Macroshift: Navigating the Transformation to a Sustainable World

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: After hearing Ervin Laszlo on NPR (whom I had never heard of before), I looked forward to reading his book. Although the interview with Kojo Namdi was interesting, I did notice that Laszlo had a tendency to pump himself up, but I attributed that to the nature of radio interviews. When I read the book, I was completely disappointed. The concept of "megashift" was little more than "Repent your ways, sinners, it is the end of the world!" Laszlo's theme was that the world was becoming more stressed and on the verge of a breakdown. He used examples from Chaos Theory, but even here he was very sloppy in the application. Further, he made no statement at all about what would happen if and the when the world did break down. Would there be world wars? Would there be food? Many other writers have approached the theory of conflict and systems change in a much better fashion, including Hegel, Marx, Kuhn, Fukuyama and Steven Johnson in his book "Emergence." None of these writers were even mentioned. (By the way, this is an actual quote from "About the Author": "Laszlo is generally recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory ... " If this is true, it is news to me --- and no doubt Darwin!)
The scholarship was weak and extremely self-serving. If I hear about Laszlo being the President and Founder of the Club of Budapest one more time in connection with his ideas, I think I'll move to ban the organization --- even though I have nothing against peace and harmony in the world.
The book was in many ways an insult to the intelligence and a waste of [money]. The only benefit I did receive was the incentive to learn more about Chaos theory from better sources.
I would not recommend the book unless a reader wants to study the art of subtle self-promotion.

Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Guide to the Global Crisis...
Review: As much as it is possible for a single book to give its reader a comprehensive and profound understanding of the impending global social, economic, and ecological crisis, this is that book.

According to Dr. Laszlo, human society has passed through three major stages --Mythos, Theos, and Logos--and is on the verge of its next, and perhaps final stage, Holos. But the transition from our Logos civilization to Holos, like those before it, is not quite as automatic as someone simply climbing the rungs of a ladder. According to _Macroshift, there is some real possibility that our civilization may fail to make the leap, in which case it will almost certainly 'break down' into global anarchy--we may have had a terrible foretaste of this in the September 11 attacks. (For a chilling picture of this kind of world, see the classic sci-fi film _The Road Warrior_). But, should it succeed, humanity will be privileged to witness the birth of the first truly global civilization--and a world whose possibilities surpass our dreams.

Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Guide to the Global Crisis...
Review: As much as it is possible for a single book to give its reader a comprehensive and profound understanding of the impending global social, economic, and ecological crisis, this is that book.

According to Dr. Laszlo, human society has passed through three major stages --Mythos, Theos, and Logos--and is on the verge of its next, and perhaps final stage, Holos. But the transition from our Logos civilization to Holos, like those before it, is not quite as automatic as someone simply climbing the rungs of a ladder. According to _Macroshift, there is some real possibility that our civilization may fail to make the leap, in which case it will almost certainly 'break down' into global anarchy--we may have had a terrible foretaste of this in the September 11 attacks. (For a chilling picture of this kind of world, see the classic sci-fi film _The Road Warrior_). But, should it succeed, humanity will be privileged to witness the birth of the first truly global civilization--and a world whose possibilities surpass our dreams.

Rating:
Summary: Projects and details two possible futures
Review: Macroshift: Navigating The Transformation To A Sustainable World by Ervin Laszlo (Science Director, International Peace University, Berlin, Germany) is a powerful and revealing look at the rapid pace of globalization and the profound shifts it has cause in the world economy and ecology. Laszlo projects and details two possible futures - the "Breakdown", where overly polarized wealth causes the supreme stratification of society and the world culture drifts toward anarchy, and the "Breakthrough", where humanity transforms itself into a new era of world prosperity. Macroshift is a ground breaking, fascinating, challenging examination of the past, present, and future of a rapidly modernizing world.

Rating:
Summary: Doctrine to save the world
Review: Overall, I think the book carries great meaning and great lessons. We need to have a new mindset - "macroshift", in order to save the planet. I totally agree.

Then why do I only give 3 stars? Because I still didn't see anything new. It is similar to other books, like "Limits to Growth" by Donella Meadows (Club of Rome). The author provides all different kinds of warning signs to ask people "Live simple. Love our Earth and other species". I know it's difficult to have a new pitch to ask people stop wasting or stop smoking, etc. However, we do need a more insightful/creative perspective to really change people.

Overall, I only recommend this book to people who are already buy-in "save the planet" concept.

Rating:
Summary: Doctrine to save the world
Review: Overall, I think the book carries great meaning and great lessons. We need to have a new mindset - "macroshift", in order to save the planet. I totally agree.

Then why do I only give 3 stars? Because I still didn't see anything new. It is similar to other books, like "Limits to Growth" by Donella Meadows (Club of Rome). The author provides all different kinds of warning signs to ask people "Live simple. Love our Earth and other species". I know it's difficult to have a new pitch to ask people stop wasting or stop smoking, etc. However, we do need a more insightful/creative perspective to really change people.

Overall, I only recommend this book to people who are already buy-in "save the planet" concept.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time
Review: This is an excellent book. It embodies what I pretty much believe but in such an eloquent and thoughtful way. I highly recommed it to anyone who is searching for a hopeful perspective regarding the future of our world.

Tom

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time
Review: This is an excellent book. It embodies what I pretty much believe but in such an eloquent and thoughtful way. I highly recommed it to anyone who is searching for a hopeful perspective regarding the future of our world.

Tom