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Entropia
Non-fiction book by Jeremy Rifkin and Ted Howard, with an Afterword by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen.
In the book the authors seek to analyse the world's economic and social structures by using the second law of thermodynamics, that is, the law of entropy. The authors argue that humanity is wasting resources at an increasing rate, and that will lead to the destruction of our civilization, which has happened before on a smaller scale for past empires. The book promotes the use of sustainable energy sources and slow resource consumption as the solution to delay the inevitable: death by entropy.
The book is highly controversial.
In the book the authors seek to analyse the world's economic and social structures by using the second law of thermodynamics, that is, the law of entropy. The authors argue that humanity is wasting resources at an increasing rate, and that will lead to the destruction of our civilization, which has happened before on a smaller scale for past empires. The book promotes the use of sustainable energy sources and slow resource consumption as the solution to delay the inevitable: death by entropy.
The book is highly controversial.
492 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
18 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Rifkin
111 books532 followersAmerican economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political advisor, and activist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 15, 2009
"Entropy" is a dated book (it was written 20 years ago) it talks about Montreal protocol instead of the Kyoto protocol... however the questions in this book are still actual. It is an intersting reading about the application of thermodynamic laws on our finite world where we do keep behaving like resources and everything are not finite...
April 27, 2015
I love Rifkin. I will never look at the world the same way again. It's amazing when a book has that effect. At first, I thought I was going to be reading a book about predictions on the environment, which considering it was written in 1989 I thought would be interesting in a certain way. But then he quickly shifted into his thesis based on entropy and I realized this was not a book that is dated and judged in hindsight, but completely relevant today, powerful right now. Highly recommended and the sooner the better!
June 9, 2017
Remember the scene in Apollo 13 when Fred Haise figures out why his calculations keep coming up wrong for how much time the three astronauts have left in the lunar module before they run out of oxygen? He looks at Jack and Jim and it dawns on him, "I only figured it for two people." I thought about that scene a lot while reading Entropy. Here, Rifkin follows some of the obvious and not-so-obvious implications of his book's titular topic, meaning because the second law of thermodynamics states that all matter is forever approaching a condition of maximum entropy much of what take for granted as being true isn't true. On the grandest scale we know that all matter is energy and that all work requires a conversion of energy which also requires a fraction of irrecoverable energy that becomes unusable. That fraction is entropy, and it's happening all around us all of the time. (Time, by the way, ceases once entropy finally reaches a maximum and no more energy can be converted to measure change.) So the earth and life on it is doomed to eventually run out of energy to sustain itself and all of our efforts to make the energy we have work more efficiently, counterintuitively, hastens the end. I find myself puzzling over why Rifkin doesn't take up Thomas Malthus, nihilism, or atheism in his book-length discussion of this topic which seem to me to be relevant to someone reminding his readers about the earth's finite energy resources and the inevitable end of all life on the planet (and I guess eventually all life everywhere). And then also the subtitle is A New World View and Rifkin's position is that we all need to start living as ascetically as possible because the human population will decrease dramatically - catastrophically or otherwise - once nonrenewable energy is depleted and we transition to what he calls the Solar Age (which might otherwise be known as the Thunderdome Age given how well competing groups of people have historically gotten along), but this world view isn't explicated in great enough length to sound like a viable new model of human society, so while I recognize the same problem he does I can't see the solution he proscribes. Ultimately, Rifkin's weird little book might best be used as a reflection for how culture has transitioned from the modern to the postmodern, how postmodernism is conditioned by the nagging knowledge of the meaninglessness of all human action as well as the ironic response to that knowledge, however troubling it may truly be deep down. Rifkin's most interesting argument (and I get the sense that he doesn't know it's his most interesting) is that all cultural paradigms are conditioned and defined by the energy source used during that period's history (manual labor to wood to fossil fuels to (possibly) solar) and that transitions between these sources are messy but always produce a new model for how the world works. It's here that I wonder if postmodernism, nihilistic and self-indulgent and ironic as it is, is, in fact, the end of the fossil fuel energy era which may currently be transitioning into the next period. "We'll see," said the zen master.
August 28, 2012
An interesting book but Rifkin applies entropy incorrectly to social systems. Anyone who knows college-level thermodynamics should be able to see the flaws in his logic....
January 12, 2017
The best thing about this book is that it made me research more about the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
August 22, 2024
This book is a metaphor taken too far. Can we use the law of entropy as a lens through which to view our current social and economic systems? Sure. Perhaps that's something which could be detailed in a 10-15 page essay, and perhaps it could provide a few fresh perspectives.
