Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet - Softcover

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141026154 ISBN 13: 9780141026152

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2009

Synopsis

This is a book about how we should address the great, and interconnected, global challenges of the twenty-first century. Our task, Sachs argues, is to achieve truly sustainable development, by which he means finding a global course which enables the world to benefit from the spread of prosperity while ensuring that we don't destroy the eco-systems which keep us alive and our place in nature which helps sustain our values. How do we move forward together, benefitting from our increasing technological mastery, avoiding the terrible dangers of climate change, mass famines, violent conflicts, population explosions in some parts of the world and collapses in others, and world-wide pandemic diseases?In answering these questions, Sachs shows that there are different ways of managing the world's technology, resources and politics from those currently being followed, and that it should be possible to adopt policies which reflect long-term and co-operative thinking instead of, as currently, disregard for others and ever-increasing barriers to solving the problems which we collectively face. It is a book which appeals equally to both head and heart, and one which no globally thinking person can ignore.

About this title

About the Author:

Jeffrey D. Sachs is Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, the Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and the global best-selling author of The End of Poverty. He is also the BBC's Reith Lecturer for 2007 and is internationally renowned for his work as an economic advisor to governments around the world.

From AudioFile:

Sachs is an economist who sees overpopulation as the heart of the planet's problems. To solve those problems will require global cooperation. Nations must understand the need to go beyond parochial differences to avoid the destruction of our species. Malcolm Hillgartner is solid as narrator. He treats the material seriously, in the manner of a documentary narrator, but without the basso profundo voice that could quickly devolve into caricature. He varies his tone enough to keep the book interesting but not so much that it becomes distracting. The complexity of the book requires concentration on the part of the listener, so it's not for casual listening--but its message is worth the effort. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0141026154
• ISBN 13: 9780141026152
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400