Customer Reviews

The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics (BK Currents (Hardcover))

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
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The Real Wealth of Nations is the most fundamental critique of macro and micro economics that I have ever seen. Everyone should take these points seriously.

Her bedrock critique is that economics is harmfully selective in what it chooses to measure and consider. That's like stopping mathematics with the numbers 1 though 5 and ignoring the other numbers.

Macro economics does this by paying scant, if any, attention to production and services that don't generate an exchange of money (such as raising your own children) but have an economic impact (by producing a more or less productive member of society who generates fewer or more benefits for others) or aren't in the legal economy (drug dealing) which certainly affect the "legal" economy.

Micro economics does this by encouraging decision makers to look too narrowly at close-in effects (such as company near-term profits) rather than the ripple and secondary effects (such as the benefit or harm that customers, partners, employees, the environment, and society experience which also have measurable costs and benefits). Most of those who apply micro economics would have no clue for how to consider those other dimensions.

What you don't measure will be treated like it doesn't matter. That's the rub. We are all bound up in a tradition stall that says that much of what creates a good society doesn't require such focus. But if we did focus, we would do better. I agree.

So how do we get past this? Reading The Real Wealth of Nations is a good start. You can't see all of your social conditioning until someone shows you what's missing from the paradigm. Ms. Eisler cites a lot of studies by others to get you thinking. That's good. She describes the book as a call for discussion, and I'm sure the book will succeed in that dimension. I was pleased to see that she rarely misstepped in choosing, citing, and describing the meaning of studies that I know about.

Ultimately, she sees a change in psychology as being the key to the paradigm shift: Start talking about and thinking about caring for and about others, and you'll stop being too narrowly focused. That point is a much broader one than simply critiquing economics.

In fact, I feel like what's needed is a science of improvement that's much broader than mere economics. Enough people enjoy making improvements for their own joy of succeeding that they will drive forward a lot of the changes that Ms. Eisler is concerned about creating. Others enjoy seeing benefits being created for others, and they will make progress for that reason. Still others will simply mimic what others have done to improve. If everyone learned how to make exponential improvements, most of the problems Ms. Eisler describes would soon be gone. In fact, if each person who knows how to make exponential improvements simply showed one other person how to do this each month, the whole world would know what to do within three years. I think that's a more practical solution that what Ms. Eisler proposes. If a caring attitude is added to that aptitude, great things will surely follow. That's been my experience in seeing people around the world create vast improvements in humanitarian performance through imagining, developing, and applying 2,000 percent solutions.

Bravo, Ms. Eisler!

I missed Riane Eisler's recent talk at the PARC Forum, but the abstract was so inspiring, I bought the book. As with many (all?) the other reviewers thus far, I support the basic notion of "caring economics": elevating the valuation of traditionally feminine activities such as caring and caregiving. I support partnership over domination (though don't know what to make of "hierarchies of actualization"), and the establishment of rules, tools and schools that offer a more comprehensive accounting - and accountability - within economics, that will incorporate the social and environmental dimensions more effectively, and eliminate "externalities" - costs that corporations can pass on to "external" stakeholders (as opposed to stockholders).

The other reviewers have done a great job at highlighting many of the positive aspects of this book. I wanted to offer a slightly dissenting opinion, based on three issues that bothered me. One is that I believe the book is about twice as long as it needs to be. There is considerable redundancy, and by the last few chapters, I found myself growing increasingly annoyed as she repeatedly repeated ideas and themes covered [well] in other chapters. As with some other books I've read, it strikes me as a potentially fabulous journal-length article that was stretched too far. A brief perusal of her paper on "Work, Values, Caring" available on her PartnershipWay web site suggests that this paper may cover much of the content in the book, in a much shorter space.

A second shortcoming I see in the book is a lack of reference to either Milton Mayeroff's classic work ON CARING or to Yochai Benkler's more recent paradigm-shifting book, THE WEALTH OF NETWORKS: HOW SOCIAL PRODUCTION TRANSFORMS MARKETS AND FREEDOM. The book is replete with many useful references, and every author must be selective about the references she or he includes, but I would think that either of the two aforementioned books would be required reading for anyone interested in caring economics.

