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Exterminations
A book that deals with the unthinkable, but a subject that's becoming more and more thinkable nowadays.
As violence, destruction, and genocide advance everywhere, we need to try to understand what's happening, why, and how we may survive the growing ordeal. The book first deals with historical exterminations, aiming to find the common reasons for them. Then, it details the methods that were used and are used now to exterminate large numbers of people. There follows a discussion of how one can deflect the danger. It is concluded with a mathematical analysis of the phenomenon of exterminations, which, unfortunately, leaves little space for the idea that we are moving toward better times.
People tell me that they found this book unsettling and even a little scary. But also that, once they started reading it, they couldn't stop until they reached the end.
As violence, destruction, and genocide advance everywhere, we need to try to understand what's happening, why, and how we may survive the growing ordeal. The book first deals with historical exterminations, aiming to find the common reasons for them. Then, it details the methods that were used and are used now to exterminate large numbers of people. There follows a discussion of how one can deflect the danger. It is concluded with a mathematical analysis of the phenomenon of exterminations, which, unfortunately, leaves little space for the idea that we are moving toward better times.
People tell me that they found this book unsettling and even a little scary. But also that, once they started reading it, they couldn't stop until they reached the end.
350 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2024
5 people want to read
About the author
Ugo Bardi
24 books4 followersUgo Bardi is a polymath who started his career as a chemist working on oil refining, to gradually move to study peak oil and then the trajectory toward collapse that society is following nowadays. He was a faculty member of the University of Florence, Italy. Now he is a member of the executive committee of the Club of Rome, a think tank located in Switzerland, known for having supported "The Limits to Growth" study of 1972.
Ugo is known for several studies in the field of biophysical economics, and his best known proposal is that of the "Seneca Effect," a way to explain why collapses are frequent in our world; so named after the ancient Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeas Seneca
Ugo's books have been imaginative essays dealing with several facets of the human interaction with Earth. How we overexploit resources, how we generate heavy pollution, how we overpopulate the land. And what we can expect for the future in a vision that looks for harmony with the Goddess of Earth, Gaia.
Ugo's most recent books are is "Limits and Beyond" (Exapt Press, 2022), and "Exterminations" (Kimaira Edizioni, 2024). His next book, in preparation, may be titled "The End of Overpopulation"
Ugo is known for several studies in the field of biophysical economics, and his best known proposal is that of the "Seneca Effect," a way to explain why collapses are frequent in our world; so named after the ancient Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeas Seneca
Ugo's books have been imaginative essays dealing with several facets of the human interaction with Earth. How we overexploit resources, how we generate heavy pollution, how we overpopulate the land. And what we can expect for the future in a vision that looks for harmony with the Goddess of Earth, Gaia.
Ugo's most recent books are is "Limits and Beyond" (Exapt Press, 2022), and "Exterminations" (Kimaira Edizioni, 2024). His next book, in preparation, may be titled "The End of Overpopulation"
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 19, 2024
So rarely in life do you find a new book that masterfully explores a topic that you wanted to explore, but that nobody else had thought to dig into yet.
Ugo Bardi continues his life's work, extending the thought experiment around the unfolding end of industrial civilisation to a fascinating reflection of how societies going through similar stresses respond with exterminations of subsets of their population.
What follows is a diverse array of insights into relevant slices of history, woven together into a fascinating meditation on human nature and the possibilities to improve it on this particular trip down the civilisational slippery dip.
The writing has surprising warmth, wit and raw, honest humanity in dealing with such a dark topic. I especially loved the analysis of the factors leading to subgroups being targeted for organised violence, and the potential lessons offered in situating yourself to avoid such a fate. The 21st century is likely to become a hotbed of new social experiments in response to the growing stresses of our times, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for insights into how their own life and community can be directed before the mob knocks down their door.
I received a free copy in return for an honest review
Ugo Bardi continues his life's work, extending the thought experiment around the unfolding end of industrial civilisation to a fascinating reflection of how societies going through similar stresses respond with exterminations of subsets of their population.
What follows is a diverse array of insights into relevant slices of history, woven together into a fascinating meditation on human nature and the possibilities to improve it on this particular trip down the civilisational slippery dip.
The writing has surprising warmth, wit and raw, honest humanity in dealing with such a dark topic. I especially loved the analysis of the factors leading to subgroups being targeted for organised violence, and the potential lessons offered in situating yourself to avoid such a fate. The 21st century is likely to become a hotbed of new social experiments in response to the growing stresses of our times, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for insights into how their own life and community can be directed before the mob knocks down their door.
I received a free copy in return for an honest review
Displaying 1 of 1 review