Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living - Hardcover

Segal, Jerome M.

3.59

73 ratings by Goodreads

9780805056792: Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805056793 ISBN 13: 9780805056792

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co, 1999

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

The author of Agency and Alienation takes a unique approach to the growing simplcity movement by suggesting that a simple-living philosophy becomes the basis for social and economic policy, rather than attempting to achieve peace as isolated individuals. 15,000 first printing.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Jerome M. Segal is the author of Agency and Alienation: A Theory of Human Presence and Creating the Palestinian State: A Strategy for Peace. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and child.

Review:

"Graceful Simplicity is a marvelously textured analysis of the elusive ideal of simple living. For those eager to find a way to get off the 'more is better' treadmill, Jerome Segal offers insight and hope. Drawing upon philosophy, history, economics, sociology and psychology, he explains why simplicity is not a simple concept and reveals why it retains its perennial allure. A must read." -- David Shi, President, Furman University, author of The Simple Life

"In Graceful Simplicity, Jerome Segal articulates a message that is both revolutionary and just plain sensible - consume less and take the time to enjoy life more. He rescues us from a consumption gone haywire without advocating an isolationism. In a new and better way we are still our brother's keeper." -- Arlie Hochschild, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley and author of The Time Bind

"In simple graceful prose, Jerome Segal explains why less elaborate mode of living would make us happier." -- Robert H. Frank, Professor of Economics at Cornell University and author of Luxury Fever

"Jeome Segal's account of 'graceful simplicity' is not some pie-in-the-sky fantasy of an impossibly idealistic world, but a sophisticated examination, by a scholar who knows the real world, of what really works in our lives and what does not. He offers us a way off a treadmill that is despoiling our environment while offering precious little real or enduring satisfaction." -- Paul Wachtel, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Acting Director, Collin Powell Center for Policy Studies, City College of New York, and author of Race in the Mind of America

"Jerome M. Segal explains why the free and thrifty lifestyle proves so elusive even to the most advertising immune and mall adverse among us. . . Simplicity, this fine and thoughtful book reports, isn't as simple as it sounds.

To Segal, a former House Budget Committee staffer, the problem is not that we are gullible or greedy. . . . as Segal observes, the cost of meeting 'core economic needs' -- health insurance, housing in a safe neighborhood - keeps escalating. These are social problems, not individual hang ups. . .

Segal wants us to ask not whether the economy is fast-growing or even fair, but what it's for. What, in other words, comprises 'the good life' and is our economy giving us a chance to live it? . . .

Segal wants a political movement to create a functioning public sector . . . Numerous and powerful interest groups will fight such reforms with bitter determination. But what could provide a better source of drama and adventure that the struggle to make the simple life a viable option of all?" -- Civilization - February/March 1999 by Barbara Ehrenreich

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.