allisonjpmiller's review against another edition
4.0
Five stars for content, three for execution (there's a hefty amount of repetition, and Eisenstein's tendency to blockquote passages from his previous books—even, occasionally, from prior chapters in this one—annoyed me). I am utterly compelled by his ideas, though, and agree with the foundational point of the book: that gratitude is our default mode as humans, not selfishness, and that the latter has only become our M.O. since we began believing in scarcity (an illusion conjured by the money system). The whole "more for you is less for me" story we've been telling ourselves has trapped us in a worldview defined by separation and win-lose scenarios, which ... doesn't actually mirror reality in the ways we've longed assumed it does. (tl;dr Thanos was wrong, y'all.)
Eisenstein lays out the functional groundwork for a gift economy with clarity and rigor. You can tell he's done his homework on economic theory. Though some might take him to task for the more far-reaching speculative moments in this book, I appreciate his dogged optimism, and the easy way in which he manages to discuss banking and spirituality in the same breath. He's an integrative thinker. God knows we need more of those, and we need to give them bigger platforms.
Eisenstein lays out the functional groundwork for a gift economy with clarity and rigor. You can tell he's done his homework on economic theory. Though some might take him to task for the more far-reaching speculative moments in this book, I appreciate his dogged optimism, and the easy way in which he manages to discuss banking and spirituality in the same breath. He's an integrative thinker. God knows we need more of those, and we need to give them bigger platforms.
johannavilde's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
bakudreamer's review against another edition
Just read through this looking for anything that might help with ' neko economy ' and I didn't find anything
nickvu's review against another edition
5.0
Our money is inherently antisocial. Transactions are reimagined to promote interdependence, community, mutual trust, and mutual well-being. Find ways to leave money out of it.
avoryfaucette's review against another edition
5.0
It’s hard to overstate the impact reading this book has had on me this year. Though Eisenstein is synthesizing concepts that others have shared before him (it’s easy to see the influence of emergent strategy, alternative economists, P2P movements, Native cosmologies and practices, Black cooperative economics, feminist and queer ecology, etc.) the way he frames sacred economics structurally really helps to answer the fears readers may have about moving away from current economic systems while also proposing a future that seems both very far away AND theoretically possible.
In approaching the topic both economically and spiritually / metaphysically, Eisenstein shows how many of the stories wrapped up in what he calls the overarching Story of Ascent present a false picture of humanity and our relationship to the planet. In Part II, lays out a series of economic changes that won’t work on their own (including internalizing costs, demurrage, etc.) but as an interrelated system could actually be globally feasible. Given the masssive challenge of implementing these challenges, which would require people with actual power to read and internalize these concepts, I admit to skepticism around a policy-first approach, and wish Eisenstein had more directly addressed the effects of thousands of years of horrific racism on the human psyche, because his policies do require a certain degree of bias elimination to implement. I also wish that, given the strong emphasis on local community and relationship, there was some treatment of what happens when an individual really doesn’t fit in their local community. Since the recommendations to some extent reverse globalization, I found myself with questions about travel, segregation, and entrenched values.
Those limitations acknowledged, I do appreciate the practicality of part II, because I’ve long felt a sense of “I’m anti-capitalist, maybe even anti-money, but what the hell is the alternative?” This book doesn’t shy away from answering that question, and the answer isn’t “return to a state of nature” or “eliminate technology.” The recommended approach is gradual and allows for some of the conveniences of modern life. At the same time, the longer we wait, the more dramatic the change becomes, and I certainly hold fear in 2021 that there isn’t time to educate policymakers and gradually implement these changes before climate change kills even larger swathes of humanity.
Where I really found personal impact was in Part III, when Eisenstein talks about personal ways to implement sacred economics and addresses common fears about the idea of gifting over charging, even in the context of our current system. As I was reading, I kept waiting for this content, since for much of the broader economic ideas there’s a “this will only work when the system changes” caveat. I found the writing in Part III had a profound effect on my natural scarcity thinking and security fears, and opened me up to the idea of authentic gifting (especially in the context of not hoarding wealth, allowing money to flow, and building relationships through gift exchange) as a different kind of security. One of the key concepts here is that exchange of gifts builds relationship and interdependence. While I understand intellectually that extreme independence and hoarding wealth are bad, I also have struggled to prefer relationship and community given past experiences of “gifts.” Eisenstein makes it clear that not everything we call a gift actually is one in his terminology, and that some of our fears of “giving things away” come from harmful practices around gifts. Part III challenges the reader, but also doesn’t expect extreme, dramatic, sudden change. There is an acknowledgement that this is a process, and that we live in a present system. Eisenstein incorporates a lot of the beliefs I hold and teach that have been transformational in my life already, such as the false nature of “guarantees,” the importance of learning to receive as part of generosity, and living in the present rather than overplanning for the future.
