Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto

Nukes are good, GM is good. Yeah, I was already sold on that. But slums, a Good Thing? Who knew?!

This is an important book. Let me repeat: this is an important book. Brand takes on sacred cows in a way that almost makes me, a hacker by nature, weep with joy. The ecological movement is depressingly shrill on all sides, (much) more heat than light. Brand sheds much-needed light on the topic by being realistic, being open to new data, being willing to admit one's past errors and move on based on new evidence. You know, science.

Life can progress only if we shake our assumptions. This book does that, sometimes gently and sometimes not. It offers some real answers, but more importantly offers direction – ways to proceed in the short term, from which we can learn how to (or how not to) proceed longer term. You know, science. Have I harped on that enough? Brand is a true seeker, an inspiration: he fosters curiosity, openness, self-reflection, and enthusiasm. To me, a hacker and Open Source aficionado, his attitude is a refreshing and even realistic view of how we can get our planet back.