Product Description

This polemical book examines the concept of sustainability and presents a critical exploration of its all-pervasive influence on society, arguing that sustainability, manifested in several guises, represents a pernicious and corrosive doctrine that has survived primarily because there seems to be no alternative to its canon: in effect, its bi-partisan appeal has depressed critical engagement and neutered politics. It is a malign philosophy of misanthropy, low aspirations and restraint. This book argues for a destruction of the mantra of sustainability, removing its unthinking status as orthodoxy, and for the reinstatement of the notions of development, progress, experimentation and ambition in its place. Al Gore insists that the debate is over . Here the auhtor retorts that it is imperative to argue against the moralizing of politics.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #127468 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 156 pages

Customer Reviews

Mildly entertaining but unpersuasive attack on the new orthodoxy
This book champions the benefits of industrialisation for developing countries and the rights of consumer free choice over the concerns of today's environmentalists. It opposes environmental legislation, and sees environmental advocacy as the new orthodoxy. Architecture is a particular focus of interest. The book comprises selected quotations, examples and commentary aimed at humorously exposing environmentalist excesses. This makes it an easy, even amusing, read, at some cost to the coherence of the analysis. By arguing that progress is a political rather than scientific issue, Austin fails to challenge the underlying environmental analysis or address widespread concerns over climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation. Ultimately, the fundamental arguments of modern environmentalism aren't seriously challenged.

Anti Miserabilists have a voice
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant - I keep reading out bits to colleagues and friends to counter the latest sheep like drift into policy without challenge. About time someone spoke out against those miserable finger pointing zealots with their spurious sense of moral superiority. If this opens up the debate then we will all owe Austin Williams our gratitude Every page evokes 'let me read you this bit' as the book shows up the absurdity of the 'enjoyment police".

Powerful polemic
Brilliant riposte to unthinking environmentalism. This is the sort of entertaining and illuminating polemic that makes you think again - sharper. As me-too sustainability 'commitments' spread through business, this is a hugely useful challenge to complacent and unprogressive thinking.