Utopianism arose in the nineteenth century as a response to industrialism. Today a new culture needs to address the immanent disasters of climate catastrophe and resource depletion.
Foundational to this new culture is the desire to live a life of joyful collectivity that seeks individual satisfaction and group accomplishments. The faux luxuries that today tempt submission to toil soon won't be an option. In the not-too-distant future, we will have no choice but to align our pleasures with goals that center on friendship, on playful production for use and enjoyment, and on the exploration of our better selves. I call this option, to transcend miserablism, radical hedonism.
In this volume, the author begins with a memoir of his mother's work experience in the 20s and 30s at the Hawthorne Works factory complex outside of Chicago. At its height employing 40,000 workers, Hawthorne created an afterwork organization, "The Club," for leisure pursuits to meet the wishes of the employees. This endeavor facilitated sports, wide ranging education beyond skills development, and cultural activities from book clubs to excursions. These leisure time activities were significant to the workers and created a culture that defined them beyond their roles in the factory.
Both historic and contemporary models enrich our understanding of the foundational elements of a convivial society. The mass cooperative movement of three million in Poland between the wars proves that a truly democratic and supportive society is possible. Here Marszalek explores examples in the United States, such as the unemployed unions in California in the 30s and the forest replanting worker cooperative, the Hoedads, in the 80s and 90s.
And finally, Marszalek proposes a strategy to confront climate change and cultural collapse, built on worker cooperatives, local agriculture, and diverse grassroots efforts in communities all over the US.
