Post Growth: Life after Capitalism Paperback – 26 Mar. 2021

I've been a big fan of Tim Jackson since I saw his Ted Talk on Prosperity Without Growth a few years ago. This book is really the sequel to that milestone book, and in many ways perhaps more philosophical in its approach. You don't need to understand economics to read this book. There is perhaps one graph. It presents vignettes of significant historical moments and figures that has shaped our world for the last 200 years. It is an inspiring and beautiful read from one of the great economists and philosophers of our time.For those worried about climate change or biodiversity loss this book is a must read.

After other books around MMT and the Green New Deal, this is nicely written, moving at times, and does not take for granted the need for greater equality which would surely be challenged (indeed, is challenged) by the likes of the Republican Party, Austrian School economists, and after 40 years of neo-liberal economics, even gives the non-partisan pause. We have come to believe, or at least suspect. that fairer distribution of wealth defies 'human nature'. He does a good job of exploding this myth, but goes much further in reminding us that perpetual growth defies reason. Where this book falls short, for me, is in its lack of practical steps to illustrate just how life under 'de-growth' might work. In another book, even Chomsky balks at a total lack of growth. 'Doughnut Economics' describes in detail, and gives examples, of the 'Small Is Beautiful' philosophy in action - I would have liked his thoughts on practical applications. Otherwise, combined with other books, there gives cause for optimism that the present destructive course of global economics might be averted.

Whether or not you have read Prosperity without Growth by the same author, Post Growth is an insightful and though provoking read. Going way beyond economics, and illustrating how biology, quantum physics, literature are all wrapped up in how lives are lived and countries are run, how the world works (or doesn't). Totally up-to-the-minute in these covid, and post-covid, times, this is a book to read now. And one that gives a glimmer of hope that we can make up for some of the calamitous mistakes to which our economic and political mantras have led over the past decades. A must-read.

I’m afraid I got nothing from the book. The author falls into the usual trope of providing anecdotal evidence which is woolly at best or made up theory using bizarre items as its currency. I didn’t get to the end of this one.

This was book of the month for our Green Party book club choice and it really went down well with all the members. Good coverage of where we are and why and how we may construct a pathway out of the current malaise, both personally, socially, economically and environmentally.. Readable and relevant.

There is so much in this book that is valuable. Yet the book as a whole is a mess. Jackson’s love of story telling often gets in the way of his serious message. And sometimes he comes over as the old time prophet, decrying capitalism with Marxist fervour. Which is strange, because he bends over backwards to attend to the motivations of the pro-growth lobby.Kate Raworth describes the book as “economic wisdom wrapped up in poetry” which is a good description. Poetry reaches deeper into the human condition than economics. And when Britain now has a prime minister who is an unredeemed Star Wars fan we need to understand the underlying mindset of people who believe that everlasting growth is possible.The book is a follow up to his excellent Prosperity without Growth but it fails to paint a convincing picture of life after growth.

From Kansas to Kenya to Viet Nam, via a hair-raising boat trip on the Norfolk Broads, Tim Jackson elegantly weaves together the opportunities in ecological limits and the dignity of work. Short and enriching.

I loved the way this book was written and read - I listened to the audiobook.But Tim is preaching to the converted. What I really need is a book that does not dismiss the orthodoxy (modern capitalism) as some sort of abberation, but seeks to understand in order to overcome the obstacles. This goes for Kate Raworth too. I don’t believe we follow capitalism because we were convinced by the economists’ graphs and equations. We either buy into the system because it’s sold to us through our textbooks and media feed by those in power clinging to what they’ve got, or it satisfies some inherent need wired into our DNA. These books preach the better way, but it’s a bit like telling an addict how good life could be and why they should clean up their act without understanding addiction. The argument is more compelling if you examine the opposing view. The root causes of why we find ourselves on the edge of extinction are not to be found in post-Newton modern economic theory, but stretch back further, don’t they? This isn’t the first collapse of a society.