How much is enough?
by Robert Jacob Alexander Skidelsky · first published 2012
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Argues that growth for its own sake is not the goal and asks what a good life needs, drawing on Aristotle and Keynes. A thoughtful, accessible guide to the needs-versus-wants question for general readers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Analyzes questions that arose from the 2008 financial crisis while assessing the predictions of John Maynard Keynes, sharing the authors' views of a positive life and how recent generations have traded morality for wealth. What constitutes the good life? What is the true value of money? Why do we work such long hours merely to acquire greater wealth? These are some of the questions that many asked themselves when the financial system crashed in 2008. Authors Robert and Edward Skidelsky begin with he great economist John Maynard Keynes. In 1930 Keynes predicted that, within a century, per capi
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…parasitic and wasteful economic practices which tend to be zero or negative sum when all externalities are accounted for." This book discusses this problem in depth and suggests some possible solutions: How Much is Enough?: Money and the Good Life http://www.amazon.com/How-Much-Enough-Money-Good/dp/15905150... They explore how the focus on unlimited growth and acquisition as an unquestioned good is a recent phenomenon…
on “You are a Marxist – but don't worry” ↗…been the aspiration of the English upper class: a marker of nobility. The famed Keynes biographer, Robert Skidelsky (The Right Honourable Lord), has an intriguing book with his son, Edward Skidelsky: How Much Is Enough? Money and the Good Life. Starting point is an essay by Keynes from 1930, Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren, in which Keynes predicted that 100 years from then, economic progress would have…
on “Sleep Is the New Status Symbol” ↗> This is a famous paper by John Maynard Keynes Indeed, and it was the starting point of the thought-provoking book How much is Enough? [1, review in 2] by noted Keynes biographer Robert Skidelsky and his son Edward, in which they advocate for more leisure, of the enlightened sort, instead of more work. It's a good read, though short…
on “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren (1931)” ↗…taking this point too literally. The question is: what proportion of your life are you spending pursuing career goals? For a bit of background on this, I strongly recommend Skidelsky & Skidelsky (2012) How Much is Enough? [1] [1] https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/216918/how-much-is-...
on “We’re Optimizing Ourselves to Death (2019)” ↗My suggestion in the book is to go back to a distinction between "needs" and "wants." A distinction that capitalism has unfortunately erased. For a great treatment of that I recommend "How Much is Enough" by Edward and Robert Skidelsky. Here is my take on Needs (caveat: this section of the book is heavily under development, so YMMV) https://worldaftercapital.gitbooks.io/worldaftercapital/cont...
on “The World After Capital” ↗You might enjoy the book 'How Much Is Enough?' by Robert Skidelsky and Edward Skidelsky
on “Crazy Work Hours and Lots of Cameras: a group from Silicon Valley visits China” ↗I highly recommend How Much is Enough? by Robert & Edward Skidelsky.
on “Millionaires Who Are Frugal When They Don't Have to Be” ↗And more recently, "How Much Is Enough?" by Robert Skidelsky and Edward Skidelsky
on “Against Productivity” ↗…progressive countries [...] will be between four and eight times as high as it is to-day", and would work "Three-hour shifts or a fifteen-hour week", but mainly to stave off boredom. This inspired the book How Much Is Enough? by Keynes biographer Lord Skidelsky and his brother [2]. Keynes' essay had some non-PC parts: he feared > a nervous breakdown of the sort which is already common enough in England and the United States…
on “It's time to switch to a four-day working week, say two experts” ↗