Most of us who live in the North and the West consume far too much – too much meat, too much fat, too much sugar, too much salt. We are more likely to put on too much weight than to go hungry. We live in a society that is heading for a crash. We are aware of what is happening and yet we refuse to take it fully into account. Above all we refuse to address the issue that lies at the heart of our problems – namely, the fact that our societies are based on an economy whose only goal is growth for growth’s sake. Serge Latouche argues that we need to rethink from the very foundations the idea that our societies should be based on growth. He offers a radical alternative – a society of ‘de–growth’. De–growth is not the same thing as negative growth. We should be talking about ‘a–growth’, in the sense in which we speak of ‘a–theism’. And we do indeed have to abandon a faith or religion – that of the economy, progress and development—and reject the irrational and quasi–idolatrous cult of growth for growth’s sake. While many realize that that the never–ending pursuit of growth is incompatible with a finite planet, we have yet to come to terms with the implications of this – the need to produce less and consume less. But if we do not change course, we are heading for an ecological and human disaster. There is still time to imagine, quite calmly, a system based upon a different logic, and to plan for a ‘de–growth society’.
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"I would like to use the opportunity of this review to urge readers to take up Latouche′s remarkable book." Sustainability, Science, Practice , and Policy "This little book is a pleasure to read. It is critical, contrarian, informative and provocative. Latouche advances a coherent set of proposals for reversing the treadmill of an ever–more insistent growth dynamic in favour of a more serene existence based on quality of life, solidarity and respect for the environment." Bob Jessop, University of Lancaster
From the Back Cover
Most of us who live in the North and the West consume far too much – too much meat, too much fat, too much sugar, too much salt. We are more likely to put on too much weight than to go hungry. We live in a society that is heading for a crash. We are aware of what is happening and yet we refuse to take it fully into account. Above all we refuse to address the issue that lies at the heart of our problems – namely, the fact that our societies are based on an economy whose only goal is growth for growth’s sake. Serge Latouche argues that we need to rethink from the very foundations the idea that our societies should be based on growth. He offers a radical alternative – a society of ‘de–growth’. De–growth is not the same thing as negative growth. We should be talking about ‘a–growth’, in the sense in which we speak of ‘a–theism’. And we do indeed have to abandon a faith or religion – that of the economy, progress and development—and reject the irrational and quasi–idolatrous cult of growth for growth’s sake. While many realize that that the never–ending pursuit of growth is incompatible with a finite planet, we have yet to come to terms with the implications of this – the need to produce less and consume less. But if we do not change course, we are heading for an ecological and human disaster. There is still time to imagine, quite calmly, a system based upon a different logic, and to plan for a ‘de–growth society’.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By B. Sheehan
Format:Paperback
What a marvellous book. Almost every page contains powerful insights and challenging ideas about de-growth (or a-growth). It systematically charts out a path to a quite different economy, society and culture. Most importantly it challenges the dominant growth discourse - or what I call the paradigm of perpetual growth. The Introduction and chapters 1 and 2 are particularly effective. Chapter 2 is the most fascinating. The 8 Rs needed for the virtuous circle of quiet contraction allow another type of society - the convivial society - to be imagined.
Latouche's book is quite compatible with my recently published Economics of Abundance: Affluent Consumption and the Global Economy. Three connections come to mind. First, in the Introduction (p. 3) Latouche mentions the need to analyse the "capitalist and techno-economic marketing mega-machine". In chapter 1 he identifies the necessary ingredients of a consumer society. My book makes a contribution to an analysis of both the mega machine and the consumer society. Second, in Chapter 2 (p.35) Latouche highlights the need to reconceptualize the "infernal couple of scarcity/abundance". My book makes a contribution to such a reconceptualization - offering a new categorisation of abundance, scarcity and sufficiency. Last, but not least, both books emphasize the importance of culture and cultural change.
The Economics of Abundance: Affluent Consumption and the Global Economy
Latouche's book is quite compatible with my recently published Economics of Abundance: Affluent Consumption and the Global Economy. Three connections come to mind. First, in the Introduction (p. 3) Latouche mentions the need to analyse the "capitalist and techno-economic marketing mega-machine". In chapter 1 he identifies the necessary ingredients of a consumer society. My book makes a contribution to an analysis of both the mega machine and the consumer society. Second, in Chapter 2 (p.35) Latouche highlights the need to reconceptualize the "infernal couple of scarcity/abundance". My book makes a contribution to such a reconceptualization - offering a new categorisation of abundance, scarcity and sufficiency. Last, but not least, both books emphasize the importance of culture and cultural change.
The Economics of Abundance: Affluent Consumption and the Global Economy
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