The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles C. Mann

Both wizards and prophets see themselves as environmentalists facing a planetary crisis, but each one with its own idea of the good life. Objectively, both postures aim to counteract the damage that we as a species have done to the Earth. We are either prophets and follow the natural path, returning to a more organic-oriented type of living or, we are wizards and align ourselves with a techno-scientific vision of our relationship with nature. Mann along with other institutions have come to see both postures as irreconcilable. Instead, I attempt to dive into the understanding of both opposing worldviews. The aim of this post is not to brief the book, rather, it’s wiser to use the book as a guideline for future posts. You either see people as constrained by their environment or as wily managers of the planet. Mann, prophets and wizards are less two ideal categories than two ends of a continuum. The second view arises from the “wizards”, who otherwise believe that we need continual growth in science, technology, and quality of life to improve our relationship with nature. According to Charles C. The first view in the novel stems from the “prophets”, who believe that we can’t keep growing our population or impact on the planet without eventually destroying it.

These worldviews follow the paths of ecologist William Vogt (1902-1968) and Nobel Prize winner Norman Bourlang (1914-2009), who is known as the father of the Green Revolution. The book portrays the two opposing worldviews that have defined our relationship with the planet. I highly recommend it to sustainability advocates. I’ve referenced it a couple of times in my previous posts as it's a piece of writing that seems to cover everything. One of my favorite books is The Wizard and the Prophet, by Charles C.

The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles C. Mann