—Bülent Gökay, International studies professor
Ancient gadgets and the myth of ever-increasing progress
New archeological findings of ancient axes in Africa provide a lesson in how we think about progress and cultural evolution
From Wikileaks or Saudi sheiks?
Why the world needs better data on oil, and how we might get it
Peak oil and our finite world; or, in praise of waste
Shortages won’t bring on a “Mad Max” world, Krugman argues—and we have our wasteful ways to thank for that
America is falling apart—and selling the pieces
Time to start looking for a prosperous way down, for ways of failing gracefully
Road to Serfdom: “right-wing crank” becomes best-seller
John Cassidy’s “How Markets Fail” explains how and why Hayek and his fellow free market advocates were cranks
Read: “Energy minister will hold summit to calm rising fears over peak oil”
The UK government and industry heads met to weigh up the risk of oil going into terminal decline, the Guardian reports
Read: “Is the global economy a Ponzi scheme?”
We’re using up the planet, “we’re targeting our own children and grandchildren.” Yep—it’s a Ponzi scheme
The Black Swan in everyday life
Betting against others’ ignorance can profit in the financial world, but what about in the brick-and-mortar world?
Read: “Far North”
an “eco-fi” novel by Marcel Theroux
