers, and consumers who are seeding the restorative economy.”

Plan B 3.0

Plan B 3.0: Book of the Month for May, 2009

This incredible book is jam-packed with facts and figures that will surely make even the slightly doubtful complete believers in the damage humans have done and are doing to the Earth. Lester R. Brown offers new perspective on the steps we can easily take to remediate, slow, and even stop the path we are on towards civilization collapse.

I would recommend a highlighter when reading this book, as there are lots of good things to come back and reference later. Warning: You might be inspired to write your congressman or vote differently in the next election.

New & updated: Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization