short history progress short history progress non fiction book lecture series societal collapse lectures delivered series speeches taking place different cities canada broadcast program ideas book version published released time lectures book spent year canadian best seller lists won year nominated british_columbia canadian non fiction reprinted hardcover format illustrations wright author fiction non fiction works uses fallen rome maya examples stone age conditions led downfall societies examines meaning progress implications past present arguing twentieth century time runaway growth human population consumption technology placed burden natural systems analysis cases fallen notes failed natural resources unable failed ecological demand highest left remnant populations survived asks question destroy overall experiment civilization answer says look natural regeneration human migration wright ancient failing rising large planet unsettled factor evident egypt china abundant resources farming methods ones worked natural cycles settlement patterns greater longevity changes brought growth human population time book publication billion adding million people years worldwide scale resource consumption altered picture ecological markers indicate human civilization surpassed 1980s nature capacity regeneration nature yearly output civilization survive live interest capital nature concludes chance future right collapse human civilization imminent act prevent background prior selected deliver wright written award winning fiction non fiction books deal non fiction book stolen continents new world indian eyes awarded novel scientific romance museum curator travels future investigates fate human race won david prize fiction time wright traces origins ideas short history progress material studied writing scientific romance essay globe_and_mail titled civilization pyramid scheme fall ninth century synopsis chapter questions poses questions provide framework book referring painting questions come going wright defines progress victorian terms assumption pattern change exists history mankind consists changes direction direction improvement despite extended time span stone age wright places sign progress ability create fire competition examined respect conditions allowed compete second chapter great experiment continues examination progress looking hunting wright uses term progress trap refer innovations create new problems society unable unwilling solve inadvertently create conditions worse existed innovation example innovations hunting stone age allowed successful hunts consequently free time culture art created cave paintings bone carvings etc led notably smaller smaller game hunted replace larger extinct animals hunts successful culture declined agriculture subsequently independently arising multiple regions time years ago indicates wright given certain broad conditions human societies greater size complexity environmental demand chapter title refers human experience wright sees large experiment testing conditions required human succeed chapter paradise rise fall examined flourished collapsed result resource able visually land eroded unwilling reform logging order erect statues build boats destroyed ecosystem led wars wood island large irrigation system grazing land clearing lime burning led soil fourth chapter roman compared peaked ended power periphery center collapsed ultra conservative leadership refused explanation fall invoked complex systems inevitably diminishing returns costs operating empire high alternatives implemented examples sustainable described china egypt abundance resources particularly farming methods worked natural cycles settlement patterns exceed permanently damage carrying capacity local environment final chapter rebellion tools seeks answer final question going applying past examples modern society technological engineering potential progress traps global scale modern society means societal collapse impact mankind wright sees needed reforms blocked interests reject multi lateral organisations support economics transfers power corporations leading social environmental led collapse previous necessary reforms wright view blocked interests hostile change including american market wright concludes present behaviour typical failed societies greed arrogance calls shift long term thinking style contents book originally written delivered set speeches speech presented book chapter writing reflects wright style use high rhetoric notes wright uses lay preacher wright takes broad philosophical approach focusing individual people specific politics religions focusing including masses wright tone described rarely depressing remains surprisingly upbeat entertaining use word progress intended ironic viewed technological social advancement historical narratives provides led fall wright coins term progress trap describe phenomenon turning comparisons book collapse societies choose fail succeed cover similar subject matter cautious problem solving approach come similar conclusions writing philosophy professor notes written diamond includes examples societies achieved centuries wright stronger grasp dark human nature like author journalist described collapse slow rich feast compact short history progress arrow powerful bow lyric heart human behaviour publication reception book published released time lectures delivered early november lecture given wright following cities ottawa halifax toronto recording broadcast week november book named annual awards short listed annual hardcover edition title released print run copies globe_and_mail canadian author praised book calling important use printed word post consumer recycled seen years ago roberts explains wright firm grasp goal scarcely word feel read volumes density wright thoughts crushing weight burden carry prose evocative precise hand review gave negative review wright having clue economies work fundamental nature markets moral sustainable foster ended review insulting wright intellect needs psychological excavation mind carries set inflated emotionally based assumptions derived structure primitive ignorance markets economics reviews encouraging magazine wrote elegant learned discussion topic review times said account written incredible touch issues montreal gazette called wright book brief essay magazine said wright remarkably gifted talent makes facts generates hunger commented short history progress important crafted book promise change life film film rights sold filmed documentary directed directed producers producer attached project executive producer film premiered toronto international film festival shown march paris france book focused ancient majority film addresses environmental impacts current global civilization including impact concentrating wealth hands financial class filmed mixture interviews individuals wright interspersed striking footage world gave interview early challenges adapting book film
A Short History of Progress