The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Revised and Updated Third Edition: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late

This book will give you a fast tour of human history & even planet history. The conclusions are a bit startling, but not surprising. However, I was amazed at how concisely and eloquently Thom Hartmann managed to cover so much re the way humans have evolved through the thousands of years we have been here. As a student of anthropology I have to give Thom credit for packing so much easy to read and understand information into one relatively short book. If you have ever wondered how the world and it's people managed to get into the situation they are now in, this is probably one of the best books to read to help you understand, "What the heck happened?" This is not only an informative book, it is a practical book, in that it offers some solutions to many of the world's continuing problems. Although some might say that Thom is more optimistic than is warranted, considering the dimensions of the world's problems. And I certainly understand how some may say that, but I too share Thom's general optimism. The world is going thru 'a bad patch', (to put it mildly) and it can look a little dark & dismal at times. Like Thom, I do think there is a multi-faceted, dare I use the word 'awakening' going on. More of a remembrance, than anything new. (Nothing is new under the sun.) But the remembrance will definitely lead to a better and saner world if a sufficient number of people begin to understand, as Einstein said, "The world we have made, as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far, creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them." Which means we have to take a Leap into what looks like unknown territory, but turns out to be the only way out of the mistaken thinking which put us in this box that looks like it has No Exit. When in truth, there is an Exit, and Thom points the way out, at least one of the ways. Many people seem to be heading in the same positive direction, and they are coming from very diverse quarters, from widely varying backgrounds & perspectives. (And it does not take that many right-minded people to change the world significantly, although you may think otherwise?) Thom Hartmann is one of those people heading in a positive direction. He is a breath of fresh air in all the unrelenting bad news that is constantly bombarding our ears, and sometimes even our eyes. If you want a fresh point of view, I rec'd, "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight". It could change your life, or at least your outlook.

Thom Hartman is a prolific writer, researcher and public radio personality that some bracket as a dangerous ultra liberal in the current Either-Or political climate of the US. He is blessed, or cursed, with an ADHD energy and a wide spectrum of interests, and he has readers and listeners across the USA as well as the EU. This book deserves a careful, slow and respectful read by all ages as the world, and the US, negotiate a Perfect Storm composed of 1. The Boomer generation disappearing into retirement, nursing homes, Social Security and forgetfulness, 2. The rising distrust by a majority of many Western citizens, in particular, voters in the US, of the major political parties, 2. A rising conflagration of indebtedness at country, state and personal levels while the global 1%ers amass a feudal control over all aspects of our lives, 3. A global population of nearly 9 Billion migrating to safer lands, 4. A contraction amidst rising disintegration of international trading and 5. A deep sense that our consumption patterns are finally breaking the stability of our climate. The author writes (p. 373): "In 1936- years before America turned its attention to fighting fascism in Germany-Franklin D. Roosevelt was concerned about the rise of a corporate feudalism here in the United States. In a speech in Philadelphia on June 27, he said: " Out of this modern civilization economic royalists carved new dynasties. New kingdoms were built upon concentration of control over material things. Through new uses of corporations, banks and securities, new machinery of industry and agriculture, of labor and capital -all undreamed of by the Fathers-the whole structure of modern life was impressed into royal service." Roosevelt suggested that human nature may play a part in it all, but that didn't make it tolerable. "It was natural and perhaps human," he said, " that the privileged princes of these new economic dynasties, thirsting for power, reached out for control over government itself. : As a result, Roosevelt said, " the average man once more confronts the problem that faced the Minute Man." Republicans of the day lashed out in the press and on radio, charging that Roosevelt was anti-American, even Communist. The book was first published in 1998, just as President Clinton quietly delivered the abolishment of President Roosevelt's 1933 Banking Regulations, the Glass-Steagall Act, that eventually may have been the facilitating momentum behind the Global financial crash of 2007-8. The book has ben re-published in 1999, 2004 and in 2018. It may be the research basis all US voters could benefit from reading as the world and US voters prepare for the 2024 US Presidential elections. History appear to be ready to repeat many of the prideful events of the 1920-30 era in the 2020-30 era - as the Boomers continue to hang on to power with 80 year old candidates, instead of regrouping with the younger generation.

