Description
Prometheus' Ashes
Book Summary
A rigorous and accessible analysis of the imminent depletion of the fossil and mineral resources that sustain the capitalist system. Joaquim Sempere reveals how the industrial revolution broke the balance of the circular economy, giving way to an unsustainable metabolism that is leading us toward an unprecedented ecological crisis. The book does not just diagnose the problem, but explores viable alternatives to face the collapse predicted in less than fifty years.
What is it about?
Starting from the premise that global reserves of fossil and mineral materials will be exhausted within five decades, the work examines the concept of "metabolic rift" introduced by industrialization. Sempere argues that capitalism, in its pursuit of unlimited growth, has created a linear and unsustainable system of production and consumption that contains the seeds of its own collapse. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines ecology, economics, and critical thinking, the author presents the energy and social alternatives necessary to transition toward a post-capitalist and ecologically viable model.
Main themes
- Depletion of fossil and mineral resources within a 50-year horizon.
- Metabolic rift and the breakdown of the traditional circular economy.
- Ecological crisis as a structural consequence of capitalism.
- Energy alternatives and post-capitalist transition models.
- Relationship between excessive economic growth and systemic collapse.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in political ecology, critical thinking about the current economic system, and sustainable futures. Especially useful for students and professionals in environmental sciences, sociology, economics, and politics, as well as for anyone concerned about the climate crisis and alternatives to the dominant development model.
What this book offers
- A clear and well-founded diagnosis of the unsustainability of the current capitalist metabolism.
- A historical perspective that connects the industrial revolution with the contemporary ecological crisis.
- Concrete proposals and viable alternatives in the face of fossil resource depletion.
- An accessible theoretical framework to understand the relationship between economy, energy, and ecology.
- A call to reflect on the limits of growth and pathways for social transformation.
Technical specifications
- Author: Sempere, Joaquim
- Publisher: Editorial Pasado y Presente
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Literary Essays, Politics and Government, Energy, Ecological Thought and Ideology, Energy Resources
- Collection: Essay
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2018
- Number of pages: 180
- Weight: 330 g
Editorial review
A necessary and well-documented work that addresses with clarity one of the most urgent debates of our time: the depletion of the resources that sustain industrial civilization. Sempere manages to combine academic rigor with an accessible style, offering both a critical diagnosis of the capitalist system and a roadmap toward ecologically sustainable alternatives. His interdisciplinary approach and his ability to synthesize complex concepts make this an essential read for those seeking to understand the roots of the ecological crisis and possible ways out.