I would recommend this book very broadly (and have!) but I especially hope it makes it into the hands of those with wealth, power, privilege, and a seat at the policymaking table. I also find myself wishing for more digestible versions of these principles that are easier to share, and will definitely be incorporating some of the key ideas into my own work for this purpose. If you are extremely resistant to anything “woo” or “spiritual” you may struggle with this book, but my 72-year-old atheist father is loving it, so have an open mind!
In approaching the topic both economically and spiritually / metaphysically, Eisenstein shows how many of the stories wrapped up in what he calls the overarching Story of Ascent present a false picture of humanity and our relationship to the planet. In Part II, lays out a series of economic changes that won’t work on their own (including internalizing costs, demurrage, etc.) but as an interrelated system could actually be globally feasible. Given the masssive challenge of implementing these challenges, which would require people with actual power to read and internalize these concepts, I admit to skepticism around a policy-first approach, and wish Eisenstein had more directly addressed the effects of thousands of years of horrific racism on the human psyche, because his policies do require a certain degree of bias elimination to implement. I also wish that, given the strong emphasis on local community and relationship, there was some treatment of what happens when an individual really doesn’t fit in their local community. Since the recommendations to some extent reverse globalization, I found myself with questions about travel, segregation, and entrenched values.
Those limitations acknowledged, I do appreciate the practicality of part II, because I’ve long felt a sense of “I’m anti-capitalist, maybe even anti-money, but what the hell is the alternative?” This book doesn’t shy away from answering that question, and the answer isn’t “return to a state of nature” or “eliminate technology.” The recommended approach is gradual and allows for some of the conveniences of modern life. At the same time, the longer we wait, the more dramatic the change becomes, and I certainly hold fear in 2021 that there isn’t time to educate policymakers and gradually implement these changes before climate change kills even larger swathes of humanity.
Where I really found personal impact was in Part III, when Eisenstein talks about personal ways to implement sacred economics and addresses common fears about the idea of gifting over charging, even in the context of our current system. As I was reading, I kept waiting for this content, since for much of the broader economic ideas there’s a “this will only work when the system changes” caveat. I found the writing in Part III had a profound effect on my natural scarcity thinking and security fears, and opened me up to the idea of authentic gifting (especially in the context of not hoarding wealth, allowing money to flow, and building relationships through gift exchange) as a different kind of security. One of the key concepts here is that exchange of gifts builds relationship and interdependence. While I understand intellectually that extreme independence and hoarding wealth are bad, I also have struggled to prefer relationship and community given past experiences of “gifts.” Eisenstein makes it clear that not everything we call a gift actually is one in his terminology, and that some of our fears of “giving things away” come from harmful practices around gifts. Part III challenges the reader, but also doesn’t expect extreme, dramatic, sudden change. There is an acknowledgement that this is a process, and that we live in a present system. Eisenstein incorporates a lot of the beliefs I hold and teach that have been transformational in my life already, such as the false nature of “guarantees,” the importance of learning to receive as part of generosity, and living in the present rather than overplanning for the future.
I would recommend this book very broadly (and have!) but I especially hope it makes it into the hands of those with wealth, power, privilege, and a seat at the policymaking table. I also find myself wishing for more digestible versions of these principles that are easier to share, and will definitely be incorporating some of the key ideas into my own work for this purpose. If you are extremely resistant to anything “woo” or “spiritual” you may struggle with this book, but my 72-year-old atheist father is loving it, so have an open mind!
silvio's review against another edition
5.0
Holy shit! HO-LY-SHIT! I wasn't expecting this, I truly wasn't. This book caught me off guard, and I almost drowned in its majesty. Mind-bending, heart-opening, and absolutely EMPOWERING. What a gift.
Out of all the books I know, "Sacred Economics" is definitely one of the most potent ones to completely change a life - and that is because it's about fundamentally rethinking our stories about one of the most fundamental paradigms determining most of our actions in life: money.
MONEY. I had always been pretty ignorant about this topic (privilege). But this book opened my eyes and showed me that money is literally connected to so many things: education, career choices, health & wellbeing, social circles, etc... Anything political or economical (which is almost everything) has to do with money.
"Sacred Economics" really made me see that in today's world money is our God... And right now it is a very destructive God. It is not about dethroning this deity, but about integrating it into the greater whole, recognizing it to be just as sacred as anything else in the world, and thus to create a "good God" of wholeness and union.
The main thing about it is this: what's holding us back from investing our work, time, and money well is that "well" it is not economical. Making not money but the Good economical, that's what it's about. Profit from money is Money for nothing. Profit from the Good is Sacred Economics. Return on investment is not financial, but universal.
So how do we make the Good valuable (not in terms of money, but a deeper, true value)? First and foremost, by following our hearts.
Our hearts change our stories, and our stories change the world.
Fundamentally, what's creating suffering in the world is that our story of scarcity leads to selfish grasping and overconsumption, arising out of a restless anxiety about survival. At the same time we follow the story of independence, trying to find our freedom in it. Both stories make us destructively selfish.
