Newcomer in search of a reading list... and then a plan

[nexus]

How many houses do you own? Please remind me.

I think a landlord class making money off other folks who have no option but to rent, is one of the big problems with equitable distribution of wealth in this country. They are not working for their money, they are making most of their money from other people who are working. It's monopoly in real life.

[emordnilap]

This type of book always looks interesting - though American - and, when we acquire such books, we need to pass them around. Keep a list of the books and to whom you've given them, so you can keep them circulating.

I've just passed on The Five Stages of Collapse, by Orlov, to someone who's "on the verge".

[stumuzz]

You would be surprised how many people have not read 'the limits to growth'.

When explaining what the future will look like to the BAU community I tend to use simple explanations which they can grasp quickly.

Things like, as we go forward resources will become scarce and expensive. Therefore corporations will have to sell us less for more, or better still, sell us nothing at all but give you an idea that you will pay for. e.g. Coca Cola.

The cheapest Coca Cola in the shops is 8.7p per 100ml. however, if you buy the bottle with your name printed on it, it is 24.4p per 100ml. Nearly 200% more expensive for nothing!

Give them the ISBN of the book, seed firmly planted without mentioning PO, CC, ECO, nukes, Wind etc

[emordnilap]

This is worth reading.

Beginner's circle of control:

So here it is in a nutshell: You will have a much better life, if you focus your mental and physical energy ONLY on the things you can personally influence. Everything else is a distraction that pulls you away from running your life properly.

[emordnilap]

Interesting article here.

For farmers who can’t participate in this stiff competition there is no way out – or rather there is only the way out – get out!

Not quite true, as he points out in another article, here.

Some good stuff on his blog.

The current drive for local food and self-sufficiency is more than a fad or a political project. It is a natural response to economic contraction, collapse in complexity and dwindling energy. It is also about individual survival. Many will move towards direct production of goods and services for their own use, using local resources. This is both a step towards the “world that will emerge after money” and a safe bet for the individual.

There's also a list of useful blogs on the rhs, several of which I know are read by people here.

[emordnilap]

And, of course, how can we forget the ever-inspirational Paul Kingsnorth.

Try this for starters.

[eyeswide]

Wow, brilliant. Thank you all again.

I now have a reading list as long as one arm, a watching list as long as the other, and somehow a much more positive mindset than in quite a while.

[Tarrel]

This is worth reading.

Beginner's circle of control:

So here it is in a nutshell: You will have a much better life, if you focus your mental and physical energy ONLY on the things you can personally influence. Everything else is a distraction that pulls you away from running your life properly.

I learned it slightly differently; three concentric circles - control in the centre, followed by "Influence" and finally "concern". The idea is to move away from the mindset of; "If I can't control it, I can't change it". But, as the article quite rightly points out, there are things we can influence (such as the behaviour of others), even though we can't directly control them.

In another of Covey's books, "Principle-Centred Leadership", he talks about the power of influencing through "walking the talk". In other words, be the change you want to see.

[UndercoverElephant]

And, of course, how can we forget the ever-inspirational Paul Kingsnorth.

Try this for starters.

Shame so few people are listening, or have ever heard of him.

[emordnilap]

And, of course, how can we forget the ever-inspirational Paul Kingsnorth.

Try this for starters.

Shame so few people are listening, or have ever heard of him.

Biff posted a link to his piece Dark Ecology some months ago and it instantly became one of my favourite pieces of writing. It's both calming and frightening at the same time, whilst being intensely practical in myriad ways. It's also quite long for a piece posted on the internet so it's worth printing out and reading via an easier medium (and you can hand copies out).

If you haven't yet read it from top to bottom and digested its many ramifications, you're in UE's non-hearers.

[eyeswide]

I've found Paul Kingsnorth probably the most accessible writer/speaker of those I've been introduced to recently. Partly because he is so practical, and partly because he believes art and literature have a part to play in explaining and understanding what is to come.

[emordnilap]

I've found Paul Kingsnorth probably the most accessible writer/speaker of those I've been introduced to recently. Partly because he is so practical, and partly because he believes art and literature have a part to play in explaining and understanding what is to come.

Good wo/man yourself!

[lancasterlad]

I've found Paul Kingsnorth probably the most accessible writer/speaker of those I've been introduced to recently. Partly because he is so practical, and partly because he believes art and literature have a part to play in explaining and understanding what is to come.

... and a very nice chap he is.

[emordnilap]

I've found Paul Kingsnorth probably the most accessible writer/speaker of those I've been introduced to recently. Partly because he is so practical, and partly because he believes art and literature have a part to play in explaining and understanding what is to come.

... and a very nice chap he is.

The Dark Mountain manifesto is a great piece with which he was involved.

Lines such as:

For a very long time, we imagined that ‘nature’ was something that happened elsewhere. The damage we did to it might be regrettable, but needed to be weighed against the benefits here and now.

describe virtually everyone I know. I have the distinct feeling (because I've had it? But also, I see it) that people do not, can not, regard themselves as part of the planet, nor do they regard themselves as equally an animal as any other.

This, of course, permits - encourages even - the unlimited horrors humans blithely inflict.

[Tarrel]

I've found Paul Kingsnorth probably the most accessible writer/speaker of those I've been introduced to recently. Partly because he is so practical, and partly because he believes art and literature have a part to play in explaining and understanding what is to come.

... and a very nice chap he is.

The Dark Mountain manifesto is a great piece with which he was involved.

Lines such as:

For a very long time, we imagined that ‘nature’ was something that happened elsewhere. The damage we did to it might be regrettable, but needed to be weighed against the benefits here and now.

describe virtually everyone I know. I have the distinct feeling that people do not regard themselves as part of the planet, nor regard themselves as equally an animal as any other. This, of course, permits - encourages even - the unlimited horrors humans blithely inflict.

I blame religion. Well, at least partly.