Flourishing: A Frank Conversation about Sustainability

by John R. Ehrenfeld, Andrew J. Hoffman

A Frank Conversation about Sustainability invites you into a conversation between a teacher, John R. Ehrenfeld, and his former student now professor, Andrew J. Hoffman, as they discuss how to create a sustainable world. Unlike virtually all other books about sustainability, this one goes beyond the typical stories that we tell ourselves about repairing the environmental damages of human progress. Through their dialogue and essays that open each section, the authors uncover two core facets of our culture that drive the unsustainable, unsatisfying, and unfair social and economic machines that dominate our lives. First, our collective model of the way the world works cannot cope with the inherent complexity of today's highly connected, high-speed reality. Second, our understanding of human behavior is rooted in this outdated model. Driven by the old guard, sustainability has become little more than a fashionable idea. As a result, both business and government are following the wrong path―at best applying temporary, less unsustainable solutions that will fail to leave future generations in better shape. To shift the pendulum, this book tells a new story, driven by being and caring, as opposed to having and needing, rooted in the beauty of complexity and arguing for the transformative cultural shift that we can make based on our collective wisdom and lived experiences. Then, the authors sketch out the road to a flourishing future, a change in our consumption and a new approach to understanding and acting. There is no middle ground; without a sea change at the most basic level, we will continue to head down a faulty path. Indeed, this book is a clarion call to action. Candid and insightful, it leaves readers with cautious hope.

Genres: Sustainability, Nonfiction, Environment

151 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2013

Reviews

[Kristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've researched the topic of sustainability extensively. This is the first book I have come across that actually explains in clear, direct prose the sorts of cultural and philosophical changes that must occur to be truly sustainable, not just less unsustainable. To be good, not just less bad.

I'm having a hard time writing a decent review because I was just so surprised at how much I liked all the ideas in it. I really haven't found a book that so clearly explains what my own feelings and beliefs towards sustainability are. And then explained them better than I have ever been able to.

Whether or not you end up completely agreeing with the points and concepts brought up, I think it is worth reading for anyone interested in Sustainability, Design, Business or Culture — so basically, for everyone.

It is the best book I have read on sustainability, and I'm moving it to the #1 spot on the Sustainabilitist reading list when I get a sec. (http://thesustainabilitist.com)

[Faisal Husain · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Someday, when flourishing comes home, the poets among us will write the story, but until then, each one of us will have to work with the ideas without the fabric a better storyteller can weave."

Extremely beautiful book filled with insight that will echo through the generations. Ehrenfeld's view of sustainability is radically different than the conventional meaning, and if history is to tell, a necessity.

Along with Daniel Christian Wahl's Designing Regenerative Cultures and Naomi Klein's This Changes Everything , consider this mandatory reading if you work in or care about sustainability.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dense, but I loved the last chapter on social change and how it ties together with sustainability!

[Rebecca Henn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by my PhD advisor (Andy) and his professor leads me to better understand my dissatisfaction with efforts toward sustainability—especially in recent years. I see all of the green building rating systems, and then in my email I see all of the "training sessions" and other business opportunities to use green building to profit. The disguise is doing something "better for the environment". In this book, however, John Ehrenfeld pushes past the quantitative metrics of the Brundtland commission's definition of "needs" to ask what makes life worthwhile?

Personally, I'm looking to understand how I can be interested in sustainability yet head to the racetrack and burn leaded oil-soaked fuel in my two-stroke motorcycle. What explains this disconnect? It has everything to do with (a) the physical experience and (b) the "family" of the racetrack. Both of these would continue to draw me even if we could swap out our machines for those that consumed no resources, and even cleaned the air and water… :). So it is important to recognize (1) the essentially social nature of our existence that can still not be quantified—to mean something to others, and (2) the Being in the world that includes the body, rather than the constant digital only-in-the-mind experiences. To ride my bicycle, to race my motorcycle, to participate in yoga, go for a hike—even to walk to class—these are the pragmatic mechanics of Being that this book does not address, but that I add to the first point of social connection (and intimately link it to Being in the world, since it can only happen through the body).

The previous paragraph describes how the book is a touchstone for me, but for others it may work in different ways—particularly those in the B-school and business world. It is crucial to reflect on this book both as a personal analysis of how can I move the world towards Flourishing, but also as a professional analysis of what can be done in the "day job" in those you influence. As professors, we can enact the leadership that Ehrenfeld calls for by first caring for our students, and secondly, inspiring them to live with the hope of a possibility for flourishing.

[Karen Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a keen, soundly-written dialogue on sustainability between John Ehrenfeld and a colleague. You won't find practical tips for composting or the history of the recycling stream, but you will find instead a solid intellectual re-contextualization of sustainability as a philosophy and mindset. Ehrenfeld's suggesting a paradigm shift towards how we thinking about sustaining everything and this book is a start to that shift.

