John W. Wylie Books

'Landscape' provides a stimulating and accessible introduction to the contemporary understandings of this important concept within human geography and related disciplines.

Highlighting the interplay between scientific knowledge and societal response, the book examines the reasons behind our inaction regarding the global environmental crisis. It argues that while understanding the science is crucial, it is equally important to address the social, political, and economic factors that contribute to our negligence. This comprehensive perspective encourages a more holistic approach to tackling environmental issues, advocating for a blend of knowledge and action.

By the late twentieth century, Japan had gained worldwide attention as an economic powerhouse. Having miraculously risen from the ashes of World War II, it was seen by many as a country to be admired if not emulated. But by the early 1990s, that bubble burst in spectacular fashion. The Japanese economic miracle was over. In this book, John Lie argues that in many ways the Japan of today has the potential to be even more significant than it was four decades ago. As countries face the prospect of a world with decreasing economic growth and increasing environmental dangers, Japan offers a unique glimpse into what a viable future might look like—one in which people acknowledge the limits of the economy and environment while championing meaningful and sustainable ways of working and living. Beneath and beyond the rhetoric of growth, some Japanese are leading sustainable lives and creating a sustainable society. Though he does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all cure for the world, Lie makes the compelling case that contemporary Japanese society offers a possibility for how other nations might begin to valorize everyday life and cultivate ordinary virtues.