Humanity faces multiple sustainability crises in the 21st century, particularly with regard to the environment, energy, the economy, and equity—the “E4” crises. In this reader we’ve brought together leading scholars, scientists, and activists to explore: the depth and complexity of the challenges modern industrial society faces in the 21st century; the history and science behind our responses to these challenges so far (namely sustainability and resilience); and building resilience at the community level as a response to the complexity of our challenges and the context of our political and economic systems.

Daniel Lerch

Reposted from the Post Carbon Institute.

National and global efforts have failed to stop climate change, transition from fossil fuels, and reduce inequality. We must now confront these and other increasingly complex problems by building resilience at the community level. The Community Resilience Reader combines a fresh look at the challenges humanity faces in the 21st century, the essential tools of resilience science, and the wisdom of activists, scholars, and analysts working with community issues on the ground. It shows that resilience is a process, not a goal; that resilience requires learning to adapt but also preparing to transform; and that resilience starts and ends with the people living in a community.

From the producers of the award-winning The Post Carbon Reader(2010), The Community Resilience Reader is a valuable resource for students, community leaders, and concerned citizens.

Contributing authors: Leena Iyengar, Richard Heinberg, Josh Farley, Chuck Collins & Sarah Byrnes, Bill Rees, Howard Silverman, Margaret Robertson, Brian Walker & David Salt, Stephanie Mills, Denise Fairchild & Al Weinrub, Rebecca Wodder, Scott Sawyer, Bill Throop, Rosemary Cooper, Mike Lydon, Daniel Lerch, Asher Miller

Praise for The Community Resilience Reader

“The Post Carbon Institute does not disappoint with The Community Resilience Reader. The book offers a wealth of ideas and examples for building community resilience in all aspects of society. Post Carbon Institute offers views that may be considered radical to many—but that’s their approach, and I love it. I wholeheartedly believe my undergraduate students will greatly benefit from The Community Resilience Reader as I have.”

— Ann Scheerer, Academic Adviser, Sustainability Double Degree Program, Oregon State University

“Daniel Lerch and others have created a comprehensive, informative, and practical guidebook for advancing our transition into the Anthropocene. The authors address at once the foundational concepts of sustainability and resilience, while providing a call to action for communities worldwide to work together and prepare for the epoch transition upon us.”

— Vivek Shandas, Professor, Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University

“Daniel Lerch and the team at the Post Carbon Institute have done it again. This collection of authors digs deeply into the topics of global carrying capacity, economics, community, ecology, energy, and other resilience-related themes. Building on the success of the 2010 Post Carbon Reader and other publications produced by the Post Carbon Institute, this new book is a resource I will use in some of my advanced undergraduate courses. I will also recommend it to local decision makers who are trying to find ways to guide their own communities forward in a positive direction. Each chapter is nutrient dense and leads the reader to think deeply about our current operating procedures on planet earth and the need for profound change.”

— Steve Whitman, adjunct faculty in community planning and sustainability at Plymouth State University and Colby Sawyer College

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