Book Reviews

Agenda for a New Economy by David Korten
Offers bold economic reforms that attack the underlying cause of the current economic collapse, not just the symptoms. A radical but achievable program that restores and builds on the fundamental strengths of the American economy. Or, to read a 12 page summary of his book see his article in Yes! magazine

The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones
Van Jones writes about how we can save our economy, address unemployment by creating green jobs (a phrase he coined) while saving the environment – all at the same time. He urges building an inclusive green economy. Because of the vision he had years before the new administration took office he was chosen to serve in the administration by President Obama and the viciously attacked by Glenn Beck until forced to resign.

Economic Justice and Democracy by Robin Hahnel
The progressive movements in the United States need a vision of an economy that is an alternative to both free market capitalism and centrally planned socialist economies. We know finance-dominated global capitalism is causing chaos in the lives of billions and threatens the natural environment. Is there an alternative that is not Soviet-style socialism? His articles:1) The Economic Crisis: Lessons to be Learned. and 2) How a “Perfect Storm” became Possible.

Ecological Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Goleman reveals the hidden environmental consequences of what we make and buy, and shows how new market forces can drive the essential changes we all must make to save our planet.

The Web of Debt by Ellen Brown

The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (Bloomsbury Press, 2009, 352 pages). The more unequal the distribution of wealth in modern society, the more hierarchical the society, the worse will be the physical health, the mental health and the social problems of the society. The amounts are measurable and enough to seriously affect the lives of millions. This book studied the 20 wealthiest societies of the world. The research reveals a real surprise. The level of income inequality has more influence on the health of a population than either the spending on health care, the distribution of health care or the life style choices of the people. This book provides the empirical evidence to prove that equality is as necessary as liberty for a good society and that without equality, environmental sustainability is not possible. See a lecture that summarizes the book:here.

Freefall by Joseph Stiglitz

99 to 1: How Wealth Inequality is Wrecking the World and What we Can do about It. by Chuck Collins(2012)  http://inequality.org/99to1/  He notes the “pressure points” of the system that is causing increasing wealth inequality. Here is a short list which could be part of a set of demands that a powerful nonviolent uprising a la Occupy could/should push forward.                                                                                       1) tax the “bads”, not the goods: i.e. tax carbon, tax speculation (we need a financial transactions tax or Robin Hood tax) and tax wealth (Chuck said 75% of Americans agree to the notion that we tax wealth)     2) limit CEO pay of the 1000 or so large multinational corporations that are looting rather than building for the future (this deprives these people of the incentives to loot )                                                                   3) shut down what he called “the off-shoring system” i.e. with the mobility of capital, corporations and wealthy people move money around the world to avoid taxes. This, Chuck said, is the heart of the system that is wrecking our societies and the natural world. No government can control them because of the “off-shoringsystem”.)                                                                                                                                                  4) break up the 6 big Wall Street banks. 5) establish a Federal Charter for certain corporations i.e. the same 1000 or so mentioned above. Currently, they are all chartered at the state level and there they have created a body of corporate law that leverages their political power.

Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber .Melville House. 2011.

This is a very powerful book that overturns most of the premises that drive conventional thinking about economics and politics. Graeber presents an alternative narrative of the origin of money and markets, based on extensive evidence: millennia before there was money, there was debt, the first coins were minted to pay mercenary soldiers for wars of conquest , and only then did markets evolve, in the sense we think of them as ways to exchange goods for money. Graeber’s intention is to stimulate our imaginations so that we, in the wake of Nixon’s taking us off the gold standard and the 2008 financial crisis, we can envision something different in our future than total catastrophe.