Less Is More by Jason Hickel Summary
Overview of Less Is More
Challenging capitalism's growth imperative, "Less Is More" reveals how degrowth could save our planet. Oxford professor Danny Dorling calls it "a masterpiece," while tech founder DHH admits it debunked economic myths he'd "left unquestioned since business school." Your perspective on prosperity will never be the same.
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Key takeaways
The Growth Paradox: How More Became Less
Imagine returning to a childhood place-a forest where you once played-only to find it transformed into a shopping mall. This loss reflects a larger pattern happening globally. Insects vanishing from windshields. Bird populations plummeting by a third in just 15 years. Rainforest insect biomass down by a staggering 98%. These aren't just statistics-they're alarm bells signaling ecological collapse. What's driving this devastation? The answer lies in our economic system's fundamental design flaw: the requirement for endless growth. Unlike natural systems that reach equilibrium, capitalism demands perpetual expansion-typically 2-3% GDP growth annually. This creates an exponential curve that doubles the global economy every 23 years, pushing resource use far beyond Earth's limits. The consequences are already visible. Material consumption has exploded from 14 billion tons in 1950 to a staggering 92 billion tons today-nearly twice what scientists consider Earth's sustainable threshold. Climate breakdown accelerates as tipping points like Arctic ice melt create feedback loops that continue regardless of human emissions. What makes this particularly troubling is how our economic system treats these warning signs not as existential threats but as obstacles to overcome in pursuit of more growth. We've been conditioned to believe this system is inevitable-so much so that even powerful politicians can only respond "that's just the way it is" when questioned about alternatives.
The Violent Birth of Our Economic System
The Relentless Machine: Why Growth Cannot Be Stopped
The Myth of Green Growth
Pathways to Post-Growth Prosperity
From Work to Life: Reclaiming Our Time
Regeneration: Healing Our Relationship With Earth
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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