E. F. Schumacher (1911–1977)

3.5 stars

"The cultivation and expansion of needs is the antithesis of freedom and peace." p 34

I really liked the first part of this book, which seemed very practical and applicable to the average person. In the next three parts, though, Schumacher focuses more on "big picture" topics and economics jargon is used. There is still solid information in these parts, but they're not as readable.

The key part of this book lies in Schumacher's explanations of "as if people mattered."

There's a quote of Schumacher's in the book as commentary which really gets to the core of the book's message.
"Economics without Buddhism, i.e. without spiritual, human, and ecological values, is like sex without love."
Economics, especially the advance of capitalism, should be considered in the context of priorities & values. The health of a society cannot be measured solely by it's market health & GDP.
A very worthwhile read.

This work belongs to that subterranean tradition of organic and decentralized economics His major spokesman include Tolstoy Gandhi and others