Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered: 25 Years Later...With Commentaries
by E.F. Schumacher
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This 1973 take on industrial and global economics is as applicable now as it was back then. Schumacher, perhaps the first to develop the notion of natural capital, argues for both the virtues and necessity of a sustainable economy, and he examines insightfully (if broadly) the requirements for such an economy. The book is an overflowing blend of realism and idealism, and this explains part of its attraction.
It also sheds a somewhat disconcerting light on the present environmental movement, a...more
It also sheds a somewhat disconcerting light on the present environmental movement, a...more
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recommends it for:
those interested in globalization, smart growth, sustainability
The greatest book and philosophy I have ever read.
Schumacher takes economics and makes it human, ethical, and easy to understand. Shumacher's perspective is economics as a set of tools to assess and answer questions rather than economics as the answer itself. He highlights the shortcomings of statistical models (i.e., "externalities" such as quality of life, environmental degradation, social impacts, etc are not assessed).
The response to Small is Beautiful was the creation of...more
Schumacher takes economics and makes it human, ethical, and easy to understand. Shumacher's perspective is economics as a set of tools to assess and answer questions rather than economics as the answer itself. He highlights the shortcomings of statistical models (i.e., "externalities" such as quality of life, environmental degradation, social impacts, etc are not assessed).
The response to Small is Beautiful was the creation of...more
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Written in the 1970's, Schumacher's writing is a prophecy of problems to come. It is a poetic blend of philosophy, psychology, technology, economics, politics, ethics, agriculture, and development. He eloquently strings together concepts from multiple disciplines in a clear and intentional way, covering broad issues in few words with relative ease. He stresses the inherent value of beauty, meaning, and the individual, and weaves them throughout his argements on employment, technology, and dev...more
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Read in April, 2008
I've finally broken the 5-star barrier here with one of the foundational economics texts of the 20th century. It's not accurate, however, to think of this as strictly a book about economies and market fluctuations. Schumacher discusses the metaphysical assumptions that then provide the foundation of a world view that includes, among other things, market fluctuations. The author also provides a cogent summary of the humans-first approach to the development of emerging nations.
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have to say, i have a hard time getting excited about this. i think it is good medicine for working your way out of an ideological corner, but the breadth of his moral brush strokes i found sometimes to be itchy. helpful if you are starting to think about 'sustainable development' ideas, though there is something to his message that i think involves a self-criticism that i did not seem to get out of this book. schumacher definitely liked staking out the moral high ground.
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Read in August, 2008
I found the book absolutely amazing. Despite the fact that it was written in the early seventies, it contained much of the truth about current consequences to the unmitigated growth of the world economy. Schumacher not only criticizes the present economic situation but also provided an alternative to it. It's a great book for die-hard capitalists as well as people searching for alternatives.
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Read in January, 1994
Corporations and capitalism are evil. Blah blah blah. More simplistic garbage drenched in Eastern mythology. I appreciate the attempt of the author to save the world from consuming itself into its grave, but such an effort deserves far more academic rigor than that exemplified by this book.
This was assigned to me in class long ago. Admirable, but forgettable.
This was assigned to me in class long ago. Admirable, but forgettable.
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Read in November, 2007
How sad that this book has only a few reviews on here! It is in the top 10 best non-fiction books I've ever read. Schumacher captures and relates all the things we see wrong with the way political economic growth has gone in the past century and lends some hope to where and how we can make changes in the way we think for a healthier future for humans and the planet.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
hmmm
I stopped reading this book, not because it wasn't good, exactly, but because it's organization was jumbled. Plus, there were too many long stretches where I didn't feel intellectually illuminated broken by very few tiny paragraphs where I did. This is the kind of book I suspect has many golden nuggets of truth, but I just can't summon the energy to find them.
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It's really sad that not one teacher out of the hundred I had never assigned this as required reading in any class I ever took. This is not just about economics...it's philosophy, development, poly sci, psychology, meaning-of-life sort of stuff. If it somehow slipped through the cracks of your education as it did mine, READ IT NOW! You'll be glad you did....
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recommends it for:
everyone
I know I'm going too extreme, but I suggest that if you human still want to live a good life...please...please read and try to understand his concept. Although there're things that the reader may feel that they are unacceptable, please ignore them and keep on trying to understand the concept as a whole...
Your world, my world, our world...needs help!
Your world, my world, our world...needs help!
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Read in February, 2007
Okay, I'll admit i haven't finished this one - got recalled to the library. But it's grrrreeeat! This guy is brilliant, totally calls into question the race of progress and the value our society places on the free market and capitalism, while devaluing humanity and the natural environment. I'll have to put it on my "to read" list as well!
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Read in April, 2002
Points out the priorities that we should have when providing economic help to poor nations, and the priorities we should have in our own. Stresses simple solutions and economic stimulus that enhances the human community, and improves the human condition. A great philosophical view of economics that is completely relevant today.
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The book was going okay, until the author started talking about how women needed to stay home with the children, and were basically thus excluded from everything he was talking about. Felt a bit alienating... and infuriating. How someone can be so radical in some ways and so backwards in others is beyond me.
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Read in July, 2005
Okay, I lost this book before I could finish it, but it was amazing. Fabulous way of looking at economics, from an intelligent, solid perspective. Definitely changed my world view. This is the book I've been waiting for all my life :) I think someone stole it because it is so good.
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recommends it for:
everyone
A founding work of the modern environmental movement, the closest thing I've ever seen to a book by a poet-economist. I started reading this in community college and intend to finish it. Unfortunately, my copy is currently wandering the world in a UPS box.
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Read in March, 2006
Great book on social economics - written in the 70's and made some almost prophetic predictions on where American economy is headed, among others... if anything, the book is worth reading for the chapter "Buddhist Economics" alone.
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I love this book. It has introduced me to a new paradigm where it is more possible to experience the quality of our material world, appreciate the means of production, and be guided to the reality I like to be contributing to.
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Book is so old they do not even have a cover phot for it. The author won the nobel prize and it was from his work titled Buddist economics. In a time where small is the new big. He was 40 years ahead of his time. Great read.
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Read in October, 2007
Granted, I only read 2 of the articles from this book, but I found the ideas there to be little more than Bono-esque bullshit (that is, Bono with regard to development issues--not Bono with regard to 'life').
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