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Revision as of 13:43, 9 August 2012 editJbghewer (talk | contribs)203 edits There was outdated information that needed to be fixed (professor at Waterloo), and I felt the infobox was harmless. I acknowledge the fact that I am a research assistant to Homer-Dixon← Previous edit Latest revision as of 13:51, 30 March 2024 edit undoCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,460,240 edits Added bibcode. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Spinixster | Category:Random House books | #UCB_Category 507/710 
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{{Short description|2006 book by Thomas Homer-Dixon}}
{{Infobox Book <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Books --> {{Infobox book <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization | name = The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization
| image = ] | image = 'The Upside of Down' book cover.jpg
| image_caption = | caption =
| author = ] | author = ]
| illustrator = | illustrator =
Line 12: Line 13:
| media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback) | media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
| pages = 448 pp. | pages = 448 pp.
| isbn = ISBN 0-676-97722-7 (10) & ISBN 978-0-676-97722-6 (13) | isbn = 978-0-676-97722-6
| dewey = 909.83 | dewey = 909.83
| congress = HC79.E5 H66 2006 | congress = HC79.E5 H66 2006
}} }}


'''''The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization''''' (ISBN 0-676-97722-7) is a ] ] published in 2006 by ], a professor at the ]. '''''The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization''''' ({{ISBN|0-676-97722-7}}) is a ] ] published in 2006 by ], a professor who at the time was the director of the ] at ].


The book sets out a theory of the growth, crisis, and renewal of societies. The world's converging energy, environmental, and political stresses could cause a breakdown of national and global order. Yet there are things we can do now to keep such a breakdown from being catastrophic. And some kinds of breakdown could even open up extraordinary opportunities for creative, bold reform of our societies, if we are prepared to exploit these opportunities when they arise.<ref name=abstract>{{cite web|url=http://www.theupsideofdown.com/theargument.html|title=The Argument|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf Canada||accessdate=2006-11-20}}</ref> The book sets out a theory of the growth, crisis, and renewal of societies. The world's converging energy, environmental, and political stresses could cause a breakdown of national and global order. Yet there are things we can do now to keep such a breakdown from being catastrophic. And some kinds of breakdown could even open up extraordinary opportunities for creative, bold reform of our societies, if we are prepared to exploit these opportunities when they arise.<ref name=abstract>{{cite web|url=https://homerdixon.com/writing/books/the-upside-of-down/|title=The Upside of Down|website=Thomas Homer-Dixon|accessdate=2020-09-17}}</ref>


==Content and style==
⚫ ==References==

⚫ {{reflist}}
The prologue of the book provides an overview of the main argument. It begins in San Francisco during the great 1906 fire that destroyed the city, then moves on to Rome, 2003, with some reflections on the remnants of a once powerful global empire. The prologue finishes with a perilously fast car ride along unfamiliar country roads in dense fog. These three seemingly unrelated accounts illustrate the basic premises of the book: our fate is uncertain, unpredictable devastation can happen at any time, and even the mightiest societies are susceptible to failure due to a variety of complex factors, but there is the hope of ''catagenesis''—"renewal through breakdown."<ref>For the author's explanation of his use of the term, see paragraph 2 of the section 'From Crash to Creativity' in chapter 1 of ''The Upside of Down''.</ref>

The ensuing twelve chapters expand on these theories, using many examples from general knowledge to maintain the book's accessibility and common understanding. Through this technique some very complex ideas and crucial terminology are introduced. In chapter one, for instance, we have the explanation of the "tectonic stresses"<ref>For an explanation of the author's comparison of the nature of earthquakes to what could happen in our society, see ''The Upside of Down'', chapter 5.</ref> which could bring down society as we know it if "synchronous failure" were to occur.<ref>'Synchronous failure' is defined and illustrated in chapter 5 of ''The Upside of Down'' in the section 'Synchronous Failure'.</ref> There is also reference to the "prospective mind", the quality required to help prevent/solve such crises.

