More from Less by Andrew McAfee
More from Less
Andrew McAfee did a good job titling More from Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources―and What Happens Next. This story is surprising indeed!
Key Insight
The basic premise is that wealthy nations have already moved past peak stuff. In other words, though they continue to get wealthier, they are able to do this while consuming fewer natural resources. Fewer resources total, not just per capita! Fewer natural resources means less of an impact on the environment.
Counter-Intuitive Finding
This seems so counter-intuitive it’s hard to grasp at first. The more economic activity, the less consumption of natural resources? Yes. The book proves this is actually happening, and then explains why. The implications are hard to over-state. Protection of the environment hinges on increasing wealth, not limiting it.