The Progress Paradox
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The Progress Paradox
In The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook draws upon three decades of wide-ranging research and thinking to make the persuasive assertion that almost all aspects of Western life have vastly improved in the past century--and yet today, most men and women feel less happy than in previous generations. Why this is so and what we should do about it is the subject of this book. Between contemporary emphasis on grievances and the fears engendered by 9/11, today it is common to hear it said that life has started downhill, or that our parents had it better. But objectively, almost everyone in today’s United States or European Union lives better than his or her parents did. Still, studies show that the percentage of the population that is happy has not increased in fifty years, while depression and stress have become ever more prevalent. The Progress Paradox explores why ever-higher living standards don’t seem to make us any happier. Detailing the emerging science of “positive psychology,” which seeks to understand what causes a person’s sense of well-being, Easterbrook offers an alternative to our culture of crisis and complaint. He makes a Compelling case that optimism, gratitude, and acts of forgiveness not only make modern life more fulfilling but are actually in our self-interest. Seemingly insoluble problems of the past, such as crime in New York City and smog in Los Angeles, have proved more tractable than they were thought to be. Likewise, today’s “impossible” problems, such as global warming and Islamic terrorism, can be tackled too. Like The Tipping Point, this book offers an affirming and constructive way of seeing the world anew. The Progress Paradox will change the way you think about your place in the world, and about our collective ability to make it better.
Progress vs Regress
""Progress vs Regress"" offers a thought-provoking examination of how societies advance and decline, challenging the common belief that human development follows a straightforward upward path. Through a comprehensive analysis spanning archaeology, economics, and social psychology, the book reveals how progress and regression are intricately interconnected, often occurring simultaneously across different aspects of society. This nuanced approach demonstrates how technological advancements might coincide with deteriorating social bonds or environmental conditions, painting a more complex picture of societal development. The book's three-part structure first establishes a theoretical framework for understanding the cyclical nature of progress, then explores specific cases across technological, social, and cultural domains, and finally presents practical models for evaluating change processes. Drawing from diverse historical examples, from ancient empires to contemporary societies, the author illustrates how advancements in one area frequently correlate with decline in others. The analysis is particularly relevant in our current era of rapid technological transformation, offering valuable insights for policy makers, academics, and informed citizens. What sets this work apart is its interdisciplinary approach and balanced perspective, combining quantitative social indicators with qualitative historical analysis to create a comprehensive understanding of societal change. Rather than advocating for either a purely optimistic or pessimistic view, the book provides practical frameworks for analyzing and managing change processes, helping readers navigate the complex interplay between progress and regress in their own contexts. The author's careful examination of historical patterns and contemporary data offers readers tools to better understand and respond to ongoing social transformations.
Sustaining our Environment for Better Future
This book covers a variety of topics regarding environmental practices in our day-to-day lives, as well as topics concerning sustainable development as a broader concept embracing ecological, social, and economic aspects to improve the quality of life for people around the world. Starting with the traditional controversy between the neoclassical economy and sustainable economy, which may be overcome by scientific progress due to more intensive scientific studies of the sustainability paradigm, the book proceeds to discuss various problems and challenges regarding environmental protection and sustainable development in different countries and on different continents. This includes analyses of recent, sometimes fatal mining disasters in South and North America, challenges and opportunities for rural development in Africa and Australia, an exploration of the role of women for sustainable development in Palestine, water safety and water security issues in Asia and Australia, the environmental exploitation of popular tourism destinations like Acapulco, and deforestation in Malaysia, suggesting innovative approaches to turn challenges into opportunities to effectively tackle these problems. Other topics addressed involve sustainable energy creation for future generations, a research survey among Romanian students on sustainable consumption behavior, validity testing for a heat transfer model in a greenhouse, and a case study on sustainability risk management practices at Malaysia’s environmentally sensitive companies. The book closes with an examination of highly digitalized Smart Cities as a potentially valuable complement to conventional urban and rural lifestyles in connection with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).