Instead, Rifkin leans so hard into the metaphor that it ceases to metaphor. He forces everything through the narrow hole of thermodynamics, so that all matter, social systems, economic processes, and the like are subject to this physical law. There is no acknowledgement that this is not the intent of the second law of thermodynamics—rather, he claims that it is, that thermodynamics is nothing short of the fundamental driver of life. He claims that in a few short decades, all people will understand the import of this law and will see the world different because of it.
The benefit of four decades of history helps put this book into perspective. Since it was written, many of the doomsday scenarios he presents have not come to pass. We have not run out of fossil fuels, we have not had worsening energy shortages since the oil embargoes in the 1970s, and, quite frankly, we haven't run out of "stuff." We in the western world don't even feel the pinch of entropy.
This is my key frustration with this book. To be clear, I ultimately agree with its conclusions: the need to live more simple, less energy-intensive lives if we are to even begin addressing the crises we face as a civilization. But why throw so much unnecessary noise into the conversation? We have talked for decades about the looming chaos that will come about after "peak oil," yet we are apparently decades late on this apocalypse. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change are coming even faster than was predicted. What we seem to forget is that capitalism will always find a way to forge ahead so long as we let it, regardless of the impact to the marginalized. "Peak oil" will not cause a collapse in society so much as force an evolution in the machinations of our industrial processes. The same goes for any entropy in our economic-thermodynamic systems. Perhaps the voices we hear foretelling this collapse speak because they are unable to imagine a global shift _without_ such a collapse, and thus they become blinded by that myopic vision.
Rifkin here suffers from the same myopia. I think it is a lack of creativity, an inability (in this book, at least) to think positively and proactively toward new solutions. Here we only have a new way of looking at the problem. Unfortunately, this new lens misses quite a lot, makes baseless claims and misrepresents both science and society, and could easily turn many away as a result. Again, I support what this book is trying to get at, but I am glad that it has not become required reading in the library of the movement for our future.
Instead, Rifkin leans so hard into the metaphor that it ceases to metaphor. He forces everything through the narrow hole of thermodynamics, so that all matter, social systems, economic processes, and the like are subject to this physical law. There is no acknowledgement that this is not the intent of the second law of thermodynamics—rather, he claims that it is, that thermodynamics is nothing short of the fundamental driver of life. He claims that in a few short decades, all people will understand the import of this law and will see the world different because of it.
The benefit of four decades of history helps put this book into perspective. Since it was written, many of the doomsday scenarios he presents have not come to pass. We have not run out of fossil fuels, we have not had worsening energy shortages since the oil embargoes in the 1970s, and, quite frankly, we haven't run out of "stuff." We in the western world don't even feel the pinch of entropy.
This is my key frustration with this book. To be clear, I ultimately agree with its conclusions: the need to live more simple, less energy-intensive lives if we are to even begin addressing the crises we face as a civilization. But why throw so much unnecessary noise into the conversation? We have talked for decades about the looming chaos that will come about after "peak oil," yet we are apparently decades late on this apocalypse. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change are coming even faster than was predicted. What we seem to forget is that capitalism will always find a way to forge ahead so long as we let it, regardless of the impact to the marginalized. "Peak oil" will not cause a collapse in society so much as force an evolution in the machinations of our industrial processes. The same goes for any entropy in our economic-thermodynamic systems. Perhaps the voices we hear foretelling this collapse speak because they are unable to imagine a global shift _without_ such a collapse, and thus they become blinded by that myopic vision.
Rifkin here suffers from the same myopia. I think it is a lack of creativity, an inability (in this book, at least) to think positively and proactively toward new solutions. Here we only have a new way of looking at the problem. Unfortunately, this new lens misses quite a lot, makes baseless claims and misrepresents both science and society, and could easily turn many away as a result. Again, I support what this book is trying to get at, but I am glad that it has not become required reading in the library of the movement for our future.
May 31, 2018
I Used this in my Senior thesis in undergrad at the suggestion of my adviser. Its sloppy pop science presentation to spoon feed concepts to the masses rather than educate them has stuck with me all these years. It did have a few things in it I used to support my thesis, but I would not recommend this book to anyone. BTW I did graduate and my adviser was amused by my response when he asked me what I thought of the book.
February 23, 2018
Jeremy Rifkin was ahead of his time with this book. Entropy: A New World View, published in 1980, can hang with contemporary popular entropic science books such as those by Nick Lane and Caesar Hidalgo.
March 29, 2008
I accidentally picked this book up thinking it was about physics. It's not.
