The best book, by far, that I read in 2024 was Lyle Lewis’ Racing to Extinction. It explains how we got ourselves into our current predicament (catastrophic ecological overshoot and the sixth mass extinction), and, as the book’s subtitle states, why humanity will soon be one of many casualties of this extinction.
OMG, Elisabeth, you’ve understated the value of Lyle Lewis’ MIND-BLOWING work!!! RACING TO EXTINCTION is on the par, if not even more valuable than Catton’s OVERSHOOT!! Studying Lewis’ articles & interviews most of the day, reveals THE MOST helpful framework & history, I’ve encountered for understanding collapse, overshoot, peak oil, Jevon’s paradox, greenwashing, limits to growth, carrying capacity, etc.
The light that Lewis shines is absolutely blinding … but really, reality is our only refuge!!
Thanks, I'll check it out, though I generally don't find the "human extinction" idea useful. If we go, we'll be amongst the very last, at which point all's been lost anyways. This was my problem with XR. I went to one of their meetings in Seattle thinking, finally someone organized around extinction. But their concern was human extinction, due to CO2 of course, never mind the industrial maw. Never went back.
This book is completely different from that. Lyle is relentlessly biocentric and this comes through in his book, loud and clear. It is a book primarily about human history and human behavior and the impacts that has had and is having on the natural world.
OMG, Elisabeth, you’ve understated the value of Lyle Lewis’ MIND-BLOWING work!!! RACING TO EXTINCTION is on the par, if not even more valuable than Catton’s OVERSHOOT!! Studying Lewis’ articles & interviews most of the day, reveals THE MOST helpful framework & history, I’ve encountered for understanding collapse, overshoot, peak oil, Jevon’s paradox, greenwashing, limits to growth, carrying capacity, etc.
The light that Lewis shines is absolutely blinding … but really, reality is our only refuge!!
Many many many thanks!! 🙏
His work has helped me tremendously too. Glad you found this useful!
Thanks, I'll check it out, though I generally don't find the "human extinction" idea useful. If we go, we'll be amongst the very last, at which point all's been lost anyways. This was my problem with XR. I went to one of their meetings in Seattle thinking, finally someone organized around extinction. But their concern was human extinction, due to CO2 of course, never mind the industrial maw. Never went back.
This book is completely different from that. Lyle is relentlessly biocentric and this comes through in his book, loud and clear. It is a book primarily about human history and human behavior and the impacts that has had and is having on the natural world.
Excellent book. I have it on my Collapse Awareness Resources page, with various others you may also enjoy: https://gnug315.substack.com/p/recommended-resources-re-collapse
Thanks for offering Lyle Lewis’ unique, thought-provoking perspective… and link to his website —- lots of intriguing video & text info there!
This is really interesting. I haven't heard anyone talk about this before:
"1. Developing a shoulder that we could throw with (developed over millions of years). This allowed us to separate ourselves from killing."