Sustainability by Design: A Subversive Strategy for Transforming Our Consumer Culture

by John R. Ehrenfeld

The developed world, increasingly aware of “inconvenient truths” about global warming and sustainability, is turning its attention to possible remedies—eco-efficiency, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility, among others. But such measures are mere Band-Aids, and they may actually do more harm than good, says John Ehrenfeld, a pioneer in the field of industrial ecology. In this deeply considered book, Ehrenfeld challenges conventional understandings of “solving” environmental problems and offers a radically new set of strategies to attain sustainability.

 

The book is founded upon this new definition: sustainability is the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on Earth forever. There are obstacles to this hopeful vision, however, and overcoming them will require us to transform our behavior, both individually and collectively. Ehrenfeld identifies problematic cultural attributes—such as the unending consumption that characterizes modern life—and outlines practical steps toward developing sustainability as a mindset. By focusing on the “being” mode of human existence rather than on the unsustainable “having” mode we cling to now, he asserts, a sustainable world is within our reach.

Genres: Sustainability, Design, Environment, Nonfiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Hubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a philosophical treatise on how to define sustainability more broadly. Gets into Heidegger, Maslow, other philosophers and psychologists. Rich book, but sometimes difficult to follow. Worth rereading.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried hard to like this book. I largely agree with the author's feelings and beliefs about sustainability. He is obviously very intelligent and thought a lot about the subject. The tone the author uses to address his audience is an interesting mix of academic and conversational, which generally feels sloppy, but is also sometimes refreshing when his passion comes through.

My general complaint is there are way too few examples of what he actually means when he talks about "sustainable design". He harps on the toilet with two different kinds of flushes for the most part, and briefly mentions two or three or four others. Other than this, we are left with a highly abstract analysis, systems design and modeling. He actually relies on, and expands on, the models of others to a high degree. It makes for a very surreal experience to read his reinterpretations of the existing highly abstract models of others.

In the end, I am left wondering what he is actually proposing. It is really quite vague. Maybe I am just too much of a utilitarian but I'd rather read about, say, how to build a greenhouse. And I guess I also find sociological models particularly troubling, since there is really no way to validate them whatsoever, as the concepts and definitions that the models are built on are already abstractions with tenuous links to real phenomena.

[Dul Bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow how his ideas were connected to sustainable design which seems to be the ultimate purpose of the book. His idea of changing consumer behavior through product design is alright. Especially considering this was written in 2008.
-lot of naming theories and constantly saying he is offering solutions. But really no “actual solutions” offered.
-the book is all about how and what the author understands certain/collection of terminologies. And his understanding and interpretation of ideas he came across while trying to write this book.
Overall ok book for starters of this topic. But if you are looking for something constructive professionally, mmmm not really.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, considering the date it was written, on the philosophy of design in the service of sustainability-as-flourishing (a departure from less-bad). Later chapters begin to read as standalone articles. A little over my head at times (if I cannot retain and explain what I’ve read the first time, it requires studying) but still philosophy within reach of the average manager and policy maker

[Simona · Rating 2 out of 5]

More philosophical than practical.

[Litbitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good analysis in here, and a nice theory of suggestions, if few practical ones. At times it was too squishy and emotional for me, but my biggest problem with the book is that his solutions do not rise to his understanding of the fundamental social and economic resistance to change. Our priorities are wrong, our social structure is destructive, and our economic practices are amoral at best, so ... we should design products that make us stop and think for a second before we use them? Barely a scoot in the right direction, in my estimation. Given, I read this in non-linear chunks over several months, so my recollection may be off.

[Duncan Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book to reassure you that the transition to a sustainable world will be easy, keep on looking. This book argues that we need to make fundamental changes in the way we see ourselves and our relation to others and to nature. Not an easy read. Probably the deepest dive into the root causes of unsustainability that I have read. Ehrenfeld draws from many disciplines and that is his genius.

This book made me think a lot. And made me question many things. I was already headed in the same general direction as the author proposes. This book is helping me on that journey.

Highly recommended.

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book, though in my opinion Ehrenfeld takes his analysis a little too far to the philosophical side at times, to be palatable to the lay reader. This works against the powerful message of his book as he will likely be dismissed as the stereotypical tree-hugging, granola-eating leftie often associated with the field. That said, I think such philosophical considerations are certainly necessary to fully understand the idea or principle of sustainability, and I came away from this read, more than anything, with an affirmation thereof.

[Kannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult read and the longest I took to read 200-odd pages. But I guess scholars and academicians have the license to indulge and be abstract. This book will make you work and you may have to transcend levels to follow the author's thought process.

The author makes a compelling, logical case for the need for a holistic approach to sustainability.

It was totally worth it, and I have become a fan of the author and follow his blog at johnerhenfeld.com

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

chapters
I: Is the sky falling, does anyone care
II: Solving the wrong prob's. How good habits turn bad
III: Uncovering roots of unsustain'ty
IV: Consumption: A sympt of addiction
Pages
39 '74, economist R. Easterlin published "does e-growth improve the human lot?"
43 Commodified consumption - 'shifting the burden, treating the symptoms rather than the prob
45 fear instead of solving the real prob; we buy guns, gated communities
more notes ....

[Alexander Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very first book I read as I was beginning my adventures as an environmental scientist. I will say, it sparks a large amount of interest in me as I pursued many projects on sustainability. It's a great read. Very readable (I was a freshman in undergrad).

[Paul Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look at sustainability without focusing on the ecological sustainability that we are so familliar with. an all encompasing and brilliant whole systems look at our future.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit repetitive and abstract, but an introduction of sorts.