January 6, 2024
최근 과학시간에서 '과학이란 무엇인지, 과학이 우리 생활에 미치는 영향에 대해서 배운다. 그 중에서도 '과학의 양면성'에 흥미가 생겼다. 과학은 무조건 이롭기만 할까? 지금까지 우리는 계속해서 '진보'해 온 것일까? 평소 같았으면 그냥 흘렸을 말이었지만, 이 책을 읽고 나니 의문이 생겼다. 고대 그리스인들은 '시간은 세계의 가치를 떨어뜨린다'고 생각했으면 한다. 우리와 정반대의 관점이다. 처음 접해본 내가 익숙해진 세계관, 진보와 다른 세계관에 어쩌면 내가 이제껏 믿고 있었던 것들, '과학 진보의 측면에서 우리 미래는 지금보다 더 밝고 찬란할 것이다.'가 사실이 아닐지도 모른다는 생각이 들었다. 순간 맹목적으로 신이 있다고 믿었던 옛 사람들과 '자연은 인간이 이용하는 것이며, 미래는 발전된 과학 기술로 더욱 진보할 것이다'고 믿는 현시대 사람들이 겹쳐보였다. 옛 시대 사람들에게 신이 기댈 존재였듯이, 우리도 '발전된 미래'라는 말에게 기대고 있는 것이 아닐까?
-열역학 제1법칙: 우주 안의 모든 에너지는 불변한다.
-열역학 제2법칙: 물질과 에너지는 유용한 상태에서 무용한 상태로 변한다.
이 책은 이 두 법칙에 관한 책이다. 사실 나도 얼핏 들어 알고 있었다. 에너지 법칙의 법칙, 공을 떨어뜨릴 때, 에너지의 총량은 일정하지만, 마찰력과 열, 소리 등으로 에너지가 손실되어 결국은 공이 멈추고 만다는 것, 과학 책에서 계속해서 읽어봤었고, 또 알고 있었다. 하지만 자세히 생각해보진 않았다. 두려웠던 것일지도 모른다. 이 법칙에 의하면 고대 그리스인의 세계관, '시간은 세계의 가치를 떨어뜨린다.' 즉 시간이 갈수록 이 세계는 몰락해 간다는 것이 맞기 때문이다.
너무나 당연한 사실인데 , 왜 우리는 세계는 갈수록 번영해 간다고 믿고 있을까, 식수, 석탄, 석유 등 영원할 것만 같았던 여러 자원들이 부족하여 자원 부족의 문제가 큰 사회적 문제로 떠오르는 이 시점 (이 책에 따르면 엔트로피 극대점의 시기) 에서 우리는 아직도 세계는 번영한다. 물질적 자원은 한계가 없다는 이 세계관 속에서 살아야 할까. 이제는 세계관을 바꿔야 할때가 아닌가 싶다. 현 시대 셰계관인 기계론적 세계관에서 엔트로피 세계관으로 ...
우리는 여기서 자원이 사라져가는 속도, 세계가 몰락해 가는 속도에 주목해야 한다. 예전보다 오늘날에 사람들이 사용해야 하고 사용하는 에너지가 많다는 것은 자명하다. 우리는 옛날 같았으면 그냥 걸어갔을 것을 자동차를 타고 에너지를 훨씬 많이 소비한다. 밤 거리만 걸어보아도 알 수 있다. 곳곳에 있는 불빛들, 네온사인... 오늘날 사람들은 생존하기 위해 전보다 훨씬 많은 에너지를 소비해야 한다. 자원은 계속해서 사라지는 데 소비해야하는 에너지는 더 많아져 간다. 즉, 자원이 더 빠르게 소비된 다는 뜻이다. 세계가 더 빨리 몰락으로 향해간다는 것이다.
어쩌면 오스트랄로피테쿠스라��� 인류가 불리었던 시점부터, 달까지 가본 지금의 인류가 있기까지의 역사, 채집 사회에서 농경사회로, 근대 산업혁명이 일어나기까지가 모두 필연적이었던 것일지 모른다. 생각해보면 그렇다. 우리 인류가 채집사회에서 농경사회로 넘어가게 된 까닭은 채집할 과일과 사냥할 거리들이 줄어들었기 때문일 것이다. 채집할 것들이 풍부하다면 뭐 하러 힘들게 농사를 하겠는가? 땅도 갈고, 씨앗도 뿌리고 퇴버도 줘야 한다. 이 힘든 과정을 거쳐 곡식과 과일을 얻는 까닭은 채집할 거리가 죽어들어 먹을 것을 찾는 것이 농사하는 것보다 더 힘들어졌기 때문일 것이다. 옛날, 유럽에서는 나무가 생활용품과 에너지의 원천이었다고 한다. 유럽인들은 나무가 부족해지자 대체 에너지로 석탄을 사용했다. 이렇듯 인류는 늘 그들이 사용하던 자원이 다 소비되면 다른 자원을 찾아 소비했고, 그 다른 자원은 대개 앞의 자원보다 '안 좋은 것' 이었다. 지금 사용하는 석탄은 앞선 자원인 나무보다 얻기도 힘들고, 에너지로 변환하는 과정도 복잡하다.