I have come to know Thom Hartmann from many hours spent with five of his books. All have been enjoyable and inspiring to read and very engaging in style and content. All have offered insight that is both original and compelling. Clearly, with all his writing, Hartmann's intention is to empower his readers and to encourage change that could really make a difference. THE LAST HOURS OF ANCIENT SUNLIGHT examines many of the critical environmental issues facing our Earth. Hartmann reflects thoughtfully on how human society has managed to get so seriously off the track and out of touch with the natural world. He looks at our dangerous dependence on rapidly diminishing global reserves of oil and shows how it will cause ecological ruin and could lead to human suffering on a scale never before seen if we fail to adopt a wiser course based on the use of clean, renewable forms of energy. Hartmann says, "the primary job of community is to provide safety and security for all of its citizens, and a context in which they can daily touch the sacred." What a wonderful thing it would be if we could all embrace this noble sentiment. THE LAST HOURS OF ANCIENT SUNLIGHT provides a clear roadmap that can help each of us find a path for living that is both sustainable and affirming of all life on our planet. THE LAST HOURS OF ANCIENT SUNLIGHT is one of the most important of all the books I have ever read. I bought eight copies and gave them to people I care about. Anyone who is troubled by what is happening to our world will find clarity and understanding and hope in this book. Read it, then buy copies to share with your relatives and friends. You'll be glad you did.

Very impressive broad stroke coverage of the root causes for earth’s destruction....the culture of winning, acquiring, mastering, conquering, and have MORE...all this is indelibly planted into the readers mind. In will well remember it. Unfortunately, the word “however” must once again raise its ugly head. Hartmann wants to give us a meaningful path to saving ourselves, not by technological solutions, or other managed extensions of the same take-control and let the good-times keep rolling, but rather by having each of us restore our original primal connection to the world. Thus, the book begins towards the ending chapters to veer towards meditation practices and less-is-more philosophies. I am sad to say, but I simply doubt it is realistic. Ain’t gonna happen. NFW. People are very seldom successful in meditation, less successful in constraining their focus on gratification, and absolutely abysmal at tolerating inconveniences. Shopping malls will not close. No one will give their cars unless there is no gas to drive them. Governments will do nothing more than token gestures like limiting this or that, but the root cause - people are not willing to embrace the original primal modes of life - is a fact we are just going to have to live, and yes probably also die with. I say Schopenhauer was the profit of human life. He saw that nature, as expressed by what he called the Will, has no teleology, no purpose for us, and is indifferent to our lives. It was certainly indifferent to all those fine dinosaurs getting on for millions of years, chomping peacefully on leaves and just hanging around the jungles minding their own business, and so it is indifferent (or perhaps even resentful now) to us intelligent apes. So sorry people, its not going to last. We’re going to blow it. Maybe it will be in 50 or 500 years, but its not going to last another 100,000 or million years....no way. So, feel good (or an 10% better as Dan Harris would advise) by doing your little part, change your own appreciation triggers, be ecological, plant trees, take a bicycle, recycle, stop buying junk you dont need, and breath in the remaining clean air left while we slowly extinguish this planet. New creatures will come after us...

