COLLAPSE

Quiñonez’s analysis of global crises focuses on education and community responses.

The author defines collapse as the current era of societal decline: “For thousands of years, various entities have been at play—narratives, groups, and forces—herding humanity towards this moment of reckoning.” This decline, he says, encompasses the world economy, mental health issues, addiction, climate change, and geopolitics, among other topics. Although the author suggests that “unavoidable catastrophe is assured,” we still have productive ways to respond to the “polycrisis,” he asserts. Part 1 situates readers in the current global troubles, aiming to help them recognize that they have cause for deep concern for the planet’s well-being. Part 2 delves deeply into future crises, including compelling scientific data on climate change. Most interestingly, as the author points, “Fossil fuel use hasn’t decreased despite an increase in renewable energy production.” The author uses the term hopium, which he frames as blind faith in technology to solve the world’s problems. Part 3 focuses on potential responses to the polycrisis, relying on wisdom from Native peoples and mutual aid. The most compelling aspect of this book is a chapter debunking common misconceptions about possible solutions: For example, in response to the notion that merely spending more on food production is an easy fix, Quiñonez counters, “Food production is not merely about money. It is impacted by geopolitics, supply chain disruptions, droughts, floods, storms, heat waves, frosts, wars, pests, energy availability, and fertilizer shortages, among other factors.” Still, the book as a whole remains overly abstract, despite its ambition. Parts 1 and 3 lack concrete data and anecdotes to properly situate readers in the author’s claims of a global crisis. Skeptics may also find it difficult to embrace the author’s point of view, as he’s not an expert on the issues at hand, although he notes that “I’ve lived in a specific context with a particular nature and nurture, allowing me to be receptive to these issues while maintaining a relatively clear outlook.”

A didactic work that will appeal most to those who already agree with the author’s assertions.