이와 관련해서 한 가지 하고 싶은 말이 있다. 이 책에서 가장 기억에 나는 내용 중 하나이기도 하다. 태양에서 계속 일어나고 있는 핵융합 반응을 이용한 핵융합 에너지에 관한 것인데, 나 또한 이 책을 읽기 전에는 이 에너지가 자원 고갈을 해결해 줄 열쇠라고 믿었다. 하지만 조금만 깊이 생각해보아도 이 에너지의 문제점을 바로 알 수 있다. 현재 주로 연구되는 핵융합 반응은 한정적 자원인 라듐을 필요로 하며, 핵분열 에너지와 마찬가지로 방사성 폐기물을 배출한다. 게다가 핵융합으로 설계화 관련하여 기술, 유지보수 상의 문제가 발생한다. 화력발전, 수력발전 등도 드는 비용에 비해 효율도 적다고 들었다.
석탄과 석유는 부족하고 희망이 보일 듯 했던 핵융합 에너지 및 다른 에너지는 비효율적이라니. 그럼 우리는 어떻게 하라는 것인가? 우선 가장 먼저 우리가 해야 하는 것은 '자연은 인간이 이용하는 것이다. 자원은 끝없이 있다'는 기계론적 생각을 버리고 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들이는 것이다. 세계의 여러 체제도 새로운 세계관에 맞춰 바꿔 나가야 할 것이다. 자원은 유한함을 받아들이고, 자연과 더불어 살아가야 한다는 뜻이다. 이 세상에는 수 많은 사람과 지혜가 있으니 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들인 후에 뭔가 대책이 나오지 않을까 한다.
이 책에서는 태양에너지를 대책으로 삼았다. 지구 상의 모든 생물들은 태양 빛으로부터, 태양 에너지로부터 에너지를 얻고 공존하며 살아왔다. 한 때 인류는 자연을 무시하고 착취했고, 지금도 하고 있지만 결과적으로 우리가 다시 돌아가야 할 곳은 자연을 존중하며 살아왔던 그 옛날이다. 고효율적인 태양 전지를 발명해, 더는 환경을 파괴하지 않고 살아간다면 자원 부족이나 환경 문제로 허덕이지 않아도 될 것이다. 물론 태양에너지도 엔트로피 법칙에 의해 수십억년후 태양이 다 타버리면 고갈되겠지만,그건 너무 먼 미래이니 지금은 잠시 제쳐두도록 하자.
엔트로피 극대점의 시기에서 우리가 해야 하는 것은 먼저 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들이는 것이다. 그리고 실천하는 것이다. 이렇게 서서히 생각과 생각, 행동과 행동을 모아가다보면 자원 때문에 고생하지 않고 자연과 더불어 살아가는 진정으로 밝은 미래가 오지 않을까 하고 생각해 본다.
-열역학 제1법칙: 우주 안의 모든 에너지는 불변한다.
-열역학 제2법칙: 물질과 에너지는 유용한 상태에서 무용한 상태로 변한다.
이 책은 이 두 법칙에 관한 책이다. 사실 나도 얼핏 들어 알고 있었다. 에너지 법칙의 법칙, 공을 떨어뜨릴 때, 에너지의 총량은 일정하지만, 마찰력과 열, 소리 등으로 에너지가 손실되어 결국은 공이 멈추고 만다는 것, 과학 책에서 계속해서 읽어봤었고, 또 알고 있었다. 하지만 자세히 생각해보진 않았다. 두려웠던 것일지도 모른다. 이 법칙에 의하면 고대 그리스인의 세계관, '시간은 세계의 가치를 떨어뜨린다.' 즉 시간이 갈수록 이 세계는 몰락해 간다는 것이 맞기 때문이다.
너무나 당연한 사실인데 , 왜 우리는 세계는 갈수록 번영해 간다고 믿고 있을까, 식수, 석탄, 석유 등 영원할 것만 같았던 여러 자원들이 부족하여 자원 부족의 문제가 큰 사회적 문제로 떠오르는 이 시점 (이 책에 따르면 엔트로피 극대점의 시기) 에서 우리는 아직도 세계는 번영한다. 물질적 자원은 한계가 없다는 이 세계관 속에서 살아야 할까. 이제는 세계관을 바꿔야 할때가 아닌가 싶다. 현 시대 셰계관인 기계론적 세계관에서 엔트로피 세계관으로 ...