==Release and reception==

The book was released as a hardcover in Canada on October 31, 2006, by publisher ] and as paperback, in 2007, under the Vintage Canada imprint. It was published by ] in the United States, ] in the United Kingdom and by ] in Australia. To promote the book, Homer-Dixon went on a 22-city book tour,<ref>{{cite news |title=They call him DOOM; His first book gave him his reputation. His new book solidified it. |last= Dinka |first=Nicholas |newspaper=The Guelph Mercury |location=Guelph, Ontario |date=December 23, 2006 |page=E1}}</ref> with events in Vancouver,<ref>{{cite news |title=Books |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |location=Vancouver, BC |date=November 4, 2006 |page=C8}}</ref> Victoria,<ref>{{cite news |title=Go! Calendar |newspaper=] |location=Victoria, BC |date=November 9, 2006 |page= D11}}</ref> Calgary,<ref>{{ cite news |title=Literature |newspaper=Calgary Herald |location=Calgary, Alberta |date=September 8, 2006 |page=SW50}}</ref> Hamilton,<ref>{{cite news |title=Books and Authors |newspaper=The Spectator |location=Hamilton, Ontario |date=October 28, 2006 |page=D11}}</ref> and an interview on ]'s '']''.<ref>Interview with ] on the ] show ], January 5, 2007.</ref> The book reached number one on the '']'' non-fiction bestsellers list<ref> of November 9, 2006 edition.</ref> and peaked at number five on '']'' list.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bestsellers |newspaper=] |location=Toronto, Ontario |date=December 2, 2006 |page=D32}}</ref> The book was awarded the 2007 ]<ref>{{cite news |title=Finally, there is some good news coming from the field of civilizational catastrophe |newspaper=National Post |location=Don Mills, Ontario |date=May 15, 2007 |page=AL3}}</ref> and a Gold Award from '']''.<ref></ref> In 2007, the book was named a best book for 2007 in the politics and religion category by the '']''.<ref>, see Politics and Religion section.</ref>

Reviewers found the writing clear and accessible, even though the content was not specifically new. Writing in '']'', political philosopher ] called it a "clear and accessible overview" though "none of this is particularly new".<ref name=Kymlicka>{{cite news |title=Panarchy and dystopia |last=Kymlicka |first= Will |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto, Ontario |date=November 11, 2006 |page=D.8}}</ref> Similarly, Harold Heft in '']'' called Homer-Dixon a "master compiler" of information covered in magazines such as '']'' or '']''.<ref name=Heft>{{cite news |title=Catastrophe as catalyst |last=Heft |first=Harold |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal, Quebec |date= November 4, 2006 |page=J3}}</ref> In the ], the reviewer noted, "Although none of the stresses Homer-Dixon speaks about are news, it is very rare to have all of them so deftly assembled and correlated."<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization |last=Clark |first= Michael |journal=Quill & Quire |date=December 2006 |volume= 72 |issue=10 |page=34}}</ref> In the '']'', the reviewer wrote that there "wasn't much in the book that I hadn't read in similarly themed books and articles, but Homer-Dixon's sheer thoroughness and level-headed tone somehow shredded the veil of ]".<ref>{{cite news |title=We're headed somewhere in a handcart; Pick your poison |last= Grainger |first= James |newspaper =] |location=Toronto, Ontario |date=November 5, 2006 |page=D5}}</ref>

The book also received positive reviews, noting the quality of the writing, in '']'', '']'', and ''Environment''.<ref>"Part of the strength of the book is the fact that it's written in an extremely readable, compelling way-," John McGrath, '']'' magazine (July 24, 2007).</ref><ref>Hughes, Jon. '']'' (Sunday, July 1, 2007) p. 97.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Books of Note |journal= Environment |date=July 2007 |volume=49 |issue= 6 |page=44 |first=Graham |last=Turner |doi=10.3200/envt.49.6.44-45|bibcode= 2007ESPSD..49f..44. |s2cid= 218496365 }}</ref> Barbara Julian of the '']'' also addresses the issue of the seeming dearth of solutions in the book and rounds out the argument when she writes in her review: "Every resident of the planet should be capable of joining the discussion about remedies. Thomas Homer-Dixon does his part in providing entry points for readers who are interested, in the form of research sources and websites to consult and to communicate through, including his own."<ref>Julian, Barbara. "Exploration of Catastrophe and Creativity", ''The Victoria Times Colonist'' (November 12, 2006).</ref> Providing a summary, ] wrote in '']'': "Homer-Dixon offers a striking vision of how to confront the world of risk and uncertainty, calling for 'resilience-enhancing' strategies that protect food—and energy—supply networks and that can better cope with surprise."<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization |last=Ikenberry |first=John |journal=Foreign Affairs |date=Jan–Feb 2007 |volume= 86 |issue=1 |pages=156–157}}</ref>