[Theodore Kinni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ehrenfeld is a corporate sustainability pioneer and he doesn't pull any punches here, arguing, among other things, that reducing unsustainability - the focus of virtually all corporate efforts - will not create sustainability.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some memorabilia:

He stresses that "sustainability needs to avoid becoming just another thing to measure and manage" and vociferously argues against sustainability ratings of companies and products, mocking the idea that sustainability can be captured by a numerical score, as if this is some kind of contest. For John, it is simply not that simple. (page 6)

John defines sustainability as "the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on the Earth forever." (page 7)

The positive psychologist , Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, defines "flow", a condition of "being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, or thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." How can we reach this state of flourishing? (page 18)

The traditional concept of poverty is limited and restricted, since it refers exclusively to the economic predicaments of people who live below a certain income threshold. Instead, we should speak of poverties... (page 31)

The Green philosopher Heraclitus said that you cannot step in the same river twice. (page 40)

I'm an atheist and a modest practitioner of Judaism. I see my religion more as a guide for living. I do this without a belief in god, and that works well for me and for a lot of other people. I can find spiritual sustenance in my Judaism without the necessity of a transcendent God. (page 45)

Sustainability-as-flourishing without love is not possible. If we do not operate from love, acceptance, and Care, we will continue to dominate others and the world as we do now, with all the negative consequences we call unsustainability. (page 89)

Sacredness for me represents an enhanced consciousness, one that is based on something connected to spirituality. I define sacred without straying into more conventional religious notions. (page 106)

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The question and answer portions of this book flowed well and helped keep me engaged.

While I agree with the main premise: most of the world has an addiction to consumerism that is not sustainable, I’m hesitant to accept the conclusion posed by the authors that “Care” or “caring” is the solution to this problem. Although the argument wasn’t strong or based on anything other than thoughts the authors have, the book is valuable because it asks hard to answer questions that we all should be reevaluating in our own lives. The authors also acknowledge that maybe just caring isn’t the correct solution but they stress that we need to do something and perhaps caring is the way to start.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An idiosyncratic mix of essay and clarifying Q&A by a pioneer business sustainability professor frustrated with the markets-reduce-inefficiencies narrow view of sustainability that has substituted for real systemic rethinking in our corporate consumer world. Sustainability is a property of the system, an ongoing act, not an individual score.

"I settled on flourishing as a workable metaphor for the bundle of things that make life worth living and produce well-being. ... sustainability is the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on the Earth forever."

[Jevin John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally different outlook on environmental sustainability, or more rightfully put-flourishing!

A transformative perspective on consumerism and how increasing growth harms the entire world. It is a wonderful revelation into the concept of responsible consumption through a transformation in our buying culture or behavior. We essentially have to think really if we need what we want!

[milo · Rating 2 out of 5]

for school- certainly not as boring as the other stuff we read and some good points made. overall it did not contribute to my personal flourishing bc while i was reading it i wanted to be doing other stuff. still nice though. just not something i'd actively choose to read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary alternative perspective on sustainability, by two giants in the field. I use parts of this book for my postgraduate class in Business and Sustainability. The only point of improvement is a greater emphasis on the 'how' - what social processes are working and implications.

[kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

short and sweet conversation on degrowth and corporate sustainability. I liked the conversational aspect and the incorporation of having vs being, spirituality, and love and interconnectedness as guiding forces alongside examples of corporate (un)sustainability.

[Ron Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read - refreshing take on sustainability. Not as insightful as originally expected, but very good read.

[George Danellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

IN this book a veteran of modern sustainability activity gives his perspective on where we are at. Basically, he states that our dominant social paradigm no longer fits the physical constraints of the world. What we need is a shift in our story driven by caring as opposed to needing, from having to being. "Sustainability as Fluorishing" is a context in which all life can thrive.

each chapter ends with a Q& A between teacher and student, where the studetn is not himself a well respected Sustainable Business Professor. This allows for some clarification of what Ehrenfeld writes and is very useful.

This book will be beneficial for anyone wondering how we as might make some of the shifts necessary to stave off some of the worst problems of our materialist, growth oriented model - and for those who have had a strong inkling that without a greater awareness of ourselves, and our place in this world, that the shifts will not be possible.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out" (119).

This is a thoughtful conversation on sustainability, community and well-being. I give it three stars because I think Ehrenfeld and others have expressed similar ideas before. Worth the read for covering sustainability concepts in the 2010's.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful and critical message on what sustainability should be like, what is limiting us and how we can break those limitations. It's a rather philosophical approach but since there is not one clear solution that solves everything, it does provide the reader with basic values that we've lost along the way. A must read for everyone into sustainability