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What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know about Capitalism: A Citizen's Guide to Capitalism and the Environment
Praise for Foster and Magdoff's The Great Financial Crisis In this timely and thorough analysis of the current financial crisis, Foster and Magdoff explore its roots and the radical changes that might be undertaken in response. . . . This book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing examination of our current debt crisis, one that deserves our full attention.--Publish
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Community Reviews
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READ THIS BOOK.
As a student of regenerative agriculture who engages in organizing around climate justice, it was refreshing to hear the wholistic structural critiques of the root of anthropomorphic climate change from soil scientists like Fred Magdoff and Wes Jackson. I have pages and pages on notes, but here are a few quick ones from each chapter. Again, read this book.
Ch. 1. The Planetary Ecological Crisis:
“it is beyond debate that the ecology of Earth—including the life support systems on wh ...more
As a student of regenerative agriculture who engages in organizing around climate justice, it was refreshing to hear the wholistic structural critiques of the root of anthropomorphic climate change from soil scientists like Fred Magdoff and Wes Jackson. I have pages and pages on notes, but here are a few quick ones from each chapter. Again, read this book.
Ch. 1. The Planetary Ecological Crisis:
“it is beyond debate that the ecology of Earth—including the life support systems on wh ...more
this book was fantastic! as someone who has read a ton on the environment - a bunch of which is from a marxist standpoint - i did not expect to get too much from this book. and informationaly there was not a lot of new material - shit's fucked up in all kinds of ways. this, i already knew. what i did like and what i feel has been lacking in some marxist circles is real, tangible medium term goals or issues to get behind. this book provides a veritable laundry list of things to get involved in an
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This book focuses on a key point that is rarely discussed in polite circles. Namely that capitalism with it's imperative for perpetual growth cannot be contained on a finite planet. Even if you are pro-capitalist you can't deny that a healthy capitalist economic system needs to grow to survive, so it brings up the question of how much can we grow before we bump up against the earth's ecological limits?
The book starts out making the case that we are already bumping up against those limits when i ...more
The book starts out making the case that we are already bumping up against those limits when i ...more
The book title caught my eye because I'm sort of an environmentalist working in a manufacturing/industrial field. I interpreted the title to mean this book would give environmentalists insight on how to work with/persuade industry to be more environmental conscience. However, this is not that book and apparently my wishful thinking.
I was pretty familiar with all of the environmental issues they described. However I disagree with the author on the topics of cap & trade and sustainability. Fu ...more
I was pretty familiar with all of the environmental issues they described. However I disagree with the author on the topics of cap & trade and sustainability. Fu ...more
Martin Adamson, Professor, Zoology recommends . . .
What every environmentalist needs to know about capitalism by Fred Magdoff
Why is this a favourite book?
This book speaks to human ecology, an area largely neglected by biologists. One of the reasons for this could be that we operate under a production system that fetishizes human ecology. In this short primer the authors speak directly to the production system (capitalism) and its influence on human environmental biology.
What every environmentalist needs to know about capitalism by Fred Magdoff
Why is this a favourite book?
This book speaks to human ecology, an area largely neglected by biologists. One of the reasons for this could be that we operate under a production system that fetishizes human ecology. In this short primer the authors speak directly to the production system (capitalism) and its influence on human environmental biology.
If you're on the radical and inarticulate left, you'll find the book a restatement of what you already believe. It's less about capitalism than capitalists and carries well the spitting vitriol of the worst parts of the left.
If you're on the more sensible left, you'll find it a collection of trite non-sequitors and a whole lot of poorly directed anger. There are a few nuggets of truth.
If you're a centrist or on the right, please don't read this. Books like this just play in to the worst stereoty ...more
If you're on the more sensible left, you'll find it a collection of trite non-sequitors and a whole lot of poorly directed anger. There are a few nuggets of truth.
If you're a centrist or on the right, please don't read this. Books like this just play in to the worst stereoty ...more
This book was undoubtedly interesting and informative. The book was written as an expanded version of a magazine article the author wrote.
I wish I just read the article.
The book was the same thing over and over again. I feel as if it was rushed which maybe it had to be because the information is time sensitive.
A short book that could of been shorter. Informative though.
I wish I just read the article.
The book was the same thing over and over again. I feel as if it was rushed which maybe it had to be because the information is time sensitive.
A short book that could of been shorter. Informative though.
great book. Really explained the broken system of capitalism and gave a fairly strong case as to why a new system needs to take its place instead of reforms to the current system. But it lacked a clear vision for how we the people can enact the placement of a new system and didn't do the best job of explaining how it would take shape in various parts of the world.
The author brings up some interesting points against capitalism and defends socialism as a solution for sustainability. But the book is a very one-sided analysis. And that does not sound fair, and hence, not convincing. Enough said.
found it very depressing but very hopeful, well-written, informative, slightly transcendental and solid research (in terms of solutions). Definitely think a book everyone should read.
meh. Probably a good read for someone unfamiliar with these ideas, but I've read Foster and others on this topic and have, myself, written on it, so there wasn't much new information here.
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Fred Magdoff is Emeritus Professor of Soils in the Department of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont. He received his degrees from Oberlin College (BA) and from Cornell University (MS and PhD). Magdoff was Plant and Soil Science Department Chair for 8 years (1985-1993), a member of the National Small Farm Commission (1997-1999, USDA), and is the Coordinator in the 12-state Northeas
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