Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World

The planet faces an ecological crisis that requires fundamental change. Jason Hickel argues that degrowth—reducing economic output to align with planetary limits—offers a path toward sustainability and a thriving society for all. Less is More examines ecological breakdown and the economic system driving it, tracing capitalism's development over five centuries. Hickel contends that conventional approaches like green growth cannot prevent climate breakdown, and that recovering the commons while decolonizing nature, cultures, and humanity are necessary for a sustainable future. The book spans academic disciplines and connects historical and contemporary events to show how economic systems can be brought back into balance with the living world. Hickel presents both an analysis of systemic flaws and the cultural beliefs underlying them, offering practical tools for imagining and building an alternative economic model.