Cancel the Apocalypse: The New Path to Prosperity

by Andrew Simms

A fascinating look at a world in which we have become obsessed with economic growth at the
expense of quality of life, and what we can do to change Ever get the feeling that things are falling apart? You're not alone. From bad banks to global warming it can all look hopeless, but what if everything could turn out, well, even better than before? What if the only thing holding us back is a lack of imagination and a surplus of old orthodoxies? In fascinating and iconoclastic detail—on everything from the cash in your pocket to the food on your plate and the shape of our working lives—this book describes how the relentless race for economic growth is not always one worth winning, how excessive materialism has come at a terrible cost to our environment, and how it hasn't even made us any happier in the process. The author believes passionately in the human capacity for change, and shows how the good life remains in our grasp. While global warming and financial meltdown might feel like modern day horsemen of the apocalypse, this book shows how such end of the world scenarios offer us the chance for a new beginning.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction

474 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Andrew Simms is policy director of nef (the new economics foundation) the award-winning UK think-and-do tank, and head of nef's Climate Change Programme. His latest book is Ecological Debt: Global Warming and the Wealth of Nations published by Pluto Press.

Reviews

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many investors, economic growth for its own sake is a no-brainer. But Andrew Simms urges you to rethink.

In a book that touches on a lot of unexpected areas, Simms starts with looking at how historical announcements of the end of the world have failed to live up to the hype. He believes it’s the same for the doomsayers who think the global economy will never recover and climate change will destroy us.

Simms shows how cultural stories – myths – help us avoid mistakes. He challenges materialism as “a key to an empty room.” But he concludes with optimism.

Even prosperity authors like Joe Vitale teach that buying more than you can use is what Buddhists call “feeding hungry ghosts.” Materialism may boost company profits, but it’s based on poor personal financial habits.

And while the highest-paid copywriter Dan S. Kennedy would be appalled to find himself agreeing with anyone from the Left, the market is saturated with copycat products. Just how many car companies need to make four-door sedans? Instead, identify and fulfil unmet desires.

What investors will get out of this book is that purpose of economic growth is to make the world better.

[Roz Savage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and comprehensive, although ideally it would have been about 100 pages shorter. At one point I thought the apocalypse might actually arrive before I made it to the end of the book!

[Kate Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly heavier on the economics than I would usually read but thought this was great; full of alternative ideas about how we can move away from the current economic model that doesn't seem to benefit anyone but the few. The final chapter should be compulsory reading for everyone in my opinion; something has to be done to get ourselves out of this mess we find ourselves in.

[Dominic Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a long read, and he does digress, but Simms is passionate about solving the problems of our time, whether it's a broken economic model, a rapacious oil industry, or climate change. Well worth a read.

[Elinor Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most inspiring book. Andrew Simms outlines the global problems we are facing with climate change, environmental damage, inequality and social misery as a result of our mistaken obsession with GDP, growth and consumerism as the ultimate social goals. What I liked about this book was the way it outlined concrete alternatives to this paradigm, and painted a highly motivating vision of what our lives could be like if policies were changed to value sustainability, fairness and human happiness instead of materialism.

Some of his ideas include: a shorter working week, locally based food production and community services, local currencies, renewable energy, organic farming, advertising- free zones, and changes from purely economic measures of national performance to include human welfare and the state of the environment. Simms works for the New Economic Foundation (nef) in the UK, and their website can be consulted for updates on their latest work.

This book will remain a valued reference in my library as a source of ideas and inspiration for a better world. I very much hope that many of his suggestions become the reality of our future.

[Anthony Zappia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read this book IF your are open-minded. This is a book brimming with ideas and alternative thinking. I initially read a public library copy of this book, but I ended up buying it - because it's the kind of book I think I'll keep referring back to. It's loaded with references, research and further reading. My only criticism is that it could be a little shorter. There were moments, when I would say to myself "Ok Andrew, I get the message, now let's move on". I also feel that certain chapters could have been better broken down into sub-sections, for ease of use and reading. But overall, I think this is an important book worth reading and sharing with as many people as possible. I could write a whole lot more about, but people who are interested, please check out the review I wrote on my blog : http://essentialoilsforliving.com/blo...