by Murray Bookchin
AK Press
2005, paperback
SKU: 9781904859260
"The very notion of the domination of nature by man stems from the very real domination of human by human." With this succinct formulation, Murray Bookchin launches his most ambitious work, The Ecology of Freedom.
An engaging and extremely readable book of breathtaking scope, its inspired synthesis of ecology, anthropology, and political theory traces our conflicting legacies of hierarchy and freedom, from the first emergence of human culture to today's globalized capitalism, constantly pointing the way to a sane, sustainable ecological future. On a college syllabus or in an activist's backpack, this book is indispensable reading for anyone who's tired of living in a world where everything is an exploitable resource.
Reviews:
"The most systematic articulation of ideas." -San Francisco Review of Books
"...a confirmation of his [Bookchin's] status as a penetrating critic not only of the ways in which humankind is destroying itself, but of the ethical imperative to live better." -The Village Voice
"Elegantly written, and recommended for a wide audience." -Library Journal
"Bookchin offers a radical critique of this society, one I wanted very much to hear." -The Nation
"His (Bookchin's) newest book is perhaps the most ambitious; the topic and the scope are tremendous. But his energy and the vigor of his intelligence are commensurately broad." -Sierra
"The Ecology of Freedom is an eloquent, erudite, and highly ambitious work... Whatever one's perspective, one is likely to find in it much material for worthwhile reflection on the human condition. For many who are disillusioned with the reigning traditions of materialism, idealism, and dualism...the work will be of major significance." -Telos
Murray Bookchin, co-founder of the Institute for Social Ecology, has been an active voice in the ecology and anarchist movements for more than forty years. The author of numerous books and articles, he lives in Burlington, Vermont.