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a plea for downshifting, in our and in the planet's interest

Customer Rating:

This book argues that what doesn't work for human happiness and wellbeing doesn't work well for the planet. Good lives should not, indeed ought not to be allowed to cost the earth. The argument, delivered trough a fractured prism of more than 20 (British) voices, unfolds at two levels. First there is the growing body of science that shows how increasing levels of affluence do not translate automatically into a greater sense of wellbeing. Above a certain, fairly modest level of material and financial security, intangibles such as family relationships, meaningful work and health become much more important predictors of happiness than income. However, our selfishly capitalist society works hard to keep us onto the "hedonic treadmill" and make us forget these essentials. The environmental agenda puts the discussion on a moral plane. Climate change is forcefully telling us something that we've known for a couple of decades: we have been overconsuming our natural resource base and as a result we have burdened ourselves with a potentially disastrous ecological debt. This is a moral issue as the downside consequences of our gluttony not only affect us but also the billions in less developed countries and those unhappy generations inheriting the planet. This book argues that this crisis can only be successfully tackled by taking the sting out of the consumerist virus. We have to jump of the threadmill, get thriftier and do more with less. That much is clear. But a set of questions emerges upon which authors in this book formulate different answers. One question has to do with the level - personal or policy - from which this transformation needs to be driven. Quite a few authors think it is really up to us, individual citizen-consumers: by changing the way we live, we influence the larger world around us. We shouldn't wait for a post-Kyoto climate pact to come about (if it ever does), we just need to take the first step by honestly asking ourselves: "what is a good life for me and what does it have to cost?" Deep down we know the answer to that question. We know we don't need all the "stuff". We know we should be courageous enough to wrest control over our own lives from the advertisement industry, the car industry, big retail, financial services. These contributors try to convince us of the fact that this isn't as hard as it seems: first focus on slight changes, then gradually start to rediscover the sophistication in simplicity and the joy of intangibles. This book sheds little light on the role of macro-level policies in this transformation. Yes, we need new indicators to measure our progress towards realistic, sustainable goals. The intellectual monoculture of GDP needs to be enriched with other, more nuanced parameters that reflect how we manage our environmental resources and how happy we are. But the discussion is very thin and patchy on the complex governance issues surrounding these macro-societal transformations: what novel institutions and risk and burden sharing mechanisms do we need? How do micro-scale processes link into changes involving more expansive socio-technical systems? The book doesn't deal with these issues. It is a missed opportunity as it seems to me that there is an emerging body of knowledge (labelled as transition management, transdisciplinarity and action learning) that could provide significant impetus to this discussion. A second question that emerges from these pages has to do with the spirit with which this whole process of downshifting is going to be imbued. Designer Kevin McCloud (his contribution is one of the highlights of this book) tackles the issue head-on when he says: "For me the great danger is that we pursue the quick fix. If we're not careful we'll go down this terrible, utilitarian, shaker route where we all end up being dour ethically-shrunken miserabilists." Indeed, there is a grave risk is that this whole undertaking - necessary as it may be - turns into some nightmarish, eco-fascistoid fantasy. The stakes are indeed high. Irreversible climate change is upon us. According to some of the authors, we have only a decade to steer the juggernaut on a fundamentally different course. Although several authors stress the enabling, joyful nature of the necessary adjustment to new realities, there are sterner and more alarmist voices in this book. They unwittingly send shivers down our spine: what will happen if peer pressure, what if the slow and compromising policy machinery and feedback signals from nature are unable to generate enough momentum in downshifting the populations of industrial nations? That's another question that is not answered, only hinted at in this book.

Hmmmm???

Customer Rating:

This book had some good and worthwhile points but was also painfully middle-class in regards to the scope of its outlook and addressing the full scale of our environmental problems. What do I mean by this? Well, while it's all well and good to consider sustainable forms of energy, hybrid forms of non-Co2 producing vehicles and cutting ones carbon footprint by not holidaying abroad, the contributors to this book tend to forget that all of this takes money!!! (Something which few themselves appear to lack). While this is fine for the sort of individual or family who formally did the weekly shop at M&S... Tunisian grapes individually placed in a plastic box on top of bubble wrap, how nice... there is little consideration for the significant percentage of the populous for whom such things as a holiday abroad or 'organically reared' chicken are a luxury. Don't get me wrong, any form of encouragement to be more conscientious in regards to how we collectively, and as individuals, effect the environment is undoubtedly a good thing but to affect any real change the solutions would have to be far more dramatic than any offered here... a significant change in industrial legislation and a government environmental policy that offers realistic alternatives might be an idea, as opposed to making us all feel bad for our "carbon footprints". 'Good Lives...' is a nice book to put on your bespoke Danish wall units or to read on your fortnights sojourn in Tuscany, but apart from that it's just more middle-class guilt tripping to worry you into buying more things you'll probably never need.

Enlightens and entertains - what more could you want?!	Customer Rating:
Blimey. A book that enlightens entertains and most importantly, enthuses. For anyone who's ever felt weighed down by doom and gloom-mongering environmentalism, it's the perfect read - an honest look at the state of the planet with a positive approach to how we can tackle the challenges and live happier lives in the process. It's a real `want to buy it for everyone you know' one. Brilliant.

time for an environmental, social and economic renaissance

Customer Rating:

The concept behind this book is simple, but very important - good lives do not need to cost the earth. Where many environmentalists have called for sacrifice, abstinence, and the wearing of hair-shirts, the contributing writers to this collection call for more parties, tighter communities, healthier work patterns, better architecture, and better food. As you may have guessed, this is a very varied set of contributions. Philip Pullman warns environmentalists that they need to tell better stories. David Goldblatt discusses the future of sport and worries that golf's days may be numbered. Anne Pettifor explores how credit is created and demands free money, and Tom Hodgkinson of the Idler calls for us all to do less. There is plenty of food for thought here, all delivered with a lightness of touch. It brings together the environment, economics, psychology and politics to explore a holistic sustainability agenda, and the emphasis is on inspiring, not berating. Perhaps Colin Tudge says it best in describing the movement as a renaissance - something that is grass roots, but not a revolution - just people seeing things differently and changing their lives.

It makes you think what our real goals should be!

Customer Rating:

Not knowing much about environmental issues I thought this book was excellent. It discusses the environment, not in a narrow sense, but, instead in a way that brings together all sorts of different disciplines including psychology, economics, politics, employment and the work place as well as ecology/environmentalism. The book is not written by one author but instead by a cross-section of about 12 people who have different backgrounds and specialisms. The main thing which comes out of the many articles is that in order to live a good life (ie one which is fulfilling but doesn't "cost the earth") Western society needs to have a good think about what it's goals are. It is a fact, proven by the latest research that materialism and consumerism and the struggle for greater wealth do not translate into greater happiness. However, materialism and consumerism do have deeply negative impacts on the environment and on people's wellbeing - but to what purpose if wealth doesn't even make you any happier?! I liked the quote, "if you want to be happy for a few hours then get drunk. If you want to be happy for a few years then get married, and if you want to be happy for your lifetime, get a garden"! The book also provides interesting insights as to what the real solutions are - less work and greed and more time spent developing relationships and being involved in our local communities. Especially interesting is the chapter explaining why the international banking systems is so onerous to all but those who are already rich and are getting richer as a result of the system. Another very interesting point was that over the course of their lifetime, in fact Ferraris are more environmentally friendly than electric cars! Everyone should read this book now!!