Entropia

by | Jul 13, 2019 | Commentary, Our Collective

Samuel Alexander, Entropia, 2019

When industrial civilisation collapsed in the third decade of the 21st century, a community living on a small island in the South Pacific Ocean found itself permanently isolated from the rest of the world. With no option but to build a self-sufficient economy with very limited energy supplies, this community set about creating a simpler way of life that could flourish into the deep future. Determined above all else to transcend the materialistic values of the Old World, they made a commitment to live materially simple lives, convinced that this was the surest path to genuine freedom, peace, and sustainable prosperity. Seven decades later, in the year 2099, this book describes the results of their remarkable living experiment.Testimonials

Entropia is a masterful work of the imagination that envisions a world beyond growth and consumerism. This is no escapist fantasy, however, but rather a practical and inspiring reminder of what we humans are capable of – and a wake up call to action. It is a literary manifesto that will inspire, challenge, and give hope.”
Paul Gilding, The Great Disruption

“Looking back from the future, this visionary book describes the emergence of a culture and economy based on material sufficiency. In doing so it provides one of the most detailed descriptions we have of an ecologically sane way of life. Overflowing with insight and beautifully written, Entropia unveils the radical implications of moving beyond fossil fuels. This book may come to define what ‘sustainability’ really means.”
Richard Heinberg, The End of Growth

“Utopian novels usually outline a world of material abundance, in which technology has reduced labour to a minimum and where everyone is rich. But Samuel Alexander, following the tradition of Henry Thoreau and William Morris, has written a ‘utopia of sufficiency’, in which a simple living community of poet-farmers rebuild their society after the collapse of civilisation. Entropia is both confronting and inspiring, giving us an insight into the possibility of a much saner and more satisfying world.”
Ted Trainer, Transition to a Sustainable and Just World

“One of the more intriguing attempts to date to imagine a viable future on the far side of our civilisation’s decline and fall, Samuel Alexander’s Entropia borrows the language of Utopian literature to present alternative visions of politics, society, and spirituality in the aftermath of the industrial age.”
John Michael Greer, The Ecotechnic Future: Envisioning a Post-Peak World

Entropia Television Production

—Samuel Alexander reports:

In a bizarre and unexpected twist of fate, I’ve recently received calls from TV executives in Los Angeles who have been wanting to purchase rights to my book, Entropia: Life Beyond Industrial Civilisation, to make a television production. That’s right, a TV show! It’s one of the major global players. A contract has been signed and now we are waiting (possibly 18 months or so) to see what happens. These things don’t happen overnight.

As you can imagine, I feel a bit uncomfortable dealing with global production companies, but this seemed like a good opportunity to get radical environmental themes infused into mainstream culture. Let’s call it ‘research translation’. An opportunity too good to pass up. Here’s hoping they do a good job (I’ll be involved as consultant but without final creative authority). Perhaps, if it is done well, it’ll be able to spark new cultural conversations and mobilisations regarding degrowth, permaculture, and the simpler way. I’ll keep you posted. Crazy times – and dignifying for the book to be recognised in this way.

You can purchase an ebook for $5.93 AUD

https://249897.e-junkie.com/product/1248229/Entropia3A-Life-Beyond-Industrial-Civilisation

or paperback from the Book Despository Company for around $40.

Catalogue OF Articles by Barbara Lepani July 2018-Present

Recent Comments

    A COLLABORATION BETWEEN

    Call Out for Entries

    Regenesis 2026

    Theme: Kinship with Nature

    Eligibility: Residents of the Greater Blue Mountains Community

    Nepean to Lithgow

    Submissions close on 30 June 2026

    Q&A Info Session 22 March 2-4pm Junction 142, Katoomba

    Submissions: Entries are free - limited to one entry per category, by email with attachments

    Completed submission form + works

    text as word docs
    images as png/jpg
    music as mp3
    video as mp4

    to: regen@resilientbluemountains.org

    Entry Categories: Youth (12-18 yrs) and Adults (18 yrs and over)*

    Short Story – up to 1,000 words in length

    Poetry – up to 150 words in length

    Visual Artwork – image of original work in 2D, 3D, photograph or illustration

    Lyric with music— original work, lyric in text and music in audio file mp3

    • *Video–2-4 mins for 15-25 yr olds in mp4 

    Requirements for Entry—submission form downloadable from website page or on request from regen@resilientbluemountains.org

    • Name, date of birth, residential post code

    • Brief biography of 100 words

    All works entered to be provided as file attachments in format specified in Submission Form.

    Winning Entry Prizes —selected by independent assessment panels of three ‘experts’

    Youth: $250 for the winner in each of the four categories for participants under 18 years of age in 2026.

    Adults: $250 for the winner in each of the four categories for participants 18 years of age and over in 2026

    Video: $250 for the winning entry 15-25 yr olds

    Celebration of Winning Entries on Sunday 18 October 2026, 2-4.30pm

    —All prize winners presenting their work

    Printed Regenesis 2026 anthology of all short-listed short stories, poetry and art images for sale

    Regenesis 2026 CD of short-listed lyric + music entries, available for sale

    Winning Regenesis 2026 Video shown at event. Other entries published on YouTube.

    Regenesis 2022

    Buy Now

    Regenesis 2023

    Buy Now

    Regenesis 2025

    CONNECT TO THE BUZZ

    SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENLIVENMENT FEED

    Subscribe to our email lists to receