Beyond Civilization

English language

Published March 15, 2000

ISBN:: 978-0-609-80536-7

(6 reviews)

In Beyond Civilization, Daniel Quinn thinks the unthinkable. We all know there's no one right way to build a bicycle, no one right way to design an automobile, no one right way to make a pair of shoes, but we're convinced that there must be only one right way to live -- and the one we have is it, no matter what. Beyond Civilization makes practical sense of the vision of Daniel Quinn's best-selling novel Ishmael. Examining ancient civilizations such as the Maya and the Olmec, as well as modern-day microcosms of alternative living like circus societies, Quinn guides us on a quest for a new model for society, one that is forward-thinking and encourages diversity instead of suppressing it. Beyond Civilization is not about a "New World Order" but a "New Personal World Order" that would allow people to assert control over their own destiny and grant them the …

In Beyond Civilization, Daniel Quinn thinks the unthinkable. We all know there's no one right way to build a bicycle, no one right way to design an automobile, no one right way to make a pair of shoes, but we're convinced that there must be only one right way to live -- and the one we have is it, no matter what. Beyond Civilization makes practical sense of the vision of Daniel Quinn's best-selling novel Ishmael. Examining ancient civilizations such as the Maya and the Olmec, as well as modern-day microcosms of alternative living like circus societies, Quinn guides us on a quest for a new model for society, one that is forward-thinking and encourages diversity instead of suppressing it. Beyond Civilization is not about a "New World Order" but a "New Personal World Order" that would allow people to assert control over their own destiny and grant them the freedom to create their own way of life right now -- not in some distant utopian future.From the Trade Paperback edition.

4 editions

Hanrahan reviewed Beyond Civilization by Daniel Quinn

Daniek raises interesting points

2 stars

But as ever there's no recognition of the laws of nature. Can we have a car, phone, dishwasher and fly to Thailand for holidays ? Can the biosphere support that ? Id suggest no, not becase I'm an expert but becase actual experts say no.

While his arguments around better civilisations make some sense, for me there's nothing new there and to me is self evident, we don't chnahe mostly becase those further up have bigger guns (see Stalin) It really doesn't matter what organisational structure we have if it can't be supported. I have to admit I stopped after most of the way through and gave up becase of that.

On a side note, I did read Ismael but a telapathic gorilla was difficult to come to grips with.