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Less is More

How Degrowth Will Save the World
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( 7,210 ratings, 1,104 reviews)
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
Less is More by Jason Hickel challenges the conventional belief that continuous economic growth is essential for societal well-being. Instead, the book advocates for a shift towards degrowth, emphasising sustainability and well-being over profit. Hickel explores how this radical transformation can address environmental crises and create a fairer world.
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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 like this book if you are interested in exploring the concept of degrowth and how reducing consumption can lead to a more sustainable and equitable world. This educational read offers a thought-provoking challenge to conventional economic growth paradigms.

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Less is More

'A powerfully disruptive book for disrupted times ... If you're looking for transformative ideas, this book is for you.' KATE RAWORTH, economist and author of Doughnut Economics

A Financial Times Book of the Year
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Our planet is in trouble.

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

Less is More by Jason Hickel is a groundbreaking exploration into the most effective solution to the climate crisis: a new economic model and a deeper, more ethical relationship with the natural world. This thought-provoking book challenges the very foundation of our current economic system and paves the way for an innovative approach to living sustainably on our planet.

Our planet is in peril, facing unprecedented ecological breakdown. But how do we turn the tide and rebuild a sustainable future? The answer, as Hickel passionately argues, is degrowth. Less is More offers a detailed analysis of how the relentless pursuit of growth has brought humanity to the brink of disaster and illustrates a compelling alternative that prioritises well-being, ecological harmony, and social justice.

The book boldly examines centuries of capitalism and its destructive impact on the environment, society, and our collective psyche. Hickel draws on a wealth of academic research and historical events, intertwining them with contemporary issues to provide a comprehensive narrative that is both enlightening and urgent. This is not just a book about the failures of our current economic system; it is a call to action to rethink and reshape our relationship with the Earth and each other.

"A powerfully disruptive book for disrupted times ... If you're looking for transformative ideas, this book is for you." - Kate Raworth, economist and author of Doughnut Economics

Less is More was named a Financial Times Book of the Year, cementing its status as a must-read for anyone concerned with the future of our planet. This is our wake-up call. By illuminating the ecological crisis and the system that drives it, Hickel shows us a path to bring our economy back into balance with the living world and to build a thriving society for all. The time to act is now, and Hickel provides the roadmap.

"A masterpiece... Less is More covers centuries and continents, spans academic disciplines, and connects contemporary and ancient events in a way which cannot be put down until it's finished." - Danny Dorling, Professor of Geography, University of Oxford

"Jason is able to personalise the global and swarm the mind in the way that insects used to in abundance but soon shan't unless we are able to heed his beautifully rendered warning." - Russell Brand

"Jason Hickel shows that recovering the commons and decolonising nature, cultures, and humanity are necessary conditions for hope of a common future in our common home." - Vandana Shiva, author of Making Peace With the Earth

"This is a book we have all been waiting for. Jason Hickel dispels ecomodernist fantasies of 'green growth'. Only degrowth can avoid climate breakdown. The facts are indisputable and they are in this book." - Giorgos Kallis, author of Degrowth

"Capitalism has robbed us of our ability to even imagine something different; Less is More gives us the ability to not only dream of another world, but also the tools by which we can make that vision real." - Asad Rehman, director of War on Want

"One of the most important books I have read ... does something extremely rare- it outlines a clear path to a sustainable future for all." - Raoul Martinez, author of Creating Freedom

"Jason Hickel takes us on a profound journey through the last 500 years of capitalism and into the current crisis of ecological collapse. Less is More is required reading for anyone interested in what it means to live in the Anthropocene, and what we can do about it." - Alnoor Ladha, co-founder of The Rules

"Excellent analysis...This book explores not only the systemic flaws but the deeply cultural beliefs that need to be uprooted and replaced." - Adele Walton

Less is More is an essential read for anyone who cares about the fate of our planet. It not only critiques the existing paradigm but also offers a visionary and actionable alternative that emphasises balance, equity, and a profound respect for the Earth.

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?

Less is More by Jason Hickel is praised for its thought-provoking and radical ideas on growth and development, advocating for a post-growth future. Reviews highlight its powerful and disruptive nature, combining ecological, economic, and historical insights to challenge conventional wisdom. The book is regarded as a masterpiece and an essential read for those interested in transformative ideas.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786091215

Publisher: Cornerstone

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 February 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Windmill Books

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 234g

Pages: 336

Customer Reviews

Based on 2 reviews
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D
Dylan B.
Let's scale back this whole idea of growth at all costs!

I'm a big fan of Jason Hickel's core argument that unrestrained capitalism and the relentless search for growth is killing the planet, and we're watching it happen in real time. Profit at the expense of the planet is not making us healthier or happier - this book is a must-read and a wake up call for all of us living within the capitalist system.

C
Customer
Capitalism's need for never-ending growth is killing the planet

Less is More helped me realise that the never-ending pursuits of capitalism have not, in many cases, made us live healthier or happier lives and that economic growth at all costs is killing the planet. I highly recommend this book to anybody who is open to examining their own role within a capitalist system and how we can all make changes that can improve our lives today and for generations to come.

About the Author

Jason Hickel is an economic anthropologist, Fulbright Scholar and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is originally from Eswatini (Swaziland) and spent a number of years with migrant workers in South Africa, writing about exploitation and political resistance in the wake of apartheid. He has authored three books, including most recently The Divide- A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions. He writes regularly for the Guardian, Al Jazeera and Foreign Policy, serves as an advisor for the Green New Deal for Europe and sits on the Lancet Commission for Reparations and Redistributive Justice. He lives in London.

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