America the Possible
Manifesto for a New Economy
Published on 25. September 2012
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-0-300-18076-3 (ISBN)
Description
In this third volume of his award-winning American Crisis series, James Gustave Speth makes his boldest and most ambitious contribution yet. He looks unsparingly at the sea of troubles in which the United States now finds itself, charts a course through the discouragement and despair commonly felt today, and envisions what he calls America the Possible, an attractive and plausible future that we can still realize.
The book identifies a dozen features of the American political economy-the country's basic operating system-where transformative change is essential. It spells out the specific changes that are needed to move toward a new political economy-one in which the true priority is to sustain people and planet. Supported by a compelling "theory of change" that explains how system change can come to America, the book also presents a vision of political, social, and economic life in a renewed America. Speth envisions a future that will be well worth fighting for. In short, this is a book about the American future and the strong possibility that we yet have it in ourselves to use our freedom and our democracy in powerful ways to create something fine, a reborn America, for our children and grandchildren.
The book identifies a dozen features of the American political economy-the country's basic operating system-where transformative change is essential. It spells out the specific changes that are needed to move toward a new political economy-one in which the true priority is to sustain people and planet. Supported by a compelling "theory of change" that explains how system change can come to America, the book also presents a vision of political, social, and economic life in a renewed America. Speth envisions a future that will be well worth fighting for. In short, this is a book about the American future and the strong possibility that we yet have it in ourselves to use our freedom and our democracy in powerful ways to create something fine, a reborn America, for our children and grandchildren.
Reviews / Votes
Honorable Mention, General-Non-Fiction category at the 2013 Green Book Festival sponsored by JM Northern LLC"It is indeed possible to restore America to a true, durable, and decent prosperity and Gus Speth shows how. Cogent, clear, compelling and essential reading for liberals and conservatives; optimists and pessimists alike. We can and we must!"-David W. Orr, Oberlin College; author of Hope is an Imperative and Down to the Wire
"This critically important work brings together in a selective, judicious and integrated way the best current thinking on the American political economic crisis and related policies."-Herman Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland; author of Beyond Growth
"A brilliant, powerfully supported manifesto and an indispensable call to arms in the fight to build a democratic and ecologically sustainable system in the 21st century."-Gar Alperovitz, author of America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty and Our Democracy
"One of our most trusted elders in the environmental movement offers a sweeping and inspiring vision for how to transform a deeply ailing culture. A true gift of a book, at exactly the right moment."- Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
"In this hopeful and timely book, Gus Speth, one of the nation's leading environmental reformers turned system-critic, articulates what increasing numbers of Americans are feeling: a loss of faith in our market-centric, growth-oriented model. To jump-start a journey of transition, Speth presents a vision for comprehensive and deep change that is rooted in a sustaining economy and a new set of cultural values. Speth's profoundly humane sensibilities and common sense approach are sure to resonate with readers."-Juliet Schor, author of True Wealth: How and why millions of Americans are creating a time-rich, ecologically-light, small-scale, high-satisfaction economy Honorable Mention, General-Non-Fiction category at the 2013 Green Book Festival sponsored by JM Northern LLC -- Green Book Festival * JM Northern Media LLC *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
1 b-w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-18076-3 (9780300180763)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2012
1st Edition
Yale University Press
€44.95
Available for download
Person
James Gustave Speth is Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, and Professor of Law at Vermont Law School. He is the author of Red Sky at Morning and The Bridge at the Edge of the World.