Understanding Sustainable Development

Understanding Sustainable Development by John Blewitt

Sustainable development is notoriously difficult to grasp for students and professionals. Multidimensional, encompassing social, ecological and economic theories, policies and practice, it can be a maze of complexity and contradiction. This powerful new textbook, by a topic instructor in the field, is the first to unravel sustainable development and provide readers with the deep understanding so often missing in other texts. The book adopts a multi-perspective approach designed specifically to allow access to the topic from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds and to develop understanding of a diversity of approaches and traditions at different levels. It features multiple entry points, explains jargon and explores controversies. Also offering boxed examples from the local to the global, Understanding Sustainable Development is the most complete guide to the subject for course leaders, students and self-learners.

A significant achievement in addressing a complex contemporary issue in such a clear and optimistic wayWill it make a difference to our understanding? I think it will.

–Stephen Martin, Visiting Professor, Center for Complexity and Change, The Open University

This is an immensely important book that brings into a cohesive and dialogic whole, the multiple strands that do - or should - feed into understandings of sustainable development. It draws upon worldviews and perspectives often marginalized or ignored in the adrenaline rush to make sustainability a living reality. A 'must read' for both those new to and those steeped in the field.

–David Selby, Director, Centre for Sustainable Futures, University of Plymouth

Presents a comprehensive account of the sustainability territory, successfully integrating ideas from science, philosophy, sociology and cultural studies in its explication of key topics within this field. It will prove invaluable for those of us from a range of disciplines and perspectives who are trying to make sense of what 'sustainability' means, and what actions we might take to realize it within our communities, organizations and homes.

–Donna Ladkin, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Learning and Leadership at Cranfield University School of Management

Understanding Sustainable Development is a major work and it largely achieves a very difficult task. It comes closer than most to that elusive ideal: the comprehensive book on a broadly based interpretation of sustainable development!

–Julian Agyeman, Associate Professor and Chair, Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University

Scientists, engineers, technologists, mathematicians, and economists will find the text useful to see how their efforts have been interpreted by others.' Experimental Agriculture 'I found it an excellent refresher and reminder of basic concepts, issues and historical background..I enjoyed this book and I continue to dip into it

–AJH, Eagle Bulletin, 2009.

John Blewitt is the Sustainability and Knowledge Transfer Co-ordinator, School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources, University of Exeter, UK, author of The Ecology of Learning (2006) and co-editor of The Sustainability Curriculum (2004).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781844074549
ISBN 10	1844074544
Title	Understanding Sustainable Development
Author	John Blewitt
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Taylor & Francis Ltd
Year published	2008-07-29
Number of pages	304
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.