A Short History Of Progress
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"Rarely have I read a book that is so gripping, so immediate and so important to our times. Jared Diamond will be jealous." Robyn Williams "The author sifts the findings of archaeology and anthropology with thoughtful grace to build a potent argument." Guardian"
Product Description
Palaeolithic hunters who learnt how to kill two mammoths instead of one had made progress. Those who learnt how to kill 200 - by driving a whole herd over a cliff - had made too much. Many of the great ruins that grace the deserts and jungles of the earth are monuments to progress traps, the headstones of civilisations which fell victim to their own success. The twentieth-century's runaway growth has placed a murderous burden on the planet. "A Short History of Progress" argues that this modern predicament is as old as civilisation. Only by understanding the patterns of progress and disaster that humanity has repeated since the Stone Age can we recognise the inherent dangers, and, with luck, and wisdom, shape its outcome.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A concise, readable, and punchy description of the manner in which a number of historical societies rendered their way of life obsolete and destroyed themselves by failing to adapt and to think ahead.
He describes as "progress traps" the apparent improvements of technology or culture which are too effective for the survival of the society which deploys them. For example, when hunting societies moved from catching individual animals to wiping out whole herds by driving them over cliffs it gave a short-term bonanza but soon led to the elimination of their food supply.
Particularly powerful is the description of the way the society of Rapa Nui, on what we call Easter Island, destroyed first the local ecology and consequently itself by felling every tree on the island to build the frames to support and move the huge and imposing Moai statues which are the only surviving remnant of their culture. European explorers were to wonder how such giant statues could have been built in such a desolate place: they weren't, it was man who rendered the island a desert in the act of building them.
Perhaps the most depressing part of the book is when Wright quotes some contemporary rulers or critics who actually foresaw the problems which would ultimately bring down their civilisations, but were unable to persuade enough of their fellow rulers or citizens to generate the necessary political will to take effective action. For example, Solon and Pisistratus foresaw the impact which deforestation would have on the ecology and economy of Athens and tried unsuccessfully to halt it, Ovid foresaw some of the problems of Ancient Rome.
We had better pay more heed to some of the warnings of the dangers facing our civilisation than some of their contemporaries did. This book is one such warning.
He describes as "progress traps" the apparent improvements of technology or culture which are too effective for the survival of the society which deploys them. For example, when hunting societies moved from catching individual animals to wiping out whole herds by driving them over cliffs it gave a short-term bonanza but soon led to the elimination of their food supply.
Particularly powerful is the description of the way the society of Rapa Nui, on what we call Easter Island, destroyed first the local ecology and consequently itself by felling every tree on the island to build the frames to support and move the huge and imposing Moai statues which are the only surviving remnant of their culture. European explorers were to wonder how such giant statues could have been built in such a desolate place: they weren't, it was man who rendered the island a desert in the act of building them.
Perhaps the most depressing part of the book is when Wright quotes some contemporary rulers or critics who actually foresaw the problems which would ultimately bring down their civilisations, but were unable to persuade enough of their fellow rulers or citizens to generate the necessary political will to take effective action. For example, Solon and Pisistratus foresaw the impact which deforestation would have on the ecology and economy of Athens and tried unsuccessfully to halt it, Ovid foresaw some of the problems of Ancient Rome.
We had better pay more heed to some of the warnings of the dangers facing our civilisation than some of their contemporaries did. This book is one such warning.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of those books that you can't stop reading!
In this book, Ronald Wright gives us an overall view of the history of mankind so far, and the several and repeated mistakes and errors we have been doing ever since... With detailed views on the Easter Island, Sumerians, the Romans and the ancient civilizations of South America, it traces back the history of human civilization and shows us how these civilizations seem to have disappeared simply because they couldn't (or didn't want to) stop exploring the resources they had at hand.
I really recommend this book to anyone trying to understand current sustainability concerns or to understand and reflect a little more about a lot of ancient civilizations that simply vanished from the face of the earth.
In this book, Ronald Wright gives us an overall view of the history of mankind so far, and the several and repeated mistakes and errors we have been doing ever since... With detailed views on the Easter Island, Sumerians, the Romans and the ancient civilizations of South America, it traces back the history of human civilization and shows us how these civilizations seem to have disappeared simply because they couldn't (or didn't want to) stop exploring the resources they had at hand.
I really recommend this book to anyone trying to understand current sustainability concerns or to understand and reflect a little more about a lot of ancient civilizations that simply vanished from the face of the earth.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Ronald Wright: A Short History of Progress.
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The book starts ingeniously with Paul Gauguin,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by kailin
A Short History of Progree
An excellent journey through factual time, from the Antediluvians (before the Biblical flood)to the present day. Compelling
Published 18 months ago by Rob
A great book for all people who hate humanity.
If you hate humanity and despise other people (especially those who aren't constantly wracked with middle-class anguish about 'Mother Earth'), then this is the book for you! Read more
Published 18 months ago by Captain Ahab
understanding progress
It seems as though this important book may have been overlooked by many who would find it interesting. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by J. Clayton
Nice easy introduction to the coming crisis of human civilisation
A lot of overlap with Jhared Diamond's "Collapse", which is longer and more thorough - surprisingly neither book seems to reference the other, though both reference Joseph... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2009 by Jezza
History of Progress
This book is a great read for leisure, not only does it give you a basic history lesson, it also leads you to every civilizations' end. Read more
Published on 25 May 2009 by Jennifer Jay
Read this
This is an important book and should be read by everyone who is concerned with the human condition and our future on this planet. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2009 by A. D. Coole
Shouild be essential reading for all
There are so many key lessons as to where previous societies have gone wrong in here told in an enthralling way. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by Mr. Nic Hamilton
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