The third shortcoming I see in this book is its rather pre-emptory dismissal of "selfish genes". I recently [finally] read THE SELFISH GENE, by Richard Dawkins, and although I like to believe in (and practice) altruism, I had to admit that Dawkins makes a compelling case for how and why our genes are selfish operators ... and thus why altruism doesn't make sense at the genetic level. Now, we are not our genes, and I like to believe we are more than simply containers for them to propagate themselves, and as our actions - and inactions - have increasingly far-reaching impacts on others throughout our increasingly interconnected planet, there may be good reasons why caring for others (who do not carry our genes) is worthwhile, and why we might want to give up domination for partnership. However, Eisler's quick dismissal of "selfish genes" in several passages leads me to wonder whether she's read Dawkins' book, or simply the other references she invokes that take a contrarian view. She seems to be attached to making "evolutionary" claims with respect to caring economics. I think the impact can be just as strong without invoking evolution ... and invoking evolution while summarily dismissing what I view as its most compelling modern articulation only weakens the impact.

I hope we will be willing and able to redefine economics to take into account the social and environmental costs and benefits that are currently ignored. I believe that THE REAL WEALTH OF NETWORKS offers some compelling arguments for how and why we can do this. I do not recommend that people not read this book because of the shortcomings I cited - I am still glad I read the book. I just wanted to offer a perspective that may be of some value to others who are considering the book, or at least to help set expectations (for anyone who shares my prejudices).

I was first introduced to Riane Eisler's work years ago through her profoundly enlightening book, THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE. I have carried her message about the value of partnership and cooperation over dominance ever since. Eisler's latest book, THE REAL WEALTH OF NATIONS, reflects on the dominant form of economics around which our world currently functions. It is a paradigm that has been in place for at least 10,000 years. The system, as currently constituted, serves the interests of the few at the great expense of the many. It has also become increasingly destructive to the environment and to the lives of the vast majority of world's people. Eisler offers an alternative vision for market economics that is inclusive rather exclusive, nurturing rather than destructive, open and transparent rather than accessible only to the privileged few sitting at the apex of human society. Solving the world's burgeoning problems requires more than treating symptoms. It requires a fundamental reshaping of the prevailing, dominance oriented economics that encourages human suffering, and environmental destruction on a massive scale. Riane Eisler's THE REAL WEALTH OF NATIONS is powerful and life affirming. The economics based on partnership and the common good that she envisions offers the best chance for creating prosperity for all the world's people while at the same time restoring and protecting our Earth's biological heritage. Written in a style that is highly accessible and also thoroughly engaging, this latest book from Riane Eisler is a gift of awareness and understanding that should be at the top of every person's reading list.

To what we often call the "dismal science", Eisler brings a perspective long as history, wide as the planet, and hopeful as any mother. Rather than mind-numbing fiscal determinism, she offers a practical vision of economic values and goals that is downright inspiring.

First she expands the field of discussion to include all the caring work and natural productivity our lives depend on. By many examples she shows how investment in these activities is both socially and economically profitable -- as she puts it, that caring pays.

Next she applies this wider perspective to the history of economic beliefs, illuminating the gifts and failings of past systems.

Finally she warms up to her most stimulating theme, of exploring the portals of opportunity to a human-potential based economy of the future. As she introduces this stream of visions,

"Neither capitalist nor socialist theory recognized what is becoming evident as we move into the postindustrial information economy: that a healthy economy and society require an economic system that supports optimal human development. By contrast, partnerism recognizes that the development of high-quality human capital -- that is, of human capacities -- is (in addition to a healthy ecosystem) the most valuable component of a successful economy. As Amartya Sen notes, the ultimate goal of economic policy should not be the level of monetary income per person, but to develop the human capacities of each person." (p. 148)

As in her previous books on history and social issues, Eisler uses a multi-disciplinary, non-linear approach that exposes how things are connected. She looks through the clash of conflicting interests to find a course of mutual benefit for all concerned. "With this book," she explains, "I have set out to apply this research to economics, completing the cycle of reexamining sex, power, and money, which are said to make the world go round".

