The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism
"Howard Bloom is an exceptional scientific writer. Though he does not have the variety of university degrees behind which historians, anthropologists and sociologists usually hide, he demonstrates two of the most basic qualities of the scientific spirit in the highest degree. He pushes himself to discover the mistakes hidden in things that are considered obvious truths. And to do it he uses the greatest range of scientific insights available, no matter what disciplinary barriers separate them. For that, he puts to work a creative imagination far outside the ordinary, the kind that belongs to the great discoverers. He apparently joins all that to an exceptional capacity for work, the kind without which nothing solid can be laid in place."   --  Les Automates Intelligents, October 29, 2009"It's an extraordinary book, exhilaratingly-written and masterfully-researched.I couldn't put it down." --James Burke, creator and host of seven BBC TV series, includingConnections."Brilliant and powerful." --Edgar Mitchell, sixth man to walk on the Moon, pilot of Apollo 14's Lunar Module, and founder of The Institute of Noetic Sciences"Impressive and stimulating. A tremendously enjoyable book." --James Fallows, National Correspondent forThe Atlantic, Chairman of the Board of the New America Foundation, five-time finalist for the American Book Award, former White House speechwriter, author ofBlind Into BaghdadandPostcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China."A visionary creation."Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, former President of India."Read with delight this terrific book in which Bloom re-writes the history of the West and shows us what capitalism is really all about--or what at its best it demands of us and how it rewards our innermost natures. Bloom is a thinker of the order of Herbert Spencer or Henri Bergson--he tries to see the whole picture from the origin of the universe through the origin of life to the origins of humanity and the continuity of the creativity of the cosmos in our personal and social behavior. His insights along the way are mind-churning: his portrayal of Plato's real genius as a marketer is brilliant. The bacteria who poisoned their environment and thus moved evolution upward...what a metaphor. Columbus' greatest skill was marketing not navigation, the role of tea rituals, and the tale of soap, all are wonderful. I've been writing about Max Weber and 'the spirit of capitalism' and it makes me even more aware of the brilliance of Bloom's argument about what is in the beast and how it can be tapped: capitalism does not just emerge from the Protestant ethic but from the nature of the human animal and its cosmic inheritance. Let's hope this side of the beast can win out over its parochial and narrow other self that longs for the safety of the tribe. But about the West at its best, he's right: Capitalism = Service. An amazing and brilliant book. So thrilling that it literallygives me goose bumps." --Robin Fox, former director of research for the H. F. Guggenheim Foundation, founder of the Anthropology Department at Rutgers University, co-author ofThe Imperial Animaland author ofKinship and Marriage"Pure poetry, divinely begotten. It's a struggle of visions wine and wafer to become the real world's flesh and blood. I am convinced that Howard Bloom isthe reincarnation of Plato. This beast is absolutely captivating; a godsend." --Mark Lamonica, author ofRio L. A.andJunkyard Dogs and William Shakespeare, winner of the Southern California Booksellers Association Nonfiction Award."It will grab you by the throatand shake your fundamental perceptions of life." --Robert D. Steel, former CIA clandestine case officer for extremist targets, creator Marine Corps Intelligence Center, CEO of OSS.Net, Inc., author ofOn Intelligence: Spies and Secrecy in an Open World, #1 non-fiction reviewer at Amazon.com."Howard Bloom's newest booknails it once and for all. Hard to believe a book could clarify and illuminate everything swirling through and around our beleaguered selves, but this one does it!" --Richard Foreman, MacArthur Genius award-winner, founder of the Ontological-Hysteric Theater and the man theNew York Timescalls the "gray wizard of experimental theater.""Capitalism de- and reconstructed--capitalism with a heart--and brain: Howard Bloom's new book marshals his vast knowledge of history, deep cultural experience and broad scientific understanding to argue for a new way. Ever since I sent away for a marketing book in the eighties whose major advice was how much money you could make marketing marketing books, I was skeptical. But marketing geniusHoward Bloom may have written the greatest marketing book ever--one that puts capitalism in its cosmic context." --Dorion Sagan, author ofAcquiring Genomes: A Theory Of The Origin Of Species(with Lynn Margulis) andNotes from the Holocene: A Brief History of the Future"I imagine Howard Bloom's eyes laughing as he takes a sledgehammer to smash yet another giant icon: this time it's the sacred cow of capitalist macroeconomic theory. But when the dust clears -- and he's colorfully reconstructed the history of Western Civilization through the eyes of his latest mega-idea, it turns out capitalism is a good thing after all. We were all just wrong about why! Howard remains one of my favorite sources of new memes.Don't miss this one." --Richard Brodie, author,Virus of the Mind: the New Science of the Memeand original author of Microsoft Word"Riveting, brilliant, remarkable, distressing, optimistic, and beautifully written.A brilliant tour de forcehistory of the world. I found myself quoting facts from it to my friends and displaying a level of erudition far greater than they were accustomed to from me. A great book." --Michael Zilkha, CEO, Zilkha Biomass Energy"This bookpulls together (almost) everything in the universeto explain today's capitalism, from the birth of solar systems to the evolution of life forms, from Kondratieff waves to plumbing. It makes surprising sense. And it's a fun read." --Bernard Lietaer, the economist and financial architect who helped the European Union switch from local currencies to a single currency, the Euro. Author ofThe Future of Money,The Mystery of Money, andOf Human Wealth."At last a consistent free-flowing unmutilated vision for those who want to see the connection between physics, emotions, business and society. Some Bloomian terms and concepts (like reperception, messianic capitalism, cycles of boom and crash, and the universe feeling out her possibilities) have already invaded my everyday speech. This isexactly what we need: a science book meant for action and an action manual rooted in science." --Pascal Jouxtel, partner, Eurogroup Institute, Paris, author ofComment les systÃ¨mes pondent."InThe Genius of the Beast, Howard Bloom achieves what he has set out to do--articulating a thoroughly secular call to what amounts to a spiritual mission. By tracing the capitalist impulse to innovate all the way back to its humble origins in bacteria and ants, Bloom conveysa powerful moral and evolutionary imperativefor us to reinvent ourselves--and reinvigorate this system--for the sake of our collective future." --Andrew Cohen, founder EnlightenNext"Howard Bloom has createda masterpiece!This book is the 'aha moment' that everyone needs and is deeply yearning for." --Barbara Annis, CEO, Barbara Annis & Associates, author ofLeadership and the Sexes: Using Gender Science to Create Success in BusinessandSame Words Different Language: How Men and Women Misunderstand each other at Work and What to do About it."This one will soon be on the shelf beside Freud, Einstein, Darwin and Descartes.Miss this book at your peril!" --Daryl Rowland, Executive Producer,Ellen