MORE FROM LESS

Everyone knows we re doomed by runaway overpopulation pollution or resource depletion whichever comes first Not only is this view paralysing and fatalistic but as Andrew McAfee shows in this exhilarating book it s wrong More from Less is fascinating enjoyable to read and tremendously empowering Steven Pinker Bestselling author and co director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy Andrew McAfee says there s a new reason for optimism we re past the point of peak stuff from here on out it ll take fewer resources to make things and cost less to lead a comfortable life This turn of events invalidates the predictions of overpopulation alarmists and those who argue we need to drastically reduce our conception of how much is enough What has made this turnabout possible One thing primarily the collaboration between technology and capitalism Capitalism s quest for higher profits is a quest for lower costs materials and resources are expensive and technological progress allows companies to use fewer of them even as they grow their markets Modern smartphones take the place of cameras GPS units landline telephones answering machines tape recorders and alarm clocks Precision agriculture lets farmers harvest larger crops while using less wate