The Hidden connections: A Science for Sustainable Living - Softcover

Capra, Fritjof

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0006551580 ISBN 13: 9780006551584

Publisher: Flamingo, 2010

Synopsis

A fierce attack on globalism – and a manifesto for change – by one of the world’s leading scientific writers.

Recent scientific discoveries indicate that all life – from the most primitive cells, up to human societies, corporations and nation-states, even the global economy – is organised along the same basic patterns and principles: those of the network.

However, the new global economy differs in important aspects from the networks of life: whereas everything in a living network has a function, globalism ignores all that cannot give it an immediate profit, creating great armies of the excluded. The global financial network also relies on advanced information technologies – it is shaped by machines, and the resulting economic, social and cultural environment is not life-enhancing but life-degrading, in both a social and an ecological sense.

Capra demonstrates conclusively how tightly humans are connected with the fabric of life and makes it clear that it is imperative to organise the world according to a different set of values and beliefs, not only for the well-being of human organisations, but for the survival and sustainability of humanity as a whole.

About this title

Review:

"A rich resource that should be widely drawn upon. . . . The author has courageously put together a real tract for our times." --Nature

"A cool and rational analysis . . . for those feeling a bit confused or helpless in the face of an upredictable future. . . . A book that could make a difference." --The Guardian

"Capra has forged and interesting book, which challenges conventional wisdom, provides insights into social and economic pitfalls and offers some light at the end of the tunnel." --The Sunday Times (London)

"The Hidden Connections transcends intellectual barriers, overflows with groundbreaking ideas, and combines scholarly science with spirituality. It is a work of rare genius, true insight and great humanity." --Waterstone's Books Quarterly

From the Back Cover:

Recent scientific discoveries indicate that all of life – from the most primitive cells, up to human societies, corporations and nation-states, even the global economy – is organized along the same basic patterns and principles: those of the network.

However, the new global economy differs in important aspects from the networks of life: whereas everything in a living network has a function, globalism ignores all that cannot give it an immediate profit, creating great armies of the excluded. The global financial network also relies on advanced information technologies – it is shaped by machines, and the resulting economic, social and cultural environment is not life-enhancing but life-degrading, in both a social and an ecological sense.

Capra demonstrates conclusively how tightly humans are connected with the fabric of life and makes it clear that it is imperative to organize the world according to a different set of values and beliefs, not only for the well-being of human organizations, but for the survival and sustainability of humanity as a whole.

About this edition

• Publisher: Flamingo
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0006551580
• ISBN 13: 9780006551584
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 290