Throughout the book, Eisler applies her powerful insight about human values: that we choose between different kinds of values, namely partnership or dominator-style values. This moral insight acts like a razor to dissect our social conundrums. And in this passionate examination of our economic life -- what counts, who matters, what we will value in the future -- that razor has never been sharper.

author of The Gardens of Their Dreams

Cultural Visionary, historian and wise elder Riane Eisler has gathered an astonishing mass of informative material covering almost all aspects of life drawing from leading edge thinkers, once again inviting us to awaken from our slumber.

From governmental, economical and the political, to technology and ecological sustainability, to our cultural, social and religious past, from ancient pre-history up to today - - - all examined through the clear, very wide lens of the dominator/ partnership models. Riane's information is fleshed out with the backdrop of how our dominator world culture came into being, always from the passionate perspective of what supports our highest and best nature, and life on earth.

Reading from her strong, grounded and irrefutable truth, it is clear that our birthright of a peace-filled, loving and egalitarian life on earth has been stolen from us, and that there is a better way. Riane points out again and again that this cruel, violent and wasteful world, under the control of a male hierarchical, domination and greed driven world culture must change, if we are to survive. We can and must return again to a world which honors and serves Life, a world which embraces the feminine and the maternal; a world where compassion and caring and caring FOR are considered the most important qualities of all.

She writes, "There's a common denominator underlying our mounting personal social and environmental problems: lack of caring. We need an economic system that takes us beyond communism, capitalism, and other old isms. We need economic models that support caring for ourselves, others, and our Mother Earth" and "It's not realistic to expect changes in uncaring economic policies and practices unless caring and caregiving are given greater value." When one consider that it is the very actions of caring and being cared for that make our life possible, it is beyond comprehension that they are systematically devalued--in this warped dominator view of what counts and what doesn't.

I believe the voice of reality and maturity will prevail, due in great part to the extraordinary life work of Riane Eisler. She has opened the door, showing us how to create a world where everyone can blossom into the full measure of their humanity. May we walk through it into a loving and caring world, where we live in love, in health and in gratitude for our gift of life on this beautiful planet.

I found the book to be well worth reading. It should be particularly helpful for those who have not been exposed to new economic visions.

However, I feel that we must move beyond the think tank musings and into an action stage. Some of the hopeful stories that the author tells -- the working conditions at a North Carolina software company for example -- represent a form of working that will not even exist in a Peak Everything world.

We have to re-invent the way that we live our daily lives and in doing so we should integrate the partnership concepts that the author espouses. We cannot do this with letters to our political representatives or with one more conference. These actions have proven to have little or no impact on our direction. We must physically build a new infrastructure. I would like to see the author take a leadership role -- she has the credibility -- in this next step towards a more caring economy.

Social scientist Riane Eisler provides a different approach to economics in THE REAL WEALTH OF NATIONS: CREATING A CARING ECONOMICS. Where Alan Smith's classic provided the first and lasting explanation of how modern economics works as a market-driven force, REAL WEALTH OF NATIONS goes a step further for college-level and business holdings, building upon Smith's concepts to show the real wealth of nations lies in the contributions of people and environment. The idea is that caring for people and the environment builds the real wealth - and he proposes a new 'caring economics' which moves from the microcosm of the household to communities and nature to promote new values beyond stereotypes. An excellent survey any college-level collection strong in social science will want.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Riane Eisler's book collects and amplifies on many strains of her long-time research into social and personal relationships. The key theme is that of transitioning from socio-economic wealth creation and exchange based on domination/hierarchical arrangements to those founded primarily on cooperation. This theme is restated multiple times. Examples of successful cooperative business and social situations are presented. The writing is clear, passionate, yet controlled.
This book is yet another in a series of treatises and Jeremiads which seek to undermine the perceptions held by too many self-satisfied citizens of wealthy nation-states that their primary economic arrangements (global corporation-dominated paternalistic capitalism) are the epitome of evolution of wealth creation. While the points Eisler makes seem comnon sense to the already converted (of whom I am certainly one), I wonder whether they are quite as convincing to those who have a vital psychic stake in adhering to the myths and perceptions of the world economic system ubiquitously pervasive in well-to-do societies.