우리는 여기서 자원이 사라져가는 속도, 세계가 몰락해 가는 속도에 주목해야 한다. 예전보다 오늘날에 사람들이 사용해야 하고 사용하는 에너지가 많다는 것은 자명하다. 우리는 옛날 같았으면 그냥 걸어갔을 것을 자동차를 타고 에너지를 훨씬 많이 소비한다. 밤 거리만 걸어보아도 알 수 있다. 곳곳에 있는 불빛들, 네온사인... 오늘날 사람들은 생존하기 위해 전보다 훨씬 많은 에너지를 소비해야 한다. 자원은 계속해서 사라지는 데 소비해야하는 에너지는 더 많아져 간다. 즉, 자원이 더 빠르게 소비된 다는 뜻이다. 세계가 더 빨리 몰락으로 향해간다는 것이다.
어쩌면 오스트랄로피테쿠스라��� 인류가 불리었던 시점부터, 달까지 가본 지금의 인류가 있기까지의 역사, 채집 사회에서 농경사회로, 근대 산업혁명이 일어나기까지가 모두 필연적이었던 것일지 모른다. 생각해보면 그렇다. 우리 인류가 채집사회에서 농경사회로 넘어가게 된 까닭은 채집할 과일과 사냥할 거리들이 줄어들었기 때문일 것이다. 채집할 것들이 풍부하다면 뭐 하러 힘들게 농사를 하겠는가? 땅도 갈고, 씨앗도 뿌리고 퇴버도 줘야 한다. 이 힘든 과정을 거쳐 곡식과 과일을 얻는 까닭은 채집할 거리가 죽어들어 먹을 것을 찾는 것이 농사하는 것보다 더 힘들어졌기 때문일 것이다. 옛날, 유럽에서는 나무가 생활용품과 에너지의 원천이었다고 한다. 유럽인들은 나무가 부족해지자 대체 에너지로 석탄을 사용했다. 이렇듯 인류는 늘 그들이 사용하던 자원이 다 소비되면 다른 자원을 찾아 소비했고, 그 다른 자원은 대개 앞의 자원보다 '안 좋은 것' 이었다. 지금 사용하는 석탄은 앞선 자원인 나무보다 얻기도 힘들고, 에너지로 변환하는 과정도 복잡하다.
이와 관련해서 한 가지 하고 싶은 말이 있다. 이 책에서 가장 기억에 나는 내용 중 하나이기도 하다. 태양에서 계속 일어나고 있는 핵융합 반응을 이용한 핵융합 에너지에 관한 것인데, 나 또한 이 책을 읽기 전에는 이 에너지가 자원 고갈을 해결해 줄 열쇠라고 믿었다. 하지만 조금만 깊이 생각해보아도 이 에너지의 문제점을 바로 알 수 있다. 현재 주로 연구되는 핵융합 반응은 한정적 자원인 라듐을 필요로 하며, 핵분열 에너지와 마찬가지로 방사성 폐기물을 배출한다. 게다가 핵융합으로 설계화 관련하여 기술, 유지보수 상의 문제가 발생한다. 화력발전, 수력발전 등도 드는 비용에 비해 효율도 적다고 들었다.
석탄과 석유는 부족하고 희망이 보일 듯 했던 핵융합 에너지 및 다른 에너지는 비효율적이라니. 그럼 우리는 어떻게 하라는 것인가? 우선 가장 먼저 우리가 해야 하는 것은 '자연은 인간이 이용하는 것이다. 자원은 끝없이 있다'는 기계론적 생각을 버리고 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들이는 것이다. 세계의 여러 체제도 새로운 세계관에 맞춰 바꿔 나가야 할 것이다. 자원은 유한함을 받아들이고, 자연과 더불어 살아가야 한다는 뜻이다. 이 세상에는 수 많은 사람과 지혜가 있으니 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들인 후에 뭔가 대책이 나오지 않을까 한다.
이 책에서는 태양에너지를 대책으로 삼았다. 지구 상의 모든 생물들은 태양 빛으로부터, 태양 에너지로부터 에너지를 얻고 공존하며 살아왔다. 한 때 인류는 자연을 무시하고 착취했고, 지금도 하고 있지만 결과적으로 우리가 다시 돌아가야 할 곳은 자연을 존중하며 살아왔던 그 옛날이다. 고효율적인 태양 전지를 발명해, 더는 환경을 파괴하지 않고 살아간다면 자원 부족이나 환경 문제로 허덕이지 않아도 될 것이다. 물론 태양에너지도 엔트로피 법칙에 의해 수십억년후 태양이 다 타버리면 고갈되겠지만,그건 너무 먼 미래이니 지금은 잠시 제쳐두도록 하자.
