How then, do we move backwards? How does a society, with most of the people having no clue of future events, move from being dependent on a vast and intertwined network of goods and services produced by the indigenous people of whereever, to a local resource and renewable energy based society, and do so in the timeframe available (20-30 years using the most liberal extimates, 10-20 with resonable estimates, 5-10 with worst case scenarios), all the while prices on everything increasing, world politics getting more militaristic, governments continuously reducing civil liberties, shortages of goods on the market and weather patterns resembling bad Hollywood movies?
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 4189 Location: 1st territorial capitol of AZ
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:21 am Post subject: "Better Off: Flipping the Switch..." Eric Brende
I recently discovered the book "Better Off" by a guy named Gremse or Bremse or something, very well written and I HIGHLY recommend it though!
I can only schedule a limited time to read so I've read the first two of the three sections, and so far I love it. Makes me want to pack it all in and join the Minimites like ... now.
Great to see a sustainable society that goes beyond the Amish, they don't even use motors, so clearly showing the high social capital, abundant free time, and healthy eating and living that's possible if you just swear off using anything invented after say, 1850.
I wish I had more time to read it, just finished work and I'm lucky tonight, it's only 12:30 (after midnight) I hope to be able to read more tomorrow but I"m not sure, have to deal with a possibly dying digital camera I need to make a living and a suspicously-appeared screw embededd in one of the tires of my SUV - who knows if a neighbor etc did it, I've lived here over 2 years and even if I'm here for 20 I'll never talk to most of the neighbors, it's just not done!
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 4189 Location: 1st territorial capitol of AZ
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:43 pm Post subject:
Yeah that's the one!
Hmph, I bought a coffee and a DVD of The Postman, which is a pretty decent movie, not without some major faults (Where are the Indians who would have gone back to live on the land? Why in the last scene is everyone apparently right back to a corporate lifestyle, as evidenced by the working microphone, and everyone's Lacoste polos?) and while I should buy Better Off I haven't.
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:36 am Post subject: Re: "Better Off: Flipping the Switch..." Eric Bren
I reccomend the book as well. He does a good job at describing the subtle and enriching changes that one's experience of the world undergoes when they become more in touch with the normal rhythms of life. It's written from a perspective that most of us could relate to. [SPOILER]He's not a zealot; in the end, he lives in a sustainable small town, proving able to live a remarkably low technology-dependant, sustainable lifestyle.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