Where this very good book/manifesto comes up short for this reader is in making the obvious conclusion: a system which is the result of thousands of years of male dominance socio-economic patterns, and which relies on coercion, criminality and corruption will not change just because yet another very-well written analysis of its faults has appeared. As we well know, Power concedes nothing without a demand - never did and never will. All of the gains (such as they are) made by people in terms of decent working conditions, reasonable employment terms, restrictions on child labor, proper staff-management relationships, equal opportunity, etc., came from real struggles, strikes, sit-ins, demonstrations, boycotts, active, persistent pressure on the few who deny well-being to the many.

In other words, the book is short on "naming names" and does not ultimately have the force of Zola's "J'Accuse"-type statement of facts to point the finger squarely at the economic injustice perps and their tacit support for corporatist-mentality group-think by the brain-washed public and defacto takeover the governance of the planet. For indeed the current inequity and inhumanity of wealth distribution and use are not "natural" or inevitable at all.

Definitely read the book for its excellent scholarship, positive tone and general clarity of argument. It's a good "teach-in" tool for re-orienting one's thinking about what *ought* to be the proper methods for generation of the Real Wealth of Nations. Its historical overview and recommendations for alternative metrics and differentiation of life-enhancing from life-stifling economic activities are spot on. However, suggestions of how to FORCE these changes to come about are scant. The impact of Eisler's work is therefore likely to be primarily academic and not revolutionary in nature. While a slow, evolutionary, step-by-step approach to reversing humanity's fortunes (literally and figuratively-speaking) is certainly a preferred path, the powers-that-be simply won't allow it to happen that way. Just look at the response by the various Governments to the current financial crises - they rushed to cover the Banksters' private gambling losses caused by greed and imprudence, and left the populace with the bill: to be paid by John and Jane Q Public for generations to come. In the absence of true concerted action against the entrenched dominance systems, the current state of affairs, of mostly-unbridled exploitation of natural mineral and living resources, devaluation of women, poor, weak and unlucky will continue apace.

Riane Eisler once again inspires and creates personal revolutions with her revelations. This book flows naturally from her previous work, something her readers await and rejoice. Intense insights and a trampolin for more adventurous change in the way we see the world. Highly recommended if one cares to think really differently. It gives you more than hope, it brings you a certainty that we can create a marvelous world together if we change our mindset. All based on sound science and well researched history or pre-history. No self help, only pure common sense. All the good words can not describe how intense this experience is. Just read the book and judge for yourself.

A friend gave me this book for Christmas and I devoured it. The premise is stated stated over and over and over again (that real economic wealth must include all measures of economic activity such as community service, care of children and elderly, the natural environment) so a little more editing on the part of the editor would have been nice. However, the ideas presented just captivated me. My eyes were opened to a new perspective. The way that Riane links and compares the dominator and partnership systems was fresh. I especially enjoyed Chapter 9 - the human side of economics, neuroscience, status of women, on and on. I am hoping that this is a direction that our leaders in business and government in the US will begin to move toward. I've studied economics quite a bit and I understand the classics very well. It was just so refreshing to read a book that actually made me feel something personally about the topic rather than just reading in a blah and esoteric way. I would have liked to see some more details at the end of the book about all the organizations mentioned who are compiling data, reporting, studying, advocating, etc. There were no URLs or helpful information to make a further more detailed search easy. However, I give the book two thumbs up for being bold and innovative. Changing our economic measurements and standards will take a while - it's not like the US is a row boat where we can just change direction quickly. We're more like the Titanic or a modern day cruise ship. Changing direction takes time. I thank Riane for showing me a new and exciting paradigm. Would make a great selection for book club discussions.