'A well argued humanist alternative to the present conformist consensus - a very persuasive contribution by a thoughtful subversive.'
Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at University of Kent, and author of ‘Politics of Fear’ and ‘Where Have All the Intellectuals Gone’
‘A much needed diagnosis of the bleak anti-human pathology sometimes described as environmentalism’
Dominic Lawson, columnist for The Independent
'Austin Williams has a gift for lobbing well-directed grenades.'
Philippe Legrain, author 'Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them'
This book explores the all-pervasive influence of sustainability and environmentalism in modern society. From architecture to transport, from foreign policy to domestic ideology this book demonstrates that sustainability represents a pernicious and corrosive doctrine that has survived primarily because there seems to be no alternative to its canon. In effect, sustainability’s bi-partisan appeal has depressed critical engagement and neutered politics.
Sustainability is a malign philosophy of misanthropy, low aspirations and restraint. This book argues for a destruction of the ‘sustainable’ prefix, removing its unthinking status as a contemporary orthodoxy, and for the reinstatement of the notions of real development, progress, experimentation and ambition in its place.
Al Gore insists that the ‘debate is over’, while musician KT Tunstall, spokesperson for ‘Global Cool’, a campaign to get personalities to minimise their carbon footprint, says that ‘so many people are getting involved that it is becoming really quite uncool not to’. This book suggests that it might not be ‘cool’, but it is imperative to argue against the moralising of politics so that we can start to unpick the contemporary world of restrictive, sustainable practices. The debate has only just begun.
Sustainability is a malign philosophy of misanthropy, low aspirations and restraint. This book argues for a destruction of the ‘sustainable’ prefix, removing its unthinking status as a contemporary orthodoxy, and for the reinstatement of the notions of real development, progress, experimentation and ambition in its place.
Al Gore insists that the ‘debate is over’, while musician KT Tunstall, spokesperson for ‘Global Cool’, a campaign to get personalities to minimise their carbon footprint, says that ‘so many people are getting involved that it is becoming really quite uncool not to’. This book suggests that it might not be ‘cool’, but it is imperative to argue against the moralising of politics so that we can start to unpick the contemporary world of restrictive, sustainable practices. The debate has only just begun.
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NB:
Look out for the launch too, of the new radical architectural manifesto ManTowNHuman, which will be launched on July 3rd.
