Growth Fetish (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Right on target and badly needed. -- Noam Chomsky --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

'Right on target and badly needed.' --Noam Chomsky

 

'Breaks new ground by asking us to think what a post-growth, environmentally stable society might actually be like. ... Clearly, stylishly written.' --Hugh Stretton

 

'An incisive critique of how the global economic and political systems have turned us into the miserable rich. Whatever you choose to do and wherever you go, you will benefit from keeping as copy of Growth Fetish tucked up your sleeve.' --Sydney Morning Herald

 

'This is a powerful statement about the failure of the rat-race society and the need for a new philosophy of sociable living.' --Professor Richard Layard, London School of Economics

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741140781
• ISBN-13: 978-1741140781
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,081,859 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Growth Fetish, November 8, 2003

By	Graham Douglas (Ipswich, Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

Trained in economics and politics, Dr Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia Institute, an independent Australian public interest think tank. For the first time his book clearly analyses the current world-wide fetish for mistakenly equating economic growth with improvement in wellbeing and outlines his illuminating view of the "post-growth society". For instance, he states:- "The transition to a post-growth society will be just as far-reaching as the transition from feudalism to industrial capitalism or from industrial capitalism to consumer capitalism. It will fundamentally transform power relationships, social institutions, our relationships with others, our ethical rules, our attitudes to the natural environment and, ultimately, our consciousness."

This book demonstrates integrative thinking of a high order and is a welcome change from the plethora of writing that is full of critical thinking about world affairs but does little to suggest a way forward for the growing number of people who feel there is more to life than increased consumption.

I believe it is a "must read" for thinkers in all fields everywhere.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read - must act, November 18, 2003

By	Tony A (Australia) - See all my reviews

Extraordinarily insightful - significant and urgent. As a 'civilised' society we must dampen the motivation of self interest and greed at the expense of all else (relationships, environment and happiness). This book describes in detail the roots of our unhappiness 'the prisoners of plenty' and seeks to describe a way forward. It will capture your imagination and stir you to reassess your definition of success.

Easily the most signifcant book I have read and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Enjoy and hopefully our 'advanced' human race can evolve to a society that promotes and supports the full realisation of human potential for all.

5.0 out of 5 stars A NEW LIFE, April 25, 2009

By	Merrill E. Cassell (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Growth Fetish (Paperback)

Clive Hamilton in Growth Fetish is fermenting a philosophy of a new life. The model of democratic capitalism focusing on economic growth has created a society that thrives on gaining an identity from what they purchase, big house, fancy car, etc, rather than from what they produce. The Third Way advocated looks at the failure of the capitalist market model and is suggestive of what goods and services are more public provision. It is good reading for society to look at what has gone wrong with the fetish mentality based solely on "money" and identity derived from "possessions", perhaps the base of the greed mentality. Reading this book will also make people more environmentally friendly. Once you start reading the book, you can't put it down, it takes hold of you.