Living in a World that Can't Be Fixed

Book excerpt: An inspiring case for practicing civil disobedience as a way of life, and a clear vision for a better world—full of play, caring, and human connection. In an era of peak global suffering and uncertainty, there has never been a more opportune time to re-think and re-build our entire social order. And it has never been more clear that our politicians and authorities will not be up to the task . . . only we can create the world we actually want to live in. And we can do it now. In Living in a World that Can’t Be Fixed, Curtis White argues that the only way to save the planet, bypass social antagonisms, and build communities that actually work for us is through a strong and vital counterculture. He shows us the legacy and effectiveness of countercultural movements that existed long before the storied 1960s and imagines the similar sweeping changes we could make today—including where we live, how we work, what we eat, and the media we consume. White—”the most inspiringly wicked social critic of the moment” (Will Blythe, Elle)—reveals how the products of our current so-called resistance, from Ken Burns to Black Panther, rarely offer a meaningful challenge to power, and how our loyalty to the “American Lifestyle” is self-defeating and keeps us from making any real social change. The world has been turned upside down, but thankfully we now have a guide for righting it on our terms.