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Futurist Daniel Quinn (Ishmael) dares to imagine a new approach to saving the world that involves deconstructing civilization. Quinn asks the radical yet fundamental questions about humanity such as, Why does civilization grow food, lock it up, and then make people earn money to buy it back? Why not progress "beyond civilization" and abandon the hierarchical lifestyles that cause many of our social problems? He challenges the "old mind" thinking that believes problems should be fixed with social programs. "Old minds think: How do we stop these bad things from happening?" Quinn writes. "New minds think: How do we make things the way we want them to be?"
Whether he is discussing Amish farming, homelessness, "tribal business," or holy work, Quinn's manifesto is highly digestible. Instead of writing dense, weighty chapters filled with self-important prose, he's assembled a series of brief one-page essays. His language is down to earth, his metaphors easy to grasp. As a result, readers can read about and ponder Beyond Civilization at a blissfully civilized pace. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
With the publication of his trilogy of novels (Ishmael; The Story of B; My Ishmael), Quinn became something of a cult figure in visionary fiction. In those books, Quinn explored the self-sustaining nature of tribal societies and his belief that the current worldwide ecological and economic crises are due to the agriculture-based organization of civilized societies. He now turns his hand to nonfiction, with an appeal for universal renewal through a "New Tribal Revolution." Acknowledging that it would be impossible for most civilized humans to return to the hunting and gathering typical of tribes, Quinn argues that modern men and women need to invent a completely different mode of existence. To do this, they must question a basic assumption of all civilized societies: "Civilization must continue at any cost and must not be abandoned under any circumstances." Quinn, borrowing from Richard Dawkins, calls this assumption a "meme," the cultural equivalent of a gene. Quinn's main examples are peoples like the Maya and Anasazi, who returned to tribalism after unsuccessful attempts at other types of social organization, and the communal structure of traditional circuses. The author has a knack for stating the obvious with tremendous personal conviction. His articulation of a simpler way of life will appeal to those made frantic by globalization and all the forces conspiring to make people dance as fast as they can. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
Once upon a time life evolved on a certain planet, bringing forth many different social organizations-packs, pods, flocks, troops, herds, and so on. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index
Once upon a time life evolved on a certain planet, bringing forth many different social organizations-packs, pods, flocks, troops, herds, and so on. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
DQ's Worst Yet,
This review is from: Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure (Hardcover)
Daniel Quinn is an excellent author with wonderful ideas and a powerful writing style. However, this book is incredibly awful and you shouldn't waste your time or energy reading it. DQ attempts to go "Beyond Civilization" and help readers get to that place. He fails at this, miserably. I can't believe his publishers and editors unleashed this base work on the public. Read "Ishmael", "My Ishmael", even "The Story of B". DQ is a great writer and this is just one of his mistakes.
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book - and Ishmael - will change the world.,
By "vtowel" (Oakville, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure (Hardcover)
I never used to be *that* concerned about the condition of the Earth and our civilization; I knew we had some great problems, but I figured they would be solved sooner or later and that humanity was in no real threat of going extinct. My God, what a naive view that was. Reading the Ishmael trilogy and Beyond Civilization has totally changed me. I used to be more or less apathetic about these issues, but after reading these books, I absolutely couldn't stay that way. We are in real trouble if we continue this way of life, and nothing less than a world with changed minds will save us. Everyone has to read Quinn's books, including this one. I'm not exaggerating when I say that. We all have to change our vision from the current one, or we'll end up stabbing ourselves to death (that's what we're doing now). Quinn makes these important facts very clear in this book, and his reasoning is so sound. These ideas were totally unknown to me before reading Ishmael. Now I can't believe how I got along without them. I know so many people who feel the same way after reading Quinn's books. They say their lives are changed. Some of these people were the most apathetic I knew towards environmental issues. It's *amazing* what effect these books have on people. I've never experienced anything like it. More than anything, this book is a tremendous inspiration, especially to those who have read Ishmael (they can appreciate the ideas more - so you read Ishmael too! :). It's straightforward, clear, and incredibly powerful. Please read this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hope,
By
This review is from: Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure (Hardcover)
It is a wonderfully written book. Literary genius of Quinns book is only outdown by its content. Meaningful,hopeful & brilliant!!! Vive Daniel
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