엔트로피 극대점의 시기에서 우리가 해야 하는 것은 먼저 엔트로피 세계관을 받아들이는 것이다. 그리고 실천하는 것이다. 이렇게 서서히 생각과 생각, 행동과 행동을 모아가다보면 자원 때문에 고생하지 않고 자연과 더불어 살아가는 진정으로 밝은 미래가 오지 않을까 하고 생각해 본다.
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October 2, 2024The first of my recent holiday acquisitions; from a free book table at Morton Hall campsite in Edinburgh ... moving from a mechanistic view of the universe to future where disorder and decay (entropy) and our ability to manage finite - and reducing - resources - become the most significants factor for human survival
OK Mr. Rifkin, we’ve got the message! For nearly 300 pages the author expounds endlessly on a very simple idea, built around the 2nd law of thermodynamics (called the ‘Entropy Law’). My simple interpretation is the everything that humans do, or even that happens on the earth relates to the transformation of energy from one form to another, but each transformation, so the 2nd law tells us, results in some loss, for example in heat going from work to motion, coal to steam etc. And fundamentally this same loss or degradation reduces the amount of available energy in the earths closed system (energy is always conserved - the 1st law). So not only are all human endeavours reducing the ‘available’ energy, they result in wastage, effectively the end product is unavailable, in the form of waste materials or recyclable materials that will take more energy (negative entropy) to convert, and so the cycle continues. With this central idea RF rejects the prevailing 400 years of historical imperative that ‘change is good’ as a myth that we are progressing in all respects to a better place; higher standard of living, more and better food, housing, health etc... With the [energy] cost of finding and exploiting new energy (non-renewable AND renewable) and other key materials always increasing, QED entropy will relentlessly increase to a nearby point in time, an entropy ‘energy’ watershed. Unfortunately the book was written in the 1980, and some, if not all, of his doom-laden predictions have failed to materialise, which doesn't mean that his arguments are without merit.
I will write more on this subject again, particularly the author's all-encompassing world view that includes education and technology, 2 of my favourite subjects. Watch this space for a fuller review and analysis in a blog post!
OK Mr. Rifkin, we’ve got the message! For nearly 300 pages the author expounds endlessly on a very simple idea, built around the 2nd law of thermodynamics (called the ‘Entropy Law’). My simple interpretation is the everything that humans do, or even that happens on the earth relates to the transformation of energy from one form to another, but each transformation, so the 2nd law tells us, results in some loss, for example in heat going from work to motion, coal to steam etc. And fundamentally this same loss or degradation reduces the amount of available energy in the earths closed system (energy is always conserved - the 1st law). So not only are all human endeavours reducing the ‘available’ energy, they result in wastage, effectively the end product is unavailable, in the form of waste materials or recyclable materials that will take more energy (negative entropy) to convert, and so the cycle continues. With this central idea RF rejects the prevailing 400 years of historical imperative that ‘change is good’ as a myth that we are progressing in all respects to a better place; higher standard of living, more and better food, housing, health etc... With the [energy] cost of finding and exploiting new energy (non-renewable AND renewable) and other key materials always increasing, QED entropy will relentlessly increase to a nearby point in time, an entropy ‘energy’ watershed. Unfortunately the book was written in the 1980, and some, if not all, of his doom-laden predictions have failed to materialise, which doesn't mean that his arguments are without merit.
I will write more on this subject again, particularly the author's all-encompassing world view that includes education and technology, 2 of my favourite subjects. Watch this space for a fuller review and analysis in a blog post!
October 29, 2022
I'm a raving bunny hugger after reading this book! Haha not really but I am considering cutting back on beef and children (don't like the taste anyway). [joke]
Although written in 1980, and there is some humour in seeing some ideas not realised, the concepts are even more relevant and urgent now than then.
The whole book is so important I am going to read it again and make a summary and force my colleagues to read it if I can't convince them to read the entire thing. This book really should be required reading before taking a job in sustainability.
Super summary (and spoilers but you can't really spoil non-fiction can you):
Human "progress" transforms available energy, creating a local minimum in entropy (life, cities, products etc) but a larger entropy increase (waste or system disorder) in the surroundings. The solution is not to make our tech and processes more efficient or only to change to renewable energy sources (that will simply allow more energy transformation - i.e. a more rapid increase in entropy) but to completely re-evaluate our purpose as humans.
My foundational worldview is Christian and an entropic worldview is congruent. Our purpose is not to live a prosperous, luxurious life, but to glorify and obey God. One of his commandments is to steward the earth and after reading the book we can translate that to "reduce the rate of entropy increase on earth". Think again before reposting "eat meat, lift weights, seek knowledge, and have many children" memes!
