Synopses & Reviews
An urgent look at our world's looming crises and what we must do to avert them.
In Threshold, writer and Air America host Thom Hartmann looks at the deteriorating state of our planet, where the dynamics of environmental, economic, and population change are boiling over the limits within which society can function. In clear and impassioned prose, Hartmann busts the myths and ideologies of religious fundamentalism, capitalism run amok, male domination, and militarism that are draining our world of its natural and human resources and engendering the suffering of millions for the benefit of the few.
No mere jeremiad, Threshold examines cultures that have thrived, from the mother city of Caral, Peru, to modern Denmark, and targets five areas of policy — national, religious, economic, corporate, and environmental — for specific and immediate reform. Radical in its scope and boldness but simple in its commonsense logic, Threshold illustrates the mistakes we have made — as a culture, as a country, and as individuals — and provides the inspiration and motivation readers are looking for to build a better, more sustainable world for all. Part prophecy, part call to arms, part policy prescription, Threshold is, for readers of Jared Diamond, Thomas Friedman, and Paul Hawken, the wake-up call our society so badly needs.
Review
"If you're looking for a book that offers BIG answers to the BIG questions and that lays it all out in concise, clear, common-sense English you have it in your hands! Hartmann both lays it out and lifts us up."
-Jim Hightower, Nationally syndicated columnist, radio commentator, best selling author and editor of the Hightower Lowdown.
"America's most popular progressive talk show host brings his powerful political and historical insight to bear on the most important question of our time: To what may we humans aspire in this time of crisis and how can we achieve it?"
-David Korten, board chair, YES! magazine, and author Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth and The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
"At last: a book that defines the problems of our current robber baron economy and presents solutions that integrate natural laws with the way we live, work, and shop. Thom Hartmann once again dazzles us with brilliant ideas and eloquent writing."
-John Perkins, New York Times Bestselling Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire
Synopsis
Writer and Air America host Hartmann looks at the deteriorating state of the planet, where the dynamics of environmental, economic, and population change are boiling over the limits within which society can function.
Synopsis
From America's #1 progressive radio host, the idealogical heir to his influential The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight More than three million listeners tune in every weekday to hear what Thom Hartmann has to say about the state of our world. Now, as the first decade of the twenty-first century closes amid economic collapse and the seeming ruin of the American Dream, America's #1 rated progressive radio host sounds an urgent call to arms for building a better, more sustainable world-while there's still time. Offering not just an indictment of the failures that have courted economic, demographic, and environmental ruin, Hartmann also outlines five critical personal and policy solutions to bring us back from the brink. Threshold-like Jared Diamond's Collapse-is radical but rooted in common sense, illuminating the necessary next steps in the evolution of mainstream thinking.
About the Author
Thom Hartmann is the author of nineteen books, many of which have been spotlighted by NPR, CNN, the BBC, The Wall Street Journal, and others. He has won the Project Censored Award four times and is currently a daily host on Air America Radio Network. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
Table of Contents
Threshold
Preface Introduction. Darfur
Part I. The Thresholds
Chapter 1. The Environment
Chapter 2. The Economy
Chapter 3. Population
Part II. The Four Mistakes
Chapter 4. Unnatural Selection
Chapter 5. Free Market Fools
Chapter 6. The XX Factor
Chapter 7. Gunboat Altruism
Part III. How Not to Fail
Chapter 8. Denmark: A Modern Beacon
Chapter 9. The Maori: Eating Themselves Alive
Chapter 10. Caral, Peru: A Thousand Years of Peace
Part IV. Crossing the Threshold
Chapter 11. The Band-Aids
Chapter 12. The Good Stuff
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index