Blog Archives
Humanity’s Economic Laws
Waterhole Economies re-imagines economic success through the survival-based, ecosystem-conscious lifeways of hunter-gatherers while exposing how profit, surplus, and endless growth can turn modern economies into engines of collapse. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because human survival, the goal and outcome of pre-agriculture Hunter-Gatherer economies, is no longer the goal and outcome of modern human economies as it was for those 290,000 years of our species’ existence that preceded the Neolithic Revolution and the adoption of agriculture.
Hence, this book focuses on humanity’s post-Neolithic economic choices and how these might well turn out to be de facto choices to go extinct.
Humans must choose to either return to the survival-driven life-ways that enabled humanity’s collapse-free economic existence, or continue its current life-ways and risk extinction.
What first inspired you to use the waterhole as the central image for the book’s economic and ecological arguments?
This is a book about human survival,and that survival model began and took shape around the waterhole.
Waterholes were often the primary sources, if not the only sources of water, and hence were indispensable to all species’ survival – predator and prey alike.
While all species needed to quench their thirst to survive, they also needed to learn that they must be willing to share this indispensable resource with other species in need. It forced species, predator and prey alike, to co-exist, and that to survive they must be willing to share, to live and let live – a survival metaphor modern humanity has long abandoned.
From an economic perspective, though indispensable for survival, waterholes were freely available to all species – from the industrious dung beetle to the massive elephant – from those who merely needed a sip to those who needed multiple gallons at a time.
We learn that products and services that are essential for life and survival (food sources, water, sunshine, oxygen, as well as airconditioning in these scorching days, while they would be in high demand, were never intended to be governed by humanity’s economic laws of supply and demand, nor have their availability manipulated by pricing mechanisms – but rather were intended to be freely available and shared, not monopolized by any single species as is commonplace among modern human economic systems.
Here is where the economic principles of the market, demand and supply, fall apart. The economics of the waterhole leaves no room for the economics of Adam Smith et al.
Today, modern human economies utilize resource scarcity to manipulate demand and supply, as is being done with petroleum products. On the contrary, the economics of the waterhole taught species that sharing enabled survival, whereas hoarding drove economic collapse and death.
Hence our pre-agriculture hunter-gatherer forebears learned that freely sharing the Earth’s resources enabled theirs, as well as all Earth-life species’ survival.
How can modern societies adopt the principles of sharing, restraint, and coexistence without romanticizing hunter-gatherer life?
The principles of sharing, restraint, and coexistence, though practiced by hunter-gatherers more than likely may not have begun entirely with them.
Rather, these life-ways were more than likely practiced by other Earth-life species, the majority of whom predated humanity.
Humans then were the Johnny-come-latelys, and more than likely, adopted most of these life-ways from other biodiversity species that predated them. So romanticizing Hunter-gatherer life might well be little more than humanity crowing for the home team.
Modern humans can also adopt these life-ways by imitating their pre-agriculture hunter-gatherer forebears, the way they, more than likely, imitated the life-ways of other earth-life species that preceded them.
Which present-day economic practice do you believe poses the greatest threat to long-term human survival?
Farming to grow food and burning fossil fuels to generate energy pose the greatest threats.
Farming and agriculture began soon after the Neolithic Revolution and have become one of the greatest threats to human survival. To adopt agriculture was to declare war on nature, on Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity that comprise the very foundations of life, and has led to the extinction of innumerable Earth-life species.
Similarly, the use of fossil fuels as an energy source generates greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that trap and enable the buildup of heat in Earth’s atmosphere- which, in turn, is driving global warming and potentially human extinction.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Ninety-seven percent of the time Homo sapiens lived on Earth, or until about 12,000 years ago, all peoples were foragers of wild food, living a type of subsistence lifestyle in economies that relied on hunting and fishing animals, foraging for wild vegetation and other nutrients, and converging around waterholes to slake their thirst. Their economies required a daily pursuit and collection of wild foods to make a living, collecting numerous species over whose reproduction and sustenance they had no control.
And yet, they were the only human economies that persisted without collapse for 97 percent of our species’ existence, and somehow managed to do so for those 290,000 years mostly without ravaging the planet’s habitats and ecosystems and destroying its biodiversity, nor threatening the pre-agriculture hunter-gatherer societies that relied upon them to make a living, with risks of a potential extinction the way twenty-first century economies are threatening humans today.
It bears asking (don’t you think?): Is there something our pre-agriculture hunter-gatherer forebears knew about how to make a living and survive on this Earth, without destroying its ecosystems and biodiversity, that Neolithic Revolution through twenty-first century humans, notwithstanding all our accumulated knowledge, science, technologies, innovations, and supposed superiority – still don’t get? Clearly, the answer must be yes. But what?
Join me in exploring what modern humans may have forgotten.
It’s NOT Just About Money
The Leader Connection – The Foundation dives deep into the human side of leadership, covering topics like empathy, communication, adaptability, and the nuances of eight distinct leadership styles, as well as providing actionable strategies for leaders. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Observing the current discussions and insights about labor, staffing shortages, and turnover, I felt compelled to share my journey and passion with a broader audience.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about leadership and employee connection?
It’s only about the money!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
1. Understand Your Leadership Style
2. The Importance of Your Role in Building Connections and Enhancing Culture
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Leader Connection – The Foundation?
The book serves as a crucial resource for both novice and seasoned leaders, offering valuable insights to help achieve success.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
THE LEADER CONNECTION
The book dives deep into the human side of leadership. It is part reflection and part manual, weaving together Parker’s personal journey with practical advice. He covers empathy, communication, adaptability, and the nuances of eight distinct leadership styles. The core message is clear. Leadership is not about authority. It is about building trust, connection, and growth within a team. Through stories, frameworks, and exercises, Parker paints a picture of leadership as a living relationship between people rather than a system of control.
