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fastbike
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 13, 2004
Posts: 142
Location: New Zealand
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 Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject: "A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright |
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"A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright. [Audio & Book]
I have been listening to a broadcast of the 2004 Massey Lectures (Canadian Broadcasting). The topic is very timely given the predicament the world is currently in.
Wright gives an interesting (and occasionally humurous for a deadly serious subject) background to the cultural evolution of "civilisation" since homo sapiens became dominant.
This is a useful adjunct to the PO issue, because we need to understand our own nature and why we have the current situation before we can "fix" our way out of it.
Many others writers in the PO field make this point (both formally in books etc and in threads on this board). This is the first time I have seen a clear explanation of the human tendency to forge ahead with "progress" (regardless of the consequences), since our ancestors starting domesticating plants at the beginning of agriculture thousands of years ago.
I haven't read the book yet, but will try to get hold of a copy and post a short review.
http://www.anansi.ca/titles.cfm?series_id=4
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Let's hope the next generation have a sense of humour ... our generation will need it. |
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trespam
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 1104
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: "A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright |
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| fastbike wrote: |
I haven't read the book yet, but will try to get hold of a copy and post a short review.
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Looks like the book has not been published in the US yet. Appears to be available in Canada. |
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fastbike
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 13, 2004
Posts: 142
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:20 am Post subject: Re: "A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright |
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| trespam wrote: | | Looks like the book has not been published in the US yet. Appears to be available in Canada. |
My local supplier in NZ can supply the hardcover in two weeks and the paperback in March. I'll wait till March.
In the meantime, I found an online review here and also some online forums and discussion here
Also see CBC at http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey.html
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Let's hope the next generation have a sense of humour ... our generation will need it. |
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trespam
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 1104
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for posting these reviews and references to the book in general. This book sounds fantastic. I've put in my purchase order with Amazon and anxiously await arrival. |
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janmac
Coal
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:10 am Post subject: Re: "A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright |
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| fastbike wrote: | | My local supplier in NZ can supply the hardcover in two weeks and the paperback in March. I'll wait till March. |
Actually, A Short History of Progress is only available in paperback. (It is part of a series of books called the Massey Lectures published by Anansi Press.) http://www.anansi.ca/titles.cfm?series_id=4)
A Short History of Progress (in paperback) can be purchased online at http://www.anansi.ca. We ship to New Zealand.
Also, you may be interested in another title we have published called Fueling the Future, How the Battle Over Energy is Changing Everything.
http://www.anansi.ca/titles.cfm?pub_id=214
Both of these books are available for purchase online from Anansi, the Canadian publisher, at http://www.anansi.ca.
Thanks. |
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mastroid
Coal
Joined: Feb 15, 2005
Posts: 3
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CrudeAwakening
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Posts: 831
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| Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: "A Short History of Progress" Ronald Wright |
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This book is quite simply the most erudite, concise summary of our predicament that I have read. Only 130 pages, and yet he manages to say so much. Very well-written, and both amusing and somewhat depressing in places.
This is a much-needed book, and deserves a wider audience. If only the corporate world would read Wright instead of De Bono. |
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