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Rating: 
Summary: A trip to the promised land.
Review: Humanity is at an important point in history. Duane Elgin, author of the 1993 classic, VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY, observes in his new book that the human species is in its reckless, rebellious, "teenage years" (p. 1), more concerned with appearance, instant gratification, and "us versus them" thinking and behavior (p. 2), than searching for a deeper meaning and purpose in life (p. 5). Elgin examines several "adversity trends" that could result in an "evolutionary crash:" global warming (pp. 18-23); population growth (pp. 23-26); mass extinction (pp. 26-28); depletion of natural resources (pp. 28-32) and world poverty (pp. 32-37). "Instead of supporting a flourishing and robust biosphere," he writes, "humans are busy cutting down forests, overfishing the oceans, paving over the land, and pouring toxins into the water, soil, and air. The net result is decimation of the community of plant and animal life on the Earth. The health of the planet is in jeopardy as industrial activity is causing the mass extinction of animal and plant species" (pp. 26-27). Twenty-percent of the world's population holds 82.7 percent of the world's total income, Elgin notes, while "grinding poverty and the absence of opportunity are the way of life for the majority of human beings today" (p. 33). According to Elgin, now is the time for "growing up."To turn an "environmental crash" into a "spectacular bounce," Elgin encourages us to "live lightly in a living universe" (p. 67). "If life is nested within life, then it is only fitting that we treat everything that exists as alive and worthy of respect. Our sense of meaningful connection expands to the entire community of life, including past, present, and future generations. Every action in a living universe is felt to have ethical consequences as it reverberates throughout the ecosystem of the living cosmos. The focus of life shifts from a desire for high-consumption lifestyles (intended to provide both material pleasures and protection from an indifferent universe) toward sustainable and simple ways of living (intended to connect us with a purposeful universe of which we are an integral part)" (pp. 67-68). In contrast to "the dark side" of the American Dream, Elgin advocates a life of voluntary simplicity, in which a rich inner life takes precedence over getting rich. The "hallmark" of voluntary simplicity is that "life is too deep and consumerism is too shallow to provide soulful satisfaction" (p. 73). For Elgin, a promising future is also contingent upon our ability to communicate (p. 95) with "mature and soulful compassion" (p. 113). This is not a pessimistic book of revelation. Despite its sobering statistics, Elgin's thought-provoking book is filled with promising possibilities for the unknown future of planet Earth. However, given the serious "adversity trends" plaguing our planet, it is challenging for me to share Elgin's optimism, and many of his simple and idealistic solutions are not entirely convincing. Still, Elgin's book is a "Promise" worth keeping, together with Thomas Berry's, THE GREAT WORK (2000). Keep both books close at hand through these troubling times for our planet. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: A trip to the promised land.
Review: Humanity is at an important point in history. Duane Elgin, author of the 1993 classic, VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY, observes in his new book that the human species is in its reckless, rebellious, "teenage years" (p. 1), more concerned with appearance, instant gratification, and "us versus them" thinking and behavior (p. 2), than searching for a deeper meaning and purpose in life (p. 5). Elgin examines several "adversity trends" that could result in an "evolutionary crash:" global warming (pp. 18-23); population growth (pp. 23-26); mass extinction (pp. 26-28); depletion of natural resources (pp. 28-32) and world poverty (pp. 32-37). "Instead of supporting a flourishing and robust biosphere," he writes, "humans are busy cutting down forests, overfishing the oceans, paving over the land, and pouring toxins into the water, soil, and air. The net result is decimation of the community of plant and animal life on the Earth. The health of the planet is in jeopardy as industrial activity is causing the mass extinction of animal and plant species" (pp. 26-27). Twenty-percent of the world's population holds 82.7 percent of the world's total income, Elgin notes, while "grinding poverty and the absence of opportunity are the way of life for the majority of human beings today" (p. 33). According to Elgin, now is the time for "growing up." To turn an "environmental crash" into a "spectacular bounce," Elgin encourages us to "live lightly in a living universe" (p. 67). "If life is nested within life, then it is only fitting that we treat everything that exists as alive and worthy of respect. Our sense of meaningful connection expands to the entire community of life, including past, present, and future generations. Every action in a living universe is felt to have ethical consequences as it reverberates throughout the ecosystem of the living cosmos. The focus of life shifts from a desire for high-consumption lifestyles (intended to provide both material pleasures and protection from an indifferent universe) toward sustainable and simple ways of living (intended to connect us with a purposeful universe of which we are an integral part)" (pp. 67-68). In contrast to "the dark side" of the American Dream, Elgin advocates a life of voluntary simplicity, in which a rich inner life takes precedence over getting rich. The "hallmark" of voluntary simplicity is that "life is too deep and consumerism is too shallow to provide soulful satisfaction" (p. 73). For Elgin, a promising future is also contingent upon our ability to communicate (p. 95) with "mature and soulful compassion" (p. 113). This is not a pessimistic book of revelation. Despite its sobering statistics, Elgin's thought-provoking book is filled with promising possibilities for the unknown future of planet Earth. However, given the serious "adversity trends" plaguing our planet, it is challenging for me to share Elgin's optimism, and many of his simple and idealistic solutions are not entirely convincing. Still, Elgin's book is a "Promise" worth keeping, together with Thomas Berry's, THE GREAT WORK (2000). Keep both books close at hand through these troubling times for our planet. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For Grown-Ups Who Feel Like Something's Missing
Review: This is a well-written book which provides deep hope, in a realistic way, for the future of human society. Good insight into the historical development of human culture and the evolution of personal consciousness. Really puts its finger on the main developmental challenge as the personal and cultural transition from adolescence to adulthood. Read this together with another excellent book on the potential of adulthood for the planet: A Conscious Life: Cultivating The Seven Qualities of Authentic Adulthood, by Fran and Louis Cox.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For Grown-Ups Who Feel Like Something's Missing
Review: This is a well-written book which provides deep hope, in a realistic way, for the future of human society. Good insight into the historical development of human culture and the evolution of personal consciousness. Really puts its finger on the main developmental challenge as the personal and cultural transition from adolescence to adulthood. Read this together with another excellent book on the potential of adulthood for the planet: A Conscious Life: Cultivating The Seven Qualities of Authentic Adulthood, by Fran and Louis Cox.
Rating:
Summary: Promise Ahead
Review: What an aptly named book! In a brief 200 pages, the author delves deeply into key issues facing humanity at an important juncture in human history. The book describes where humankind is along our evolutionary path, the global environmental and social problems confronting us, and the opportunities before us for charting a better future. Be forewarned -- if you read this book, you might just find yourself overwhelmingly compelled to make changes in your life that will ripple out to others. It has the ability to transform the way you view people and the world around you. It is a must read for anyone concerned about where humanity is headed, and wants to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Promise Ahead
Review: What an aptly named book! In a brief 200 pages, the author delves deeply into key issues facing humanity at an important juncture in human history. The book describes where humankind is along our evolutionary path, the global environmental and social problems confronting us, and the opportunities before us for charting a better future. Be forewarned -- if you read this book, you might just find yourself overwhelmingly compelled to make changes in your life that will ripple out to others. It has the ability to transform the way you view people and the world around you. It is a must read for anyone concerned about where humanity is headed, and wants to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. Enjoy!
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