Interviews
My NativeAdVantage: By The Native Society
Blurbs
Amartya Sen, Bill McKibben, Jeffrey Sachs and others offer glowing reviews of Buddhist Economics.
“Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science comes from an economist at UC Berkeley who also is a practicing Buddhist. The synthesis of her interests forms the foundation for quite a different approach to economics than the usual dry financial style – and is, therefore, reviewed here, in the ‘Spirituality Shelf’ section, and recommended for its unusual combination of philosophy, spirituality, and economic thinking. ‘Buddhist economics’ advocates a mindful sense of responsibility and connections to daily life and encourages different forms of financial and social interaction. Chapters show how to use economics to make life more meaningful and, conversely, how to inject meaning into economic savvy. The result hold wide-ranging implications for financial and spiritual readers alike.”
“This is an important contribution not only to a new understanding of the discipline of economics, it is also a strikingly imaginative attempt at using the remarkable insights of Buddha from more than 2,000 years ago to serve as a powerful critique of what economists today take for granted as their predominant task. There is certainly need for much rethinking in economics, and Clair Brown has given us a very promising line of re-examination that would, if successfully implemented, make a very significant difference.”
Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 1998 and Author Development as Freedom
“A long, long time ago Adam Smith demonstrated that the economy would work pretty well if everyone were selfish. But Clair Brown has done considerably better. Her perceptive, interesting, fun book, Buddhist Economics, demonstrates that we could be considerably better off in many different ways, if, instead, we were just kind. This book has important messages for everyone. I hope that it will be read by all economists, and also by everyone else.”
George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001and Author Animal Spirits
“This is an important and provocative book about where conventional economics goes wrong. As Clair Brown masterfully shows, a new and more sensible economics would focus on a sustainable environment, shared prosperity, and interdependence. Instead of being a dismal science, economics should be an inspiring story of how we can work together to improve the quality of life for all.”
Robert B. Reich, Author Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few, and Chancellor’s Professor at University of California at Berkeley.
“Clair Brown’s Buddhist Economics will inspire people to seek a better and wiser use of society’s know-how and resources. While mainstream economics takes people’s desires and motivations as given, Buddhist economics calls on us to deepen our lives and those of others through the active cultivation of mindfulness, compassion, and recognition of our interdependence with others and with nature. Brown declares her goal to ‘expand the dialogue among people around the world who seek meaningful lives for all.’ In this she succeeds splendidly. Her book will give a big boost and guidance for all those who seek peace, fairness, and environmental sustainability.”
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Professor and Director of Earth Institute at Columbia University, and Author The Age of Sustainable Development
“This book will both shake up one’s worldview and help calm one’s agitated soul. It’s a reminder that ‘economics’ is infinitely more interesting than the reductionist kind we teach in universities, and that ‘religion’ has far more to offer our everyday lives than we sometimes imagine.”
Bill McKibben, Author Eaarth and Founder 350.org
“In her revolutionary and urgently needed Buddhist Economics, Clair Brown relies on the ancient principles of Buddhism — interdependence, compassion, mindfulness — to illuminate how to meet the great economic and social problems of today — climate change and income inequality. This brilliant and beautifully argued book will not only change how you think about the most pressing problems that concern us all, it will inspire you to paths of action that lead to those problems’ solutions. This is a game-changing read.”
Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology and Faculty Director of the Greater Good Science Center, and Author The Power Paradox
Press Reviews
Buddhist Economics included in the The World’s First Cultural Evolution Research Library.
Review by Doug’s Secular Dharma
Using Employee Involvement to Achieve GNH in Companies – Centre for Buthan Studies and GNH (December 4, 2017)
The Invisible Hand of Altruism: A Reflection on Dr. Clair Brown’s Lecture, “What is Human Nature? It’s Role in Structuring Buddhist Economics” – Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies 13th issue, 2018 (Simon Fraser University) (August 16, 2017)
Contemplative Management and Science Conference at Corvinus Univ Presentation at Corvinus University in Budapest
The Lion’s Roar – Commentary: Responding to Trump’s Separation from the World (June 3, 2017)
In Sisyphus – http://sisyphuslitmag.org/2017/06/buddhist-economics/
New and Noteworthy – Time Higher Education – https://www.timeshighereducation.com/books/reviews-new-and-noteworthy-4-may-2017#survey-answer
How “Buddhist Economics” Can Make Us Happier – Lion’s Roar (April 27, 2017)
Garrison Institute – https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/blog/buddhist-economics/ (April 25, 2017)
The Lion’s Roar – The Promise of “Buddhist Economics” (April 21, 2017)
“Tu e l’altro siete la stessa persona”. Parola del Buddha. A colloquio con Clair Brown, che a Berkeley insegna Economia buddista (April 5, 2017)
http://www.informazionesenzafiltro.it/tu-e-laltro-siete-la-stessa-persona-parola-del-buddha/
Buddhist Economics by Clair – http://www.humansandnature.org/how-can-we-create-a-successful-economy-without-continuous-economic-growth-clair-brown
Berkeley News (March 13, 2017)
Buddhist economics: oxymoron or idea whose time has come?
La Republica (March 8, 2017)
Interview with leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica
Books by the Bay: Buddhist economics and Oakland A’s history fill books released in March (Mercury News, March 6, 2017)
France Culture.fr (March 6, 2017)
American Scholar (March 6, 2017) – “Buddhism and a More Mindful Economy”
Capital Spectator, Book Bits (February 25, 2017) – http://www.capitalspectator.com/book-bits-25-february-2017/
Greater Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life (February 24, 2017) –http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_would_buddha_do_about_the_economy
Humanitarian News (February 24, 2017) – http://humanitariannews.org/20170224/what-would-buddha-do-about-economy
Kirkus Review
February 21, 2017
Review of “Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science” by Clair Brown
“The old laws of supply and demand yield to a new understanding, to ‘new prices and outputs that reflect our new interdependent values.’ Naturally, such an understanding also involves a redistribution of wealth within Western economies and from richer to poorer countries…it makes for an attractive prospectus.”
California Magazine
August 16, 2014
What Would Buddha Do? Berkeley Econ Class Covers Supply, Demand and Enlightenment
Moyers & Company
March 19, 2014
How Would Buddha Organize Our Cutthroat Modern Economy?