ABSTRACT
Chapter 1, “Why now!,” begins with a summary of the evidence of persistent and growing environmental and societal unsustainability, as grounds for the need to change culture at its most basic level. Short of change at the root level of beliefs and norms—the modern mythic story—threats, like climate change, will only become worse. This stage-setting part is followed by an introduction to the main themes of the book: the errors embedded in the cultural structure of Western modernity; the source of those errors; and a way to escape and begin a move toward flourishing. The divided-brain model of Iain McGilchrist is introduced as a principal causal factor in creating the pathologies of modern Western cultures. The primary argument, that only a shift to the concept of “flourishing” as the basic, root level societal and individual vision has the power to re-create a world that can be sustained and enable all life to reach its potential, is introduced. The chapter ends with a summary of the structure of the book. This book follows and deepens the arguments made in my earlier two books. Like them, this book is not just another handbook about sustainability and eco-efficiency.
