Buddhist Economics

An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science

De: Clair Brown PhD

Narrado por: Janet Metzger

Traditional economics measures the ways in which we spend our income, but doesn't attribute worth to the crucial human interactions that give our lives meaning.

Clair Brown, an economics professor at U.C. Berkeley and a practicing Buddhist, has developed a holistic model, one based on the notion that quality of life should be measured by more than national income. Brown advocates an approach to organizing the economy that embraces rather than skirts questions of values, sustainability, and equity. Complementing the award-winning work of Jeffrey Sachs and Bill McKibben, and the paradigm-breaking spirit of Amartya Sen, Robert Reich, and Thomas Piketty, Brown incorporates the Buddhist emphasis on interdependence, shared prosperity, and happiness into her vision for a sustainable and compassionate world.

Buddhist Economics leads us to think mindfully as we go about our daily activities, and offers a way to appreciate how our actions affect the well-being of those around us. By replacing the endless cycle of desire with more positive collective activities, we can make our lives more meaningful as well as happier. Inspired by the popular course Professor Brown teaches at U.C. Berkeley, Buddhist Economics represents an enlightened approach to our modern world infused with ancient wisdom, with benefits both personal and global, for generations to come.

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Target audience: economists

Clair Brown is one of the most enlightened economists of all time. I would love to see her write from a Buddhist perspective rather than an economist’s perspective. I think the intent was to try to get economists to care about Buddhism and understand the philosophies and adapt capitalism to fit the beliefs of Buddhists. The opposite would have been a more therapeutic and effective narrative in my opinion. I want this book to switch the target audience; Buddhist caring about economics. I already think like an economist, I selected this book to expand my awareness and understanding of Buddhism in the scope of my studies. If this book was written for Buddhists I think it would have had a greater impact influencing my thinking and beliefs.
So much respect and adoration to Dr. Brown. I look forward to reading more of her research and writing.

Focus' more on Environment vs. Economy.

My problem with the book is that while Buddhist economics it about 'do no harm', it means not just the environment, but also other people and animals, but instead the book focuses mainly on the environment. I wished the book had shown Buddhist economics being used in business decisions, and how it can be justified in making tough choices. For instance, you are the head of GM and can build automated cars and trucks that will be safer on the road causing fewer accidents causing death, but your product will put millions who driver for their job out of work like cabbie/trucker/delivery person/etc. Instead the book deviates to telling the reader to do things that have no relevance to why I picked up the book like rolling down your car window over using AC while driving (which is a outdated advise as studies have shown the gas you burn by the drag of an open car window is on par to using AC).

So I can only give the book 2/5 as it is not bad, but I feel like it deviates to much from the topic it's title implies it will cover.