AI via COPILOT’s response to a question:
What do you know of ‘How we sold our future’ by Beckett?
COPILOT: “How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change” is a book by Jens Beckert, published in December 2024. The book delves into the reasons behind our collective failure to address climate change effectively1. Beckert argues that the structures of capitalist modernity, which have been developing for the past 500 years, are fundamentally at odds with environmental sustainability.
Key Themes:
- Power and Incentive Structures: Beckert examines how the power dynamics and incentive structures within companies, politics, and society at large have hindered meaningful climate action.
- Capitalist Modernity: The book explores how the capitalist system prioritizes short-term gains over long-term environmental health, leading to the ongoing increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Social and Political Conflicts: Beckert discusses how climate change exacerbates social and political conflicts, and how our current institutional and cultural arrangements are contributing to environmental degradation.
- Civil Society’s Role: The book emphasizes the importance of civil society in pressuring governments and corporations to adopt more sustainable practices.
Beckert’s analysis provides a sobering diagnosis of our current situation and points to potential levers for change. It’s a crucial read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of climate change and the systemic changes needed to address it.
Does this sound like the book you were referring to?
