Who has read "The Transition Handbook" by Rob Hopk

Adam Polczyk · Post by **Adam Polczyk** » 14 Jan 2009, 12:13

If you have, what did you think?

Adam

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 14 Jan 2009, 13:07

It was OK. It didn't inspire me that much, but I wasn't really the target audience. I knew all I need about PO and very little about organising sheeple, since I am an anti-social loner by inclination.

It is interesting to read 'The shock doctrine' at the moment, because that shows how you can efficiently change entire societies (for the worse) by injecting relatively modest amounts of money and human resources into key points of the social structure. Unfortunately, you need to do that from above, not below.

None of us have experience of how to grow a new society out of the dregs of an old one, and the historical record is a bit thin on the ground. The evidence from books like 'collapse' is that failure is more common than success.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 14 Jan 2009, 13:26

Have just bought it, and it seems like the usual good stuff from Rob Hopkins.

There seem to be lots of polls going on here at the minute . . . maybe we should have a Poll Tax to raise money for the forum!!

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Jan 2009, 14:33

Skimmed it at Waterstones.

My in-depth 5 minute scan showed that it was a daft clumsy over-large physical format.

Didn't like the writing style or content much either.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 14 Jan 2009, 14:43

I read it as soon as it came out, and was quite impressed, but it's so long ago now that I've forgotten most of it!

Jakell · Post by **Jakell** » 14 Jan 2009, 14:52

RalphW wrote:It was OK. It didn't inspire me that much, but I wasn't really the target audience. I knew all I need about PO and very little about organising sheeple, since I am an anti-social loner by inclination.

Is this a tongue-in cheek description of youself. I like to think of myself as a sociable loner, in that I pay attention to being on good terms with my neighbours etc and spend time communicating with them, but at the end of the day I like to raise the drawbridge and keep my own company.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:04

Jakell wrote:
RalphW wrote:It was OK. It didn't inspire me that much, but I wasn't really the target audience. I knew all I need about PO and very little about organising sheeple, since I am an anti-social loner by inclination.

Is this a tongue-in cheek description of youself. I like to think of myself as a sociable loner, in that I pay attention to being on good terms with my neighbours etc and spend time communicating with them, but at the end of the day I like to raise the drawbridge and keep my own company.

I guess it wasn't too serious, as I have a wife and two young kids. However, I have never been gregarious, and fade out rapidly if there are more than 5 people in the room. Drives my wife nuts. At work I am in a team of 4 and some days nobody says a word, at all. That drives me nuts - I am seriously thinking of changing my career as a result.

Sometimes it's hard to start talking at home after a day spent in total silence.

Jakell · Post by **Jakell** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:11

RalphW wrote:
Jakell wrote:
RalphW wrote:It was OK. It didn't inspire me that much, but I wasn't really the target audience. I knew all I need about PO and very little about organising sheeple, since I am an anti-social loner by inclination.

Is this a tongue-in cheek description of youself. I like to think of myself as a sociable loner, in that I pay attention to being on good terms with my neighbours etc and spend time communicating with them, but at the end of the day I like to raise the drawbridge and keep my own company.
I guess it wasn't too serious, as I have a wife and two young kids. However, I have never been gregarious, and fade out rapidly if there are more than 5 people in the room. Drives my wife nuts. At work I am in a team of 4 and some days nobody says a word, at all. That drives me nuts - I am seriously thinking of changing my career as a result.

Sometimes it's hard to start talking at home after a day spent in total silence.

Guess that makes you a sociable loner then.

Back to the topic.. is this book online. If not, it should be

Bandidoz · Post by **Bandidoz** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:13

You're missing the "I've had a flick through it" option.

The book does a good job in covering all bases with the subject, but I won't be getting a copy as I'm more inclined to buy "solution" (e.g. Permaculture) books. Transition Handbook appeared to be half-problem half-solution, with some psychology thrown in.

I'd say it's best as an introductory book, especially for people who have some charisma. I class myself as "socially inept", a guidebook for getting transition groups off the ground is not for me.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:14

http://www.appropedia.org/The_Transition_Handbook

Jakell · Post by **Jakell** » 14 Jan 2009, 15:19

RalphW wrote:http://www.appropedia.org/The_Transition_Handbook

Thanks, am reading it now.

Jakell · Post by **Jakell** » 14 Jan 2009, 16:21

This seems a pretty concise and well though out description of the problems facing us, however there is one huge omission.... There is NOTHING in here about predation, thievery and destruction of you and yours by other human beings and how to protect youself from this. So I can only
conclude that the author is:

1 Blind to these possibilities (unlikely given the book's depth in other areas)
2. In denial himself, or,
3. Wary of scaring people, so doesn't mention it.

IMHO, without broaching the idea of security, it is pointless going on to talk about solutions, even though he does this quite well.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 14 Jan 2009, 16:27

I think that covering arming yourself and similar preparations could well get him into hot water with the authorities.

The Transition Initiative is supposed to work in partnership with the Local Authority, and I suspect that talking about stashing weapons and the like would not be compatible with this approach.

However, some discussion of the subject from the point of view of coordinating police activity should be an important aspect of Transition (you would have thought).

Jakell · Post by **Jakell** » 14 Jan 2009, 16:39

Andy Hunt wrote:I think that covering arming yourself and similar preparations could well get him into hot water with the authorities.

The Transition Initiative is supposed to work in partnership with the Local Authority, and I suspect that talking about stashing weapons and the like would not be compatible with this approach.

However, some discussion of the subject from the point of view of coordinating police activity should be an important aspect of Transition (you would have thought).

He doesn't even approach this with the view of of arming yourself psychologically. This is important as people would be traumatised at losing stuff they had built up, without considering these possibilities.

He could discuss the possibility that sometimes the police are unavailable (to what degree is up to the reader). This happens nowadays even.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 14 Jan 2009, 16:39

**Havent read the book so just a guess**

The people writing and buying these books are of the anything can be solved through discussion brigade.

The Independant Republic of Ruthin wont need a conscript army and a barrier wall to protect itself from Liverpudlian raiding parties, because both sides can sit down over a nice mug of hot coco, talk about their feelings, and realise, theres no reason to smash each others skulls in with rocks.

The idea that there could be 5 million people in an area that can support 500,000 is just beyond their comprehension, or acceptance.

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Who has read "The Transition Handbook" by Rob Hopk

Have you read "The Transition Handbook" by Rob Hopkins?

Who has read "The Transition Handbook" by Rob Hopk