"Each day we awake to a world that appears more confused and disordered than the one we left the night before". If you've ever wondered why (and not stopped at sin) have a read!
Although written in 1980, and there is some humour in seeing some ideas not realised, the concepts are even more relevant and urgent now than then.
The whole book is so important I am going to read it again and make a summary and force my colleagues to read it if I can't convince them to read the entire thing. This book really should be required reading before taking a job in sustainability.
Super summary (and spoilers but you can't really spoil non-fiction can you):
Human "progress" transforms available energy, creating a local minimum in entropy (life, cities, products etc) but a larger entropy increase (waste or system disorder) in the surroundings. The solution is not to make our tech and processes more efficient or only to change to renewable energy sources (that will simply allow more energy transformation - i.e. a more rapid increase in entropy) but to completely re-evaluate our purpose as humans.
My foundational worldview is Christian and an entropic worldview is congruent. Our purpose is not to live a prosperous, luxurious life, but to glorify and obey God. One of his commandments is to steward the earth and after reading the book we can translate that to "reduce the rate of entropy increase on earth". Think again before reposting "eat meat, lift weights, seek knowledge, and have many children" memes!
"Each day we awake to a world that appears more confused and disordered than the one we left the night before". If you've ever wondered why (and not stopped at sin) have a read!
July 15, 2020
How interesting that Rifkin interpreted and applied the famous 2nd law of Thermodynamics into so many areas such as education, agriculture, health, economics and politics. The book was written in the 80s so some of the concepts are not applicable, yet other points to reconsider as we live in 2020. The entropy explains how energy flows from orderly to disorderly and from usable to unusable in simple terms. It also explains why the progress of science, technology have not resulted in peace and order, instead causing more crisis, chaos, and decay. It is the irreversible process of dissipation of energy of the world. When we say “The world is running out of time.”, it actually means “The world is running out of usable energy.” In life, we see the changes all around us: 1) watching our friends get old and die 2)Sitting next to a fire and watch its red hot embers turn slowly into cold white ashes. the world. We are experiencing the unfolding of the second law, entropy concept. What we need to glean as conclusion of this book is that the world resource, to be precise, usable ENERGY is diminishing; and if we care for the future generation, we must CONSERVE energy and take care of the environment.
November 25, 2021
Overall, I recommend this book. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is the ultimate metaphysical law of the Universe. Aging, death, the end of political systems, and ultimately the very end of the Universe depend on this law.
In particular, economic systems based on continuous growth are destined to collapse.
Those who ignored it or considered it a boring topic will find this reading enlightening.
Some may find this perspective depressing, but it is the very unrepeatability of life and the Universe that makes them so special.
I found the second part less relevant, as it mainly contains unproven claims and quickly indicates solar energy as the solution to the current (1980) energy problem.
In particular, economic systems based on continuous growth are destined to collapse.
Those who ignored it or considered it a boring topic will find this reading enlightening.
Some may find this perspective depressing, but it is the very unrepeatability of life and the Universe that makes them so special.
I found the second part less relevant, as it mainly contains unproven claims and quickly indicates solar energy as the solution to the current (1980) energy problem.
April 25, 2020
Non c’è aspetto della vita che non vengo indagato in questo libro, ponendolo sotto una nuova luce che può guidarci nel tornare ad essere parte del sistema e non incoscienti parassiti dello stesso.
Un libro che dovrebbe essere portato nelle scuole di tutto il mondo per stabilire infine una sua nuova visione, concentrata sulla sua finitezza e sulle sue leggi fondamentali.
Non ho mai vissuto l’esperienza di una lettura così ILLUMINANTE
Un libro che dovrebbe essere portato nelle scuole di tutto il mondo per stabilire infine una sua nuova visione, concentrata sulla sua finitezza e sulle sue leggi fondamentali.
Non ho mai vissuto l’esperienza di una lettura così ILLUMINANTE
April 26, 2023
This book was written in 1980. I bought it in a garage sale... (where it should have stayed)
So grateful I only spent a quarter, however I did waste my time to read this
entire book in 1996. According to Jeremy the world should have been at least half destroyed already.
wow I think this guy was channeling AOC... when she said we will all be dead in 12 years. This garbage is why "climate change" is so discredited.
So grateful I only spent a quarter, however I did waste my time to read this
entire book in 1996. According to Jeremy the world should have been at least half destroyed already.
wow I think this guy was channeling AOC... when she said we will all be dead in 12 years. This garbage is why "climate change" is so discredited.