Several reviewers identified the book's ending as its weakness. Kymlicka wrote that "his discussion of what we should do in response to these challenges... disappointing".<ref name=Kymlicka/> Heft wrote that the book's weakness was in guessing what Heft called "fictional doomsday scenario" because there are ultimately "an infinite number of possible destinies".<ref name=Heft/>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]

⚫ ==References==
⚫ {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
* *
* of ] in Los Angeles, March 24, 2009
* at the ], November 2009


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Upside of Down}}
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 13:51, 30 March 2024

2006 book by Thomas Homer-Dixon
The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization
AuthorThomas Homer-Dixon
GenreNon-fiction, Political Science, Social Science
PublisherRandom House Canada
Publication dateOctober 2006
Media typePrint (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages448 pp.
ISBN978-0-676-97722-6
Dewey Decimal909.83
LC ClassHC79.E5 H66 2006

The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization (ISBN 0-676-97722-7) is a non-fiction book published in 2006 by Thomas Homer-Dixon, a professor who at the time was the director of the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at University of Toronto.

The book sets out a theory of the growth, crisis, and renewal of societies. The world's converging energy, environmental, and political stresses could cause a breakdown of national and global order. Yet there are things we can do now to keep such a breakdown from being catastrophic. And some kinds of breakdown could even open up extraordinary opportunities for creative, bold reform of our societies, if we are prepared to exploit these opportunities when they arise.

Content and style

The prologue of the book provides an overview of the main argument. It begins in San Francisco during the great 1906 fire that destroyed the city, then moves on to Rome, 2003, with some reflections on the remnants of a once powerful global empire. The prologue finishes with a perilously fast car ride along unfamiliar country roads in dense fog. These three seemingly unrelated accounts illustrate the basic premises of the book: our fate is uncertain, unpredictable devastation can happen at any time, and even the mightiest societies are susceptible to failure due to a variety of complex factors, but there is the hope of catagenesis—"renewal through breakdown."

The ensuing twelve chapters expand on these theories, using many examples from general knowledge to maintain the book's accessibility and common understanding. Through this technique some very complex ideas and crucial terminology are introduced. In chapter one, for instance, we have the explanation of the "tectonic stresses" which could bring down society as we know it if "synchronous failure" were to occur. There is also reference to the "prospective mind", the quality required to help prevent/solve such crises.

Release and reception

The book was released as a hardcover in Canada on October 31, 2006, by publisher Random House of Canada and as paperback, in 2007, under the Vintage Canada imprint. It was published by Island Press in the United States, Souvenir Press in the United Kingdom and by Text Publishing in Australia. To promote the book, Homer-Dixon went on a 22-city book tour, with events in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Hamilton, and an interview on Fareed Zakaria's Foreign Exchange. The book reached number one on the Maclean's non-fiction bestsellers list and peaked at number five on The Globe and Mail list. The book was awarded the 2007 National Business Book Award and a Gold Award from ForeWord Magazine. In 2007, the book was named a best book for 2007 in the politics and religion category by the Financial Times.

