An Inconvenient Apocalypse

Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity

De: Wes Jackson, Robert Jensen

Narrado por: Graham Rowat

For decades, our world has understood that we are on the brink of an apocalypse—yet the only implemented solutions have been small and convenient, feel-good initiatives that avoid unpleasant truths about the root causes of our impending disaster. Wes Jackson and Robert Jensen argue that we must reconsider the origins of the consumption crisis and the challenges we face in creating a survivable future. Longstanding assumptions about economic growth and technological progress—the dream of a future of endless bounty—are no longer tenable. The climate crisis has already progressed beyond nondisruptive solutions. The end result will be apocalyptic; the only question now is how bad it will be.

Jackson and Jensen examine how geographic determinism shaped our past and led to today's social injustice, consumerist culture, and high-energy/high-technology dystopias. The solution requires addressing today's systemic failures and confronting human nature by recognizing the limits of our ability to predict how those failures will play out over time. Though these massive challenges can feel overwhelming, the coauthors weave a secular reading of theological concepts—the prophetic, the apocalyptic, a saving remnant, and grace—to chart a realistic path for humanity not only to survive our apocalypse but also to emerge with a renewed appreciation of the larger living world.

©2022 University of Notre Dame (P)2022 Tantor

Unexpectedly trepidatious

Based on the title, I thought this book was going to doomsay and advise on how to survive the oncoming end of the world. Instead, what I found was a book that hesitated at every turn to make sweeping statements and instead focused on the nuances of the problems of the apocalypse and their reasons. The authors referred to religion and secularism so much in this book, though that it feels like less of a practical text and more of a conversation about the perspectives of the authors. I enjoyed the read, but it felt lacking so I can’t give it five stars.

Narrator doesn’t fit the topic.

Couldn’t get past the narrator. He was way too upbeat for the subject matter. Sounded like he was speaking at a corporate conference selling widgets.

We are atheists!

If you are looking for any new theory of why we are in danger of near term collapse, look elsewhere. If you want to learn more about the two authors, and how they are atheists, then this is the book for you. They so frequently repeat their beliefs and apologize for being old white men, that they forget to characterize our problems, or off viable solutions. I have no religious beliefs myself, but that's probably not an interesting enough tidbit that I would include it on every other page of a book about ecology and sociology.