Libbum reviewed The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles C. Mann
Review of 'The Wizard and the Prophet' on 'GoodReads'
3 stars
Mann explores two opposing philosophical positions on how we should shape the future of our society and planet by following two lesser known pioneers of modern sustainability research.
To his credit, Mann mostly manages to keep the reader engaged as we cover a continuous stream of dry subject matter that spans most of this work.
Interesting it it's own right as a historical account of the hard and soft path value systems that battle for supremecy in our political and scientific landscapes, the book doesn't lay out too much more than that and perhaps an outlook would have been welcomed at the conclusion.
Whilst I haven't read into the author's credentials at all, from the places he has visited and the connections to the subject matter he obviously has, the fact that he only barely shares his own opinion on the subject matter leaves me thinking the book is a …
Mann explores two opposing philosophical positions on how we should shape the future of our society and planet by following two lesser known pioneers of modern sustainability research.
To his credit, Mann mostly manages to keep the reader engaged as we cover a continuous stream of dry subject matter that spans most of this work.
Interesting it it's own right as a historical account of the hard and soft path value systems that battle for supremecy in our political and scientific landscapes, the book doesn't lay out too much more than that and perhaps an outlook would have been welcomed at the conclusion.
Whilst I haven't read into the author's credentials at all, from the places he has visited and the connections to the subject matter he obviously has, the fact that he only barely shares his own opinion on the subject matter leaves me thinking the book is a little unfinished. Even without this insight, I found the concluding chapter essentially missing contemporary debates.
That's not to say the rest of the book is not impeccably researched and well written. All in all this is a great summary of the emergence and history of sustainability field even to this day.