Reviewers found the writing clear and accessible, even though the content was not specifically new. Writing in The Globe and Mail, political philosopher Will Kymlicka called it a "clear and accessible overview" though "none of this is particularly new". Similarly, Harold Heft in The Montreal Gazette called Homer-Dixon a "master compiler" of information covered in magazines such as The New Yorker or Harper's. In the Quill & Quire, the reviewer noted, "Although none of the stresses Homer-Dixon speaks about are news, it is very rare to have all of them so deftly assembled and correlated." In the Toronto Star, the reviewer wrote that there "wasn't much in the book that I hadn't read in similarly themed books and articles, but Homer-Dixon's sheer thoroughness and level-headed tone somehow shredded the veil of cognitive dissonance".

The book also received positive reviews, noting the quality of the writing, in Grist, The Ecologist, and Environment. Barbara Julian of the Victoria Times Colonist also addresses the issue of the seeming dearth of solutions in the book and rounds out the argument when she writes in her review: "Every resident of the planet should be capable of joining the discussion about remedies. Thomas Homer-Dixon does his part in providing entry points for readers who are interested, in the form of research sources and websites to consult and to communicate through, including his own." Providing a summary, John Ikenberry wrote in Foreign Affairs: "Homer-Dixon offers a striking vision of how to confront the world of risk and uncertainty, calling for 'resilience-enhancing' strategies that protect food—and energy—supply networks and that can better cope with surprise."

Several reviewers identified the book's ending as its weakness. Kymlicka wrote that "his discussion of what we should do in response to these challenges... disappointing". Heft wrote that the book's weakness was in guessing what Heft called "fictional doomsday scenario" because there are ultimately "an infinite number of possible destinies".

See also

References

  1. "The Upside of Down". Thomas Homer-Dixon. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  2. For the author's explanation of his use of the term, see paragraph 2 of the section 'From Crash to Creativity' in chapter 1 of The Upside of Down.
  3. For an explanation of the author's comparison of the nature of earthquakes to what could happen in our society, see The Upside of Down, chapter 5.
  4. 'Synchronous failure' is defined and illustrated in chapter 5 of The Upside of Down in the section 'Synchronous Failure'.
  5. Dinka, Nicholas (December 23, 2006). "They call him DOOM; His first book gave him his reputation. His new book solidified it". The Guelph Mercury. Guelph, Ontario. p. E1.
  6. "Books". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. November 4, 2006. p. C8.
  7. "Go! Calendar". Times Colonist. Victoria, BC. November 9, 2006. p. D11.
  8. "Literature". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. September 8, 2006. p. SW50.
  9. "Books and Authors". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ontario. October 28, 2006. p. D11.
  10. Interview with Fareed Zakaria on the PBS show Foreign Exchange, January 5, 2007.
  11. Maclean's Bestsellers list of November 9, 2006 edition.
  12. "Bestsellers". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. December 2, 2006. p. D32.
  13. "Finally, there is some good news coming from the field of civilizational catastrophe". National Post. Don Mills, Ontario. May 15, 2007. p. AL3.
  14. The Upside of Down wins business book award
  15. Financial Times Magazine Best Books of 2007, see Politics and Religion section.
  16. ^ Kymlicka, Will (November 11, 2006). "Panarchy and dystopia". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. p. D.8.
  17. ^ Heft, Harold (November 4, 2006). "Catastrophe as catalyst". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. p. J3.
  18. Clark, Michael (December 2006). "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization". Quill & Quire. 72 (10): 34.
  19. Grainger, James (November 5, 2006). "We're headed somewhere in a handcart; Pick your poison". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. p. D5.
  20. "Part of the strength of the book is the fact that it's written in an extremely readable, compelling way-," John McGrath, Grist magazine (July 24, 2007).
  21. Hughes, Jon. The Ecologist (Sunday, July 1, 2007) p. 97.
  22. Turner, Graham (July 2007). "Books of Note". Environment. 49 (6): 44. Bibcode:2007ESPSD..49f..44.. doi:10.3200/envt.49.6.44-45. S2CID 218496365.
  23. Julian, Barbara. "Exploration of Catastrophe and Creativity", The Victoria Times Colonist (November 12, 2006).
  24. Ikenberry, John (Jan–Feb 2007). "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization". Foreign Affairs. 86 (1): 156–157.

External links

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