More of a thought piece than a book. It examines the fact that GDP growth and productivity may be overstated because (3) large areas of the economy (Government / Education & Healthcare) are growing fast but do not seem to be achieving improved results. Committing ever greater resources to areas that are not measurable and/or not resulting in improved outcomes leads to overall stagnation of the nation While the "low hanging fruit" lens is useful and accessible the author remains mired in the growth obsessed progress myth. Fossil fuels barely get a mention, though it has been the low hanging fruit responsible for the most economic growth and one that enabled the low hanging fruits of technology and education that the author highlights. Good soil in the highlighted "free land" is really stored sunlight, in other words, again it is energy availability underlying the experienced growth. Your time would be better spent reading Ophuls short "Immoderate Greatness" which puts a focus on biophysical realities and the moral arc of civilizations or Greer's "Not the Future We Ordered" which explores the psychology of the gap between the expectations of the narrative we are immersed in vs the reality we are experiencing.
quick read, interesting insights, keeps coming back when you look at the economic news.
—Fefe
This was a stimulating, though-provoking read. It's only 89 pages...read it!
—Tsd1999
I read this book on my phone. Amaaaazing.
—mandy
Excellent book
—Tyra
Very good.
—mizboss