This book is an amazing book, mainly for the reason of how eye opening it is. It can be used in almost any situation relating to our lives. I recommend you get many copies of this book and share it. Even if you only get some parts of the book use those some parts of the book. This book has actually made me laugh, think and surprisingly cry. Ive never done that in a book like this. Its an amazing thought. It has opened me to understand that im not the only one who wants others to think mercifully. I thought I was going crazy for talking to the sky the trees and blades of grass and respecting them. Apparently its something we should all do since we are not the only orgamisms on this planet. As a 16 year old ive wondered about many things in life and one of those relates to my main goal as an astrophysiscist ans why I should do it. This book has opened my eyes to understand that whats above us is an amazing thing to see and it opens us to understand the now. I only wish most teens my age would be able open up to the world and focus on the now, how we started etc. Not just what they need but what they enjoy, not only teens but everyone should. One time I was walking home from school and walked down a grassy hill rather than the stairs rjght next to it, a student reminded me that there were stair sright next to the hill so why dont I use it, I explained that I like to walk on what we started with and what we should respect not walk on something that has crushed and ignored it. I would love to explain all my experiences in life and thoughts but I feel its best that you read the book and think about yourself and those around you snd the nature around you.

This book must be shared with anyone you care about, anyone you love, and everyone you meet. While we can still breathe the air, drink fresh water, smell the flowers as we stroll and watch the sun rise in the east and the moon set in the west, we must turn off the TV and read for life now. Thom Hartman shares his knowledge, his experience and concern for our lives in a beautiful message with The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight. With all the conspiracy theories, lies, the chaos on news and challenges of trying to do the right thing in our daily lives to survive the weather and inflation we all need comfort to prepare. The future is here, decisions contemplated now could make all the difference for us and the we love.

Hartmann's view of our current way of life is stark, but undeniably true: the entire industrialized world has been built and sustained from carbon deposits that have been sitting underground for millions and millions of years. By coddling to the consumer's desire for the most comfortable way of life possible, big business, specifically oil companies, have successfully covered up the glaringly obvious: that our way of life is unsustainable, and that building up such a huge framework around a resource that is bound to dry up in the near future is insane. Because really, without a cheap source of energy, how can we possibly sustain a world economy that is insatiably looking to "grow?" Sure, anyone who is familiar with global warming, peak oil, supply and demand, tragedy of the commons etc. will have heard a lot of Hartmann's initial arguments before. But the most refreshing part of this book is his proposed solution. Rather than rely on alternative energy, or even just reducing our consumption, Hartmann calls for a new way of thinking, "new stories," as he so eloquently puts it. Why do we feel we need to live the lives we live? Because of the stories we've been told since we were children, that we're "Americans," that to be successful, we must consume the most, that we have to have the big house, the epic job, the law degree, the two cars, the ability to go out to eat several times a week or get drunk on the weekend. In short, we've been told so many selfish stories, that we don't realize how optimal it would be for us and the world around us to be altruistic and cooperative. It's easy for one to feel lost within the military-industrial complex and the selfish society, but Hartmann's book is one of the few out there which offers a practical solution to where we're headed as a species. I highly recommend it to anyone, and agree with the forward (or maybe it was the afterword...) which said that it should be gifted and re-gifted to as many people as possible.

This is absolutely the most intriguing book I have read in years!. Thom takes the very serious subject of environmental depletion and gives it his unique approach, describing how human societies have organized themselves over the millennia, and how each of these types of organizations has affected the environment as well as human culture. He suggests solutions to some of society's most pressing problems in a comfortable, easy to read, and very clear writing style which at the same time is precise and erudite. There is even some of his wry humor, but mostly it is an eye opening evaluation of where we are going and how we can save our planet and ourselves. Very highly recommended to every reader who is interested in history, sociology, earth science, anthropology or psychology!!

A real eye opener... Must read for everyone

Alles hat sehr gut geklappt von der Bestellung bis zur Lieferung, das Buch an sich ist sehr aufschlussreich und sollte ein Must-Have eines jeden Menschen sein, der sich für den Planeten Erde und alles was darauf lebt, interessiert

As usual, we are chased by something whitch we don't know exactly. I read some article almost 10 years ago that said atn the Shakspire days English were about one fifth of current English nown. What are we afraid of. All started million years ago. This book clearly challenge what's the truth and our time is very limited. Kohji

Fue un regalo y la persona en cuestión quedo bastante satisfecha con el libro y me pidió que lo recomendara ampliamente...

Interesting