January 6, 2018
THIS IS A TEN STAR READ
WHAT IS UTTERLY CLEAR IS THAT THE SECOND LAW DEFINES AND DRIVES THE DESTINY OF THE UNIVERSE AND HUMANITY. WHAT'S FRIGHTENING = IS THE PROCESS TOWARDS THE EXPONENT CURVED LINE - AS BACTERIA IN A BOTTLE COULD TESTIFY ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT..
SHOULD BE MANDATORY READING FOR THE "SUPERS" LONGING TO BE A "BRIGHTS"
http://www.the-brights.net/
WHAT IS UTTERLY CLEAR IS THAT THE SECOND LAW DEFINES AND DRIVES THE DESTINY OF THE UNIVERSE AND HUMANITY. WHAT'S FRIGHTENING = IS THE PROCESS TOWARDS THE EXPONENT CURVED LINE - AS BACTERIA IN A BOTTLE COULD TESTIFY ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT..
SHOULD BE MANDATORY READING FOR THE "SUPERS" LONGING TO BE A "BRIGHTS"
http://www.the-brights.net/
April 30, 2020
Kids pay attention ... the ideas in this book are as absolute as F=MxA. We live and work in a closed system which goes from order to disorder. Your job is to slow the decline through less movement and consumption. Yes I know it's not a science textbook ... but the idea of social entropy is interesting. Tony McLean Brown www.HappyGuidetoaShortLife.com
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July 28, 2021...Umut nerede? Nasıl olur da bir kişi, ne yaparsak yapalım, doğduğumuz zamandan çok daha fazla bozulmuş bir dünyada yaşanıldığında umutlu olabilir? Geçen birkaç yüzyıl boyunca insanlığın yapmış olduğu hemen her şeyin amacından tamamen farklı neticelendiği görüldüğünde umut nereye yerleştirilebilir?...
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August 26, 2023A reconsideration of the history of the world, science, philosophy, religion, economics, etc. in the light of the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy law, "matter and energy can only be changed in one direction from usable to unusable from available to unavailable, from ordered to disordered." p. 20
June 13, 2019
This is one of those books that changed my thinking and awakened me out of my youthful slumbers. Probably a bit dated now, but exactly the summer reading that was needed by a 21-year-old college student in 1985.
August 4, 2020
The book should rather be called "How I don't know shit about Entropy". Terrible book, he makes many bold claims with almost no references, he completely misunderstands basic physics and the entire book just reads like the thought stream of an adolescent who feels smart. Embarrassing.
October 27, 2020
Understanding our civilization in the context of entropy is a pre-requisite to making arguments about environmentalism.
I read this book about a decade ago. It raises really good points but I don't remember if it goes the last mile in drawing the ultimate conclusions from those points.
I read this book about a decade ago. It raises really good points but I don't remember if it goes the last mile in drawing the ultimate conclusions from those points.
April 27, 2024
Written 44 years ago, but even more relevant today. It is such a prophetic book even though when it was released it had a lot of bad reviews written about it. I think the book changes the way you view the world and helps explain some of the direction society continues to go today.
February 6, 2019
a different Weltbild indeed!
January 5, 2020
Hitch
February 11, 2008
It's an interesting book, especially to read it now in 2008 since it was written in 1981. Interesting to read it and think, what of his predictions have come true? Can we still see this pattern emerging? The answer to that would be yes, but I think there is a bigger picture here to look at in terms of the entropy law, our society and how we view it. Worthy of a good discussion.
February 7, 2014
Türkçe Çeviri 93 yılı birinci basımını buldum.. Eski fakat çok hoş bir kitap.
Ekonomi
Tarım
Nakliyat
Kentleşme
Silahlanma
Eğitim
SAğlık
alanarındaki Entropi ilişkisini çok güzel işliyor ve bazı çözümler öneriyor. Akıllı bir yaşam perspektifi sunarak Dünya'ya ve onun bir parçası olan kendimize bakışımızı tekrardan sorgulamayı mecbur kılıyor.
Ekonomi
Tarım
Nakliyat
Kentleşme
Silahlanma
Eğitim
SAğlık
alanarındaki Entropi ilişkisini çok güzel işliyor ve bazı çözümler öneriyor. Akıllı bir yaşam perspektifi sunarak Dünya'ya ve onun bir parçası olan kendimize bakışımızı tekrardan sorgulamayı mecbur kılıyor.
May 29, 2007
I read this a long time ago, and I found it very interesting and thought provoking at the time. I was a teenager, but I still think it has some philosophical concepts relating to waste and environment that are really interesting to consider.
October 26, 2009
This book is a little dated. But, the ideas are still timely and a great companion to books like The Long Emergency. Its a good book for folks that believe our post modern, post industrial society can continue to thrive.
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