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Pros & Cons
Pros
This ebook rules, and is the summation of much of my independent research. Mercifully short, this book still makes its point.
Many of our major crises today are just manifestations of human trends that have existed for millennia. It seems to me that is what we are experiencing in the west. Some—those with the courage to look at our present situation and consider the real bin... Read More
Author's quotations are evidence of his widespread reading and experience. The essay is under 100 pages and can change or reinforce one’s view of the world.
Ophuls clearly and succinctly explains the underlying dynamics of civilizations in his immoderate why civilizations fail. He draws on other writers to support his theory - barbara tuchman among others.
A great reckoning is among us, sadly. I still have hope (or maybe it's just hubris) it's not a pretty forecast, but it's hard to find fault with any of his analysis.
Cons
His example of trees in particular (from a thermodynamic perspective) isn't sound, because they literally produce potential energy out of thin air. Fault tolerance is left standing on the dock in spite of its tremendous importance to his subject matte... Read More
Highlights
Quality
In conclusion this is a valuable book with the ability of opening the eyes of everyone who reads it
Civilisations are inherently damaging for the environment and have a continous need to expand
With the observation that our civilization—industrial civilization—is nearly universal
He begins his diagnosis as he began plato’s revenge with the basic science involved
Price
Ophuls is exactly right that such a change in oil production has a declining eroei
Competitiveness
Many have been more worried about the “debt deflation” that comes in the wake of crashes
To him inflation is a scourge to be avoided at all costs invoking the specter of the hyperinflation of the weimar republic
Overview
- How are reviewers describing this item?
human and new. - Our engine has profiled the reviewer patterns and has determined that there is minimal deception involved.
- Our engine has determined that the review content quality is high and informative.
- Our engine has discovered that over 90% high quality reviews are present.
- This product had a total of 188 reviews as of our last analysis date on Jul 6 2022.
Helpful InsightsBETA
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
I believe we as a species are blindly exhausting resources and degrading the environment to our peril
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
The essay is under 100 pages and can change or reinforce one’s view of the world
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
The complexity that worked with cheap energy and young populations collapses with expensive energy and aging populations that demand their rights in the form of payments that in the end cant be made
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
Its hard to deny the powerful image that is presented about the inevitability of the decline of our own empire
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
I am fascinated by this book and the explanations of why all societies eventually fail
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
By the way the anti thesis of inevitable societal collapse is the singularity
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
While at the same time giving it a unrelenting pace and scope that it is impossible to stop reading
Posted by a reviewer on Amazon
Clear and concise to to a degree unsurpassed the book pulls no punches on the fundamentally flawed nature of civilization and the ultimately immutable results that must accompany these flaws
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