Introduction to Engineering and the Environment Book

Fucking germans. Although Beck is originally polish.

My teacher said that we should read this book, because it`s well written. It isn`t.

Ulrich Beck is a pretencious fool. His book is not scientifical, not well written, and his ideas aren`t new, or original.

Still, everyone should read this book.

Why? Two reasons.

First, the ideas introduced are true. Althought Beck doesn`t supply the scientific proofs, those who came before him did. Read the original sources.

Second, these ideas, points to bigger, underlying problems with our society(s).

If you aren`t afraid, or at least are left with some questions, after reading this book - then you haven`t read it good enough.

We human seem to imagine ourselves, that we live in an economical, social, and knowledgeable equilibrium - where we are the modern society, we are the developed society, we are the society closest to perfection.

We aren`t. A modern society, is only modern until it isn`t.

As a last note, i would like to mention one thing. Why do all sociologist have to name it x-society? Industrial society, risk society, technology society, knowledge society, changing society - isn`t it a little arrogant assuming that the defining aspect of ones society - is the one thing you are writing about. Fucktards.

Which leads me to my biggest problem with Mr. Beck. Risk society - why? Although the modernization process introduces new risks, bigger risks, equitable risks, global risks and so on. This doesn`t necesarry entail a risk-society! Taken into regard that people live longer, better lives, healthier lives, more take education, work, read, live happy lives...

Untill the day Ulrich Beck supplies scientific proof, showing that we are exposed of substantially more risks, than any society that has come before - I`m not convinced. Still - it`s a good book. Science!