Reading this, I felt drawn to Parker’s honesty. He doesn’t pretend to have been a perfect leader, and that humility makes the lessons hit harder. The mix of memoir and guide felt refreshing. Some moments, especially when he shared about his father, his son, or his own missteps, carried a warmth that made me pause. The book sometimes lists traits and challenges like lecture notes. The sincerity behind it kept me engaged, and I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with bosses who inspired connection versus those who drained it.
What stood out most for me was how personal and vulnerable his approach is. I appreciated the balance between theory and story. The chapters on servant leadership and authentic leadership especially struck a chord. They reminded me that good leadership often looks less like grand gestures and more like quiet acts of service. It reads like someone thinking aloud after a long career, eager to pass on everything they’ve learned.
I would recommend The Leader Connection to managers who are tired of dry business texts and want something more human. It’s also a good pick for anyone stepping into leadership for the first time and looking for guidance that feels grounded rather than academic. Parker doesn’t promise easy answers. What he offers instead is a lived-in, heartfelt reminder that leadership is about people, and that connection is what makes the work worthwhile.
Pages: 186 | ASIN : B0FN1VV122
Solving Global Warming Will Kill the Fossil Fuel Industry
Thomas Miezejeski’s Solving Global Warming Will Kill the Fossil Fuel Industry is an urgent and thorough exploration of what happens when one of the world’s most powerful industries meets its inevitable decline. The book isn’t just about climate change; it’s about the economic, social, and geopolitical tremors that will follow the fall of fossil fuels. Miezejeski takes readers through the science of energy, the history of industrialization, and the strategies that oil and gas companies are using to cling to relevance. This is more than just a warning; it’s a deep dive into a global transformation already in motion.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its blunt honesty. Miezejeski doesn’t waste time trying to convince skeptics that climate change is real; instead, he assumes his audience is already past that debate. Instead, he focuses on the massive fallout that will occur as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. The opening chapter sets the tone with a stark analogy: global warming is a storm that we can’t stop, but we can prepare for. This sense of urgency keeps the book engaging, making it clear that the demise of the fossil fuel industry won’t be neat or painless. When he details the economic impact on countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela, it’s hard not to feel a little anxious about the future.
Miezejeski also does a fantastic job of connecting technological change to economic collapse. His comparison of the fall of the fossil fuel industry to the obsolescence of typewriters is one of the most effective parts of the book. Companies like Smith Corona, once giants in their field, failed to adapt when computers took over, and they disappeared almost overnight. The fossil fuel industry, he argues, is on the same trajectory, and history suggests they won’t go down without a fight. The book describes how energy companies are scrambling to diversify into renewables, invest in carbon capture, and rebrand themselves as environmentally friendly. It’s fascinating but also a little depressing; these efforts seem more like delaying tactics than genuine solutions.
Miezejeski does acknowledge the positive impact that fossil fuels have had on society. He credits them with powering the Industrial Revolution and enabling modern civilization. But he doesn’t let nostalgia cloud his judgment. He’s clear that the future belongs to renewable energy, and the longer we delay the transition, the worse the economic and environmental damage will be. His chapter on the costs of global warming over the next 25 years is particularly sobering, breaking down losses in agriculture, health, biodiversity, and even tourism. The numbers are staggering, and they drive home the point that inaction is not an option.
Solving Global Warming Will Kill the Fossil Fuel Industry is a must-read for those who want to go beyond the basics of climate change and understand the larger, messier, and more politically charged reality of the energy transition. Policymakers, business leaders, and anyone curious about the future of energy will find this book an eye-opener. Miezejeski’s thorough research and compelling historical comparisons make this a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.
Pages: 241 | ASIN : B0DMQFG4LS
Supercharging Sustainability: A Big-Picture Overview of ESG 2.0 and Sustainable Finance
As the global environmental crisis deepens daily, the need to integrate sustainable practices into everyday life and business operations becomes increasingly pressing. Achieving sustainability is a multifaceted challenge that demands expert guidance and strategic planning. Bjarni Herrera’s Supercharging Sustainability serves as an essential guide in this arena, particularly focusing on sustainable finance. Herrera demystifies the expansive subject of sustainability with clarity and precision. He argues that a company can more easily model its operations sustainably by aligning with current global realities. Given the complexity and potential frustrations of pursuing sustainability, this book becomes an invaluable resource. It acts as a navigational tool for professionals in the corporate and finance sectors, providing a detailed and comprehensive roadmap for implementing sustainability.
Supercharging Sustainability is rich in practical insights and presents clear, actionable ideas tailored to specific scenarios while maintaining a broad perspective. Herrera’s extensive knowledge and hands-on experience are evident throughout, making complex concepts accessible and digestible. His long-standing dedication to sustainability is reflected in his authoritative and skilled presentation of the topic, supported by thorough research and real-world examples. These examples equip readers with the necessary tools to effectively apply sustainability practices within their organizations. Herrera ensures that the subject matter is accessible without sacrificing depth or thoroughness. Although the book’s comprehensive coverage may initially seem daunting, it rewards readers who engage with its content thoughtfully and methodically. This book equips readers with a deep well of knowledge, enhancing their understanding of sustainable finance and offering practical examples and straightforward writing to aid their learning process. It functions almost like a textbook, both inspiring action toward global sustainability goals and providing clear directions on how to achieve them.
Bjarni Herrera’s approach and expertise make Supercharging Sustainability a near masterclass in the field. This book is an excellent starting point for understanding sustainability and devising effective strategies for sustainable business practices.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0D4JFJHZZ
