The industrial revolution, powered by oil and other fossil fuels, is spiraling into a dangerous endgame: the prices of energy and food are climbing, unemployment remains high, the housing market has tanked, consumer and government debt are soaring, and the recovery is slowing. Facing the prospect of a second collapse of the global economy, humanity is desperate for a sustainable economic game plan to take us into the future.
Here, Jeremy Rifkin explores how Internet technology and renewable energy are merging to create a powerful "Third Industrial Revolution." He asks us to imagine hundreds of millions of people producing their own green energy in their homes, offices, and factories and sharing it with each other in an "energy Internet," just like how we create and share information online.
Rifkin describes how the five pillars of the Third Industrial Revolution will create thousands of businesses and millions of jobs and usher in a fundamental reordering of human relationships—from hierarchical power to lateral power—that will impact the way we conduct commerce, govern society, educate our children, and engage in civic life.
Rifkin's vision is already gaining traction in the international community. The European Parliament has issued a formal declaration calling for its implementation, and other nations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas are quickly preparing their own initiatives for transitioning into this new economic paradigm.
The Third Industrial Revolution is an insider's account of the next great economic era, including a look into the personalities and players—heads of state, global CEOs, social entrepreneurs, and NGOs—who are pioneering its implementation around the world.
Download and start listening now!
"Excellent account of the transformational change that is and must occur as we move past a Second Industrial Revolution based economic system. Also does a very good job of accounting for the limitations of a Newtonian based economics and the superiority of a thermodynamic based view."
— Matthew (5 out of 5 stars)
“Rifkin connects the two defining technologies of the twenty-first century—the Internet and renewable energies—giving us a powerful new economic vision for the future. As we look to regrow the economy, generate millions of jobs, and create a sustainable future for our children, The Third Industrial Revolution offers an indispensable roadmap.”
— Arianna HuffingtonImpeccably argued . . . a compelling and cogent argument to overhaul our society and economy in favor of a distributed and collaborative model.
— Publishers Weekly“Jeremy Rifkin argues that green energy and the internet will revolutionize society and the environment…With the European Union already on board, this is a big idea with backbone.”
— Nature“Impeccably argued…A compelling and cogent argument to overhaul our society and economy in favor of a distributed and collaborative model.”
— Publishers Weekly" While renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprints in nature are necessary for our survival, it seems more uptopian than realistic to envision a near future where capitalism will be replaced by an economy that is collaborative and lateral in nature; only time will tell. "
— Bonnie, 2/19/2014" Next one to start... I think it's going to be important. "
— Syd, 1/17/2014" Strong analysis about the potential of renewable energy if combined with internet technology. This really can flatten this world, in the sense that much less hierarchy is needed. "
— Alois, 11/25/2013" I dearly hope Rifkin's view of the future becomes reality as soon as possible. Never have I ever been so excited about the contents of a book. I do however have to warn it is a dense read, somewhat repetitive, and at times littered with overly specific facts and name references. "
— AJ, 11/18/2013" Pop economics. Nuff said. Clearly written but the ideas are way too grandiose. Also, i still find myself skeptical of anyone whose job title is "social thinker." "
— Amber, 11/16/2013" not my cup of tea, but well written "
— Lauren, 10/19/2013" A vision of a world I would hope for my grandchild, if only this country would get on board! "
— Carolyn, 6/12/2013" Good topics but the book repeats, it repeats, it repeats, it repeats itself a lot. That and the book repeats itself. And just in case, yeah the book repeats itself. It also repeats itself. "
— Ivan, 5/15/2013" I bough this book right after i installed solar panels on my roof. There are some very great parts of the book including the rise of European (and particularly German) development of renewable energy. Unfortunately I found the book tediously repetitive and recommend only about the first half. "
— David, 1/21/2013" Ca se lit bien ! "
— Florian, 6/29/2012" Had some salient points. However, he was very grandiose in his thoughts on how the new energy market would change the world, and he didn't offer many details as to the current difficulties. Worth the read for someone new to the subject. "
— Dan, 6/2/2012" Interesting premise, but good LORD what a boring book. All about the meetings the author had with European heads of state to get funding for new energy tech. Listen to an interview with Rifkin, and skip the book. "
— Lulu, 5/15/2012Jeremy Rifkin, one of the most popular social thinkers of our time, is the bestselling author of numerous books, including The Third Industrial Revolution, The Empathic Civilization, The European Dream, The Age of Access, The Hydrogen Economy, The Biotech Century, and The End of Work. His books have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Rifkin is an advisor to the European Union and to heads of state around the world. He is a senior lecturer at the Wharton School’s executive education program at the University of Pennsylvania and the president of the Foundation on Economic Trends.
Kevin Foley, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, has more than thirty years of experience in radio and television broadcasting, commercial voice-overs, and audiobook narration. He has recorded more than 150 audiobooks, including River Thunder by Gary McCarthy, for which he earned a Spur Award for Best Audiobook from the Western Writers of America.