Progress Vs Parasites: A Brief History of the Conflict that's Shaped our World

From Ancient Athens the modern day, a radical look at how world history has been shaped by the constant struggle between the productive and the parasitic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2019
Publisher: Head of Zeus

The transformation in the behavior of our ancestors was initially imperceptible. Only a handful of hints in the archaeological record, such as the exchange of sea shells, ochre, and stone tools over long distances, hinted at the future that awaited us. However, today, a vast network of interdependence and trade spans the entire planet, lifting most of our species out of the abject poverty of the past.

Yet, for a significant portion of history, this engine of human progress came to a standstill, as societies were rigged in favor of a small parasitic elite. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the civilizations of China, India, and Europe in the Middle Ages, the history of the world can be described as a relentless conflict between the productive and the parasitic.

Progress Vs Parasites explores this struggle. States rise and empires crumble as the balance between the two shifts. It is the concept of freedom, as argued by Carswell, that ultimately enables the productive to break free from the parasitic and determines whether a society thrives or falters.

In his book, Progress Vs Parasites, Carswell provides a robust defense of classical liberalism. He demonstrates that the greatest threat to human progress today, as it has been throughout history, is the belief that human affairs should be governed by top-down design. This belief, Carswell argues, stifles innovation, creativity, and individual initiative, ultimately hindering our ability to achieve the remarkable advancements that have characterized human civilization.

Through his insightful analysis and compelling arguments, Carswell offers a roadmap for a more prosperous and inclusive future. He advocates for a society that values freedom, individual rights, and the free market, where the productive can thrive and contribute to the collective well-being of all. Progress Vs Parasites is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the forces that shape our world and the challenges we face in achieving a better future for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786691569