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Mutual Aid

The Other Law of the Jungle
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Mutual Aid by Pablo Servigne and Gauthier Chapelle explores the concept of cooperation as a fundamental aspect of life and society. The authors argue against the conventional narrative of competition as the primary driver of evolution and human behaviour, presenting various examples from nature and human history where collaboration and mutual support have led to success and survival. This thought-provoking book blends research across disciplines to advocate for a shift towards more harmonious ways of living, particularly in times of crisis.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring cooperative behaviour as a powerful force in society from a politics and current affairs perspective. The authors delve into how mutual aid among humans and other species can be a crucial element in addressing modern challenges, offering a fresh take on interdependence in uncertain times.

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First published in French as "L'entraide: l'autre loi de la jungle" by Les Liens qui Libáerent, 2017.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In the merciless arena of life, we are all subject to the law of the jungle, to ruthless competition and the survival of the fittest—such is the myth that has given rise to a society that has become toxic for our planet and for our and future generations.

But today the lines are shifting. A growing number of new movements and thinkers are challenging this skewed view of the world and reviving words such as altruism, cooperation, kindness and solidarity. A close look at the wide spectrum of living beings reveals that, at all times and in all places, animals, plants, microorganisms and human beings have practised different forms of mutual aid. And those which survive difficult conditions best are not necessarily the strongest, but those which help each other the most.

Pablo Servigne and Gauthier Chapelle explore a vast, forgotten continent of mutual aid in order to discover the mechanisms of this ‘other law of the jungle’. In so doing, they provide a more rounded view of the world of living things and give us some of the conceptual tools we need to move beyond the vicious circle of competition and self-destruction that is leading our civilization to the verge of collapse.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Several reviews commend Mutual Aid for its compelling argument that cooperation, rather than competition, has driven complexity and success in evolution. The book is praised for its timely message on the importance of fostering cooperation and benevolence in building a better world. The narrative by Servigne and Chapelle is recognised for its relevance and clarity in addressing current social and environmental challenges.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509547920

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 November 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Andrew Brown
  • Translated by Andrew Brown
  • Translated by Andrew Brown

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 374g

Pages: 310

About the Author

Pablo Servigne is an agronomist with a PhD in biology. He is a specialist in questions of collapse, transition, agro-ecology and mutual aid.

Gauthier Chapelle is an agronomist and biologist and an expert on biomimicry. He founded Biomimicry Europa and co-founded Greenloop.

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