The Vulnerable Planet: A Short Economic History of the Environment

by John Bellamy Foster

From reviews of the first edition (1994): "Extraordinarily well written . . . "
--Contemporary Sociology
"A readable chronicle aimed at a general audience . . . Graceful and accessible . . . "
--Dollars and Sense
"Has the potential to be a political bombshell in radical circles around the world."
--Environmental Action
The Vulnerable Planet has won respect as the best single-volume introduction to the global economic crisis.
With impressive historical and economic detail, ranging from the Industrial Revolution to modern imperialism, The Vulnerable Planet explores the reasons why a global economic system geared toward private profit has spelled vulnerability for the earth's fragile natural environment.
Rejecting both individualistic solutions and policies that tinker at the margins, John Bellamy Foster calls for a fundamental reorganization of production on a social basis so as to make possible a sustainable and ecological economy.
This revised edition includes a new afterword by the author.

Genres: History, Environment, Nonfiction, Science, Economics, Ecology, Politics

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

John Bellamy Foster is a professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, editor of Monthly Review and author of several books on the subject of political economy of capitalism, economic crisis, ecology and ecological crisis, and Marxist theory.

Reviews

[Rosa Handscomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, although a bit dry at times, is such a useful chronological overview of how exactly social development has led to ecological destruction. It's only 150 pages long so it's not hugely in depth about any one period, but it is really useful to build a general picture.

[Harry Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foster understands that capitalism is the the cause of the environmental crisis. Foster also understands that we therefore need to get rid of capitalism (something many environmental activists do not think is necessary). Foster unfortunately provides little tangible direction for exactly how we go from the present situation (of capitalism destroying the planet) to, what he calls, the socialisation of nature and production - "ecosocialism".

Foster correctly recognises the failures of "environmental reform", which has often scratched at the harshest elements of capitalism, but never seriously confronted the dynamics of profit accumulation and private property.

Foster also seems to occasionally fall into a lack of political clarity. At points, he'll use words like "people of the third world" dropping any class analysis. What people? The working class and oppressed indigenous communities? Or the exploiters of these regions, the logging and mining industry, the agribusinesses etc. This might seem nit-picky (and I'm sure Foster is not stupid) but such looseness does not help in building a clear political understanding of who's to blame for this crisis.

He sprinkles in a few examples of community organising and looks at environmental groups that had linked up with local unions and workers (certainly a step in the right direction - and a lot more than what most environmental activists do today). But unfortunately, nothing concrete in how we transform society along socialist lines.

Overall, important to recognise that this book was written in the 90s. Many useful lessons to draw out, but does not have the necessary answers to problems facing the working class and youth around the world today.

[Tannya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am right in the middle of this really fascinating book on the history of how people have impacted the environment though agriculture, population, industrialism etc. It is so incredibly interesting and mind boggling. I am really enjoying reading it. I probably will move it up to a 5 star when I am finished. This is required reading for an environmental sociology class I am in this term. The author is my professor and he actually has quite a few published books on this subject. He is incredibly intelligent and it is really interesting to listen to his lectures. This topic cannot be emphasized enough and I am loving taking a class on it.

[Martin Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://resolutereader.blogspot.com/20...

[Sarah Eckstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of history and detail which always exhausts me quicker than other subjects- but this is very interesting, especially reading it 30 years post publishing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

o intense. It's an easy to read, interesting and sometimes terrifying book that lays out the history of human development and how it's interacted with the environment. It makes you understand a little better how dramatic the difference between 1st world and 3rd world is and that society as we know it IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. There needs to be some serious change.

[Anas Mp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has the potential to be a political bombshell in radical circles both in the United States and around the world…. Foster’s arguments in The Vulnerable Planet give voice to views on population growth that have traditionally been nearly unthinkable to socialists…. One of Foster’s strengths is his effort to place today’s ecological crisis in historical context.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent Professor at the Univ. of Oregon (Sociology Dept) - took his class on Environmental Sociology, read & discussed his book; if you're interested in environmental issues, its a good one to read and short :)

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foster does an excellent job of tracking the increase of human exploitation of the environment through time, and provides a fascinating point of view as to capitalism's incompatibility with true environmental reform.

[j3z7Gt · Rating 3 out of 5]

a reporting on what human has done and is doing to the earth. I've read the Persian translation of book and citations were not good. was a simple reporting lefty book but I'd rather see more evaluative perspective.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice primer on the current status of environmental issues.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

even though its 15 years old it is still a great primer for environmental history. points out that capitalism is the thing that needs to be removed to do much about the climate chaos

[Ayuchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, environmental movement seen from historical and economical perspective. I'm