Come join us in the park to discuss our latest book, 'Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World'.
From Amazon:
“Less is More is the wake-up call we need. By shining a light on ecological breakdown and the system that's causing it, Hickel shows how we can bring our economy back into balance with the living world and build a thriving society for all. This is our chance to change course, but we must act now."
Please note that a free download seems to be available here: https://dl1.cuni.cz/pluginfile.php/1179270/mod_resource/content/1/Jason%20Hickel%20-%20Less%20is%20More.pdf
and here:
https://blackbooksdotpub.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/jason-hickel-less-is-more-random-house-2020.pdf
If you want a hard copy the only place in Perth with copies seems to be 'Books on Beaufort https://beaufortstreetbooks.com.au/
And audio here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WWgIkXVsC0&list=PLwNTheFPgDwxqRuvTjUCJQwSxtX3sHJmy
We will sit outside on the grass (please bring your own rug/chair if necessary) in the area between the Botanical café and the eternal flame pond (near the war memorial).
Please bring something warm and a CHAIR or RUG to sit on if necessary!!
AI generated summary of book:
Here’s a chapter-by-chapter summary of Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World by Jason Hickel — based on available outlines of the book’s structure and content.
***
## Introduction – Welcome to the Anthropocene
Hickel sets the stage by explaining the current era — the Anthropocene — in which human activity has become the dominant force reshaping Earth’s systems. He argues that this crisis is not accidental but rooted in the growth-driven structures of capitalism that define modern society.
***
## Part One: More is Less
(Why endless growth is harmful and how capitalism created this problem)
### Chapter 1 — Capitalism: A Creation Story
This chapter traces how capitalism emerged historically and reframes the commonly held narrative about human progress. Hickel shows that capitalism’s ascent involved widespread appropriation of land and resources, violent transformation of social systems, and a break from holistic human-nature relations. He reframes our current predicament as the Capitalocene, not just the Anthropocene.
***
### Chapter 2 — Rise of the Juggernaut
Hickel explains how capitalism became a self-expanding “juggernaut” — a system that must grow perpetually.
- Growth isn’t just about technology; it’s fueled by appropriation, colonialism, exploitation of labour, and increasingly fossil fuels.
- Capitalists prioritize exchange value (profit) over use value (real human needs), forcing continual expansion or collapse.
***
### Chapter 3 — Will Technology Save Us?
This chapter critiques techno-optimism and the belief that innovation alone can solve ecological collapse while preserving economic growth.
Hickel argues that relying on unproven technological fixes (like geoengineering or negative-emissions tech) risks delaying urgent action, and that no technology can reconcile unending growth with the limits of the biosphere.
***
## Part Two: Less Is More
(How to move toward a sustainable, just future — degrowth and beyond)
### Chapter 4 — Secrets of the Good Life
Here Hickel challenges the idea that more GDP means more human wellbeing.
He draws on empirical evidence showing that:
- improvements in public health, education, and wellbeing often come from policies (e.g., sanitation, healthcare) not higher GDP,
- high-income countries frequently consume far more than needed for good lives, while still experiencing inequality, stress, and social dysfunction.
This chapter reframes prosperity around quality of life rather than sheer economic output.
***
### Chapter 5 — Pathways to a Post-Capitalist World
This is one of the book’s most practical chapters. Hickel lays out policy and systemic pathways for transitioning to a degrowth economy — one that operates within ecological limits and prioritises wellbeing:
- reorganising the economy around social and ecological outcomes (not profit),
- reducing material and energy use especially in wealthy nations,
- shortening work hours,
- shifting taxation from labour to resource use and carbon,
- expanding public goods and social services.
Here, degrowth is defined as a deliberate downscaling of energy and resource use in order to balance society with the living world.
***
### Chapter 6 — Everything Is Connected
In the final chapter Hickel connects economic systems to deeper cultural and ecological relationships.
- He draws on indigenous worldviews emphasising interconnectedness, reciprocity, and respect among all living things.
- He discusses how ecosystems operate as interdependent networks, and underscores the need to redefine humanity’s place within nature rather than above it.
- Emerging ideas like giving legal personhood to natural entities are introduced as ways to protect nature’s rights.
The chapter moves beyond economics to a worldview shift that underpins the degrowth project.
***
## Overall Themes
Across the book Hickel:
- challenges the belief that GDP growth is necessary for human flourishing,
- argues that capitalism’s growth imperative is the root of ecological crisis,
- presents degrowth as a viable alternative that emphasises sustainability, equity, and wellbeing,
Discussion questions:
1. What was the most interesting thing you learnt from this book?
2. Was there anything that surprised you?
3. Hickel argues that the ecological crisis is rooted in capitalism’s growth imperative, not human nature. Do you find this convincing? Why or why not?
4. What assumptions about progress or success did the book challenge most strongly for you?
5. How does Hickel’s historical account of capitalism differ from the version you were taught or understand?
6. Do you think capitalism can be reformed to operate within planetary limits, or does Hickel make a stronger case for moving beyond it?
7. Is it possible that technological innovation could solve the crisis without?
8. Can you think of examples where less consumption has improved quality of life—personally or socially?
9. How might redefining prosperity change how societies design work, cities, or education?
10. Degrowth often raises fears about scarcity and loss. How does Hickel respond to these concerns, and are his responses convincing?
11. What political or cultural barriers stand in the way of implementing degrowth?
12. The philosophy of 'Dualism' is a reoccurring theme of the book. What would it mean, practically and culturally, to see humans as part of nature rather than separate from it?
13. What criticisms of the book do you have, if any?
14. Has this book changed your 'world view' and if so, how?
15 Did the book leave you feeling hopeful, uneasy, motivated, or skeptical—and why?
16. If 'degrowth' were taken seriously tomorrow, what is one thing you think would change first in your society?
