Graceful Simplicity: The Philosophy and Politics of the Alternative American Dream"Graceful Simplicity is a marvelously textured analysis of the elusive ideal of simple living. For those eager to find a way to get off the 'more is better' treadmill, Jerome Segal offers insight and hope…. A must read."—David Shi, author of The Simple Life "Segal articulates a message that is both revolutionary and just plain sensible—consume less and take time to enjoy life more. He rescues us from a consumerism gone haywire without advocating isolationism. In a new and better way we are still our brother's keeper."—Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work "Segal wants a political movement to create a functioning public sector, complete with universal health insurance and a sturdy safety net. Numerous and powerful interest groups will fight such reforms with bitter determination. But what could provide a better source of drama and adventure than the struggle to make the simpler life a viable option for all?"—Barbara Ehrenreich, Civilization |
Contents
The Money We Need | 45 |
The Politics of Simplicity | 73 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 119 |
CHAPTER | 159 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 180 |
CHAPTER EIGHT | 200 |
CHAPTER NINE | 214 |
CHAPTER | 228 |
CONCLUSION | 234 |
Economic Life for the Twentyfirst Century | 247 |
NOTES | 253 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieved activity aesthetic American American Dream ancient argue Aristotle attained beauty Bernard Mandeville better capita central century Condorcet consumer Consumer Expenditure Survey core economic needs cost desires Duauf earn emerges Epictetus Epicurean Epicurus expenditures family income friends Garden give graceful existence graceful living graceful simplicity growth household housing human Ibid idea of progress Iliad important increase individual instance issue John Woolman labor leisure less limited live gracefully Mandeville married couple families matter means nomic one's opulence ourselves percent perhaps personal services perspective pleasure politics of simplicity poor possible poverty problem productivity rabbits realm relationship religious respect rich schools seek Seneca sense simple living social society someone spending Stoic Stoicism technologies things Thoreau Thucydides tion transformation vision wealth well-being