Customer Reviews

A New Covenant With Nature: Notes on the End of Civilization and the Renewal of Culture

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Richard Heinberg is perhaps better known for his work on Peak Oil and resource depletion, but this 1996 work which fits more broadly into the realm of cultural ecology is terrifically insightful and urgently important today, in 2008. It approaches the subject of civilization from anthropological and spiritual perspectives that are both moving and brilliant. Highly recommended.

So broad yet rightly detailed -- a rare combination in modern writing.

The book cannot be simplified into one idea, but the big question seems to be, are our cultural choices inhuman and even worse?

Clearly and sincerely written, so that anyone anywhere on the spectrum of opinion can appreciate the thoughts and motivations of the writer.

This is just one more in a line of books that put forward no original ideas, but simply decries our interaction with the earth and suggests that something needs to be done. It suggests that the indigenous people of the world were right and we are all wrong.

It addresses serious problems, but does not provide any practical or novel contributions to the discussion.

In short, there are many books on this subject and this is not one of the best.