Instead, we shall see through these illusions and expand our sense of self to include the whole world. From ego to eco, from having to interbeing, from separation to connection and community. This is where both our survival and our freedom lie. Embodying uniqueness within an interconnected larger whole, this new sense of self makes possible the true expression of our gifts.
And here lies Abundance: "The gift is the sociophysical manifestation of an underlying unity of being." This book directly speaks to and awakens our inborn gratitude and will for service. Life is a gift, nature is a gift, money is a gift, all that we have and all that is here is a gift - thank you, thank you so much. How can I give back? How can I help? How can I gift myself to the world - my lover - in the most loving and beautiful way?
This is an evolution from greed to gratitude.
#thankyou #theworldisart
PS: I would like to propose one of my favorite songs from my favorite band to go with this book: "Tool - Right in Two"
... wondering when this tug-of-war will end...
Out of all the books I know, "Sacred Economics" is definitely one of the most potent ones to completely change a life - and that is because it's about fundamentally rethinking our stories about one of the most fundamental paradigms determining most of our actions in life: money.
MONEY. I had always been pretty ignorant about this topic (privilege). But this book opened my eyes and showed me that money is literally connected to so many things: education, career choices, health & wellbeing, social circles, etc... Anything political or economical (which is almost everything) has to do with money.
"Sacred Economics" really made me see that in today's world money is our God... And right now it is a very destructive God. It is not about dethroning this deity, but about integrating it into the greater whole, recognizing it to be just as sacred as anything else in the world, and thus to create a "good God" of wholeness and union.
The main thing about it is this: what's holding us back from investing our work, time, and money well is that "well" it is not economical. Making not money but the Good economical, that's what it's about. Profit from money is Money for nothing. Profit from the Good is Sacred Economics. Return on investment is not financial, but universal.
So how do we make the Good valuable (not in terms of money, but a deeper, true value)? First and foremost, by following our hearts.
Our hearts change our stories, and our stories change the world.
Fundamentally, what's creating suffering in the world is that our story of scarcity leads to selfish grasping and overconsumption, arising out of a restless anxiety about survival. At the same time we follow the story of independence, trying to find our freedom in it. Both stories make us destructively selfish.
Instead, we shall see through these illusions and expand our sense of self to include the whole world. From ego to eco, from having to interbeing, from separation to connection and community. This is where both our survival and our freedom lie. Embodying uniqueness within an interconnected larger whole, this new sense of self makes possible the true expression of our gifts.
And here lies Abundance: "The gift is the sociophysical manifestation of an underlying unity of being." This book directly speaks to and awakens our inborn gratitude and will for service. Life is a gift, nature is a gift, money is a gift, all that we have and all that is here is a gift - thank you, thank you so much. How can I give back? How can I help? How can I gift myself to the world - my lover - in the most loving and beautiful way?
This is an evolution from greed to gratitude.
#thankyou #theworldisart
PS: I would like to propose one of my favorite songs from my favorite band to go with this book: "Tool - Right in Two"
... wondering when this tug-of-war will end...
michellegm15's review
5.0
Both highly beautiful and human AND impressively logical. Mends the rift between the head and the heart and gives inspiring ideas of directions society can go.
p_tremuloides's review
2.0
Einsenstein presents new ideas about possible economic futures -- new to me anyway. The move away from the money economy itself isn't new. Nor is the idea to create a new money system -- most students of history could tell you this and then recite a list of examples as long as my arm (and written in tiny handwriting).
I give this two stars because while the book itself is easy to read and understand, it doesn't delve into practical realities -- we will still have jobs people don't want to do and paying people more for those jobs won't help (much). We will still have people who don't care to work as long as their are mindless forms of entertainment designed to keep us from thinking, to keep us preoccupied, to keep us stifled. To implement anything close to the system Eisenstein suggests involves not only economic revolution, but social revolution -- with particular focus on how and what we place value on. I'm in favor of gift-circles and dislike the exchange of money between friends. I support people who begin Time Banks and want to contribute when I can because this is the type of economy I want to support. But I don't see these things as revolutionary enough.
I give this two stars because while the book itself is easy to read and understand, it doesn't delve into practical realities -- we will still have jobs people don't want to do and paying people more for those jobs won't help (much). We will still have people who don't care to work as long as their are mindless forms of entertainment designed to keep us from thinking, to keep us preoccupied, to keep us stifled. To implement anything close to the system Eisenstein suggests involves not only economic revolution, but social revolution -- with particular focus on how and what we place value on. I'm in favor of gift-circles and dislike the exchange of money between friends. I support people who begin Time Banks and want to contribute when I can because this is the type of economy I want to support. But I don't see these things as revolutionary enough.
jacquelynjoan's review
5.0
I almost feel like I don't need to read any other non-fiction book now that I've read this. It's beautifully and utterly clearly written. It is so full of hope & beauty and simultaneously extremely practical. As I read it, I thought "this sounds like the truth". I know much of it is and I hope the rest of it is.