The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
In this work of speculative fiction, set in the near-future, a devastating heatwave in India serves as a wake-up call to a world in denial about the looming threat of climate change. 🌡️
Despite the dramatic start, we found it hard to connect with the characters and plotline, and weren’t clear about the author’s intentions and target audience, which made the book heavy-going. Nevertheless, the many important themes raised by the book provided plenty of context for a rich discussion.
The book highlights that we already possess much of the technology to combat climate change; the real challenges lie in politics, economics, sociology, and psychology.
Many of these challenges boil down to ethical questions that transcend time and borders—how will today's decisions impact future generations?
👉This adds an additional dimension to topics like representation and equity. The book makes a compelling case for the importance of these topics in creating a legitimate and just future that we can work towards collectively.
In the meantime, the inertia in our current political and economic systems risks creating the conditions for extreme measures (violence, intimidation, corruption, etc.) from both advocates for change and defenders of the status quo. 🔄
And the book didn't delve into the climate situation’s potential to add more fuel to the rise of populism, nationalism, and widespread civil unrest (and their geopolitical implications). 🌐
My greatest takeaway from this book is how intertwined climate change is with economics, politics, sociology, and psychology. A narrow focus on "climate" is not enough. 👉 We must work across ALL of these domains in order to build a future we will be proud to leave to our great-grandchildren.
This will be hugely challenging, with uncomfortable trade-offs requiring a heavy dose of pragmatism and masses of good will, especially amongst those in leadership positions. I can think of few things more important—let's get to work!
With thanks to Reem Akl, Debra Broadhurst 💎 and Pete Trainor for creating a brilliant dynamic in which to explore these topics.
What's your favourite climate-related book? Share your thoughts below! 👇
In our upcoming meetings, we'll explore economic systems further with "Doughnut Economics" by Kate Raworth and delve into the impact of modern society's values with "The Myth of Normal" by Gabor Mate. Stay tuned for more enriching discussions! 📚💡
hashtag#BookClubDiscussion hashtag#ClimateChange #FutureChallenges#Sustainability hashtag#EngageWithBooks
For further exploration: Reviews - https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/of-course-they-would-on-kim-stanley-robinsons-the-ministry-for-the-future/ - https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-Ministry-for-the-Future https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-ministry-for-the-future-interview-kim-stanley-robinson-1101738/ - https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-ministry-for-the-future-interview-kim-stanley-robinson-1101738/
Podcast with the author (not directly talking about the book) - https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-ezra-klein-show-2/episode/best-of-a-weird-wonderful-conversation-with-kim-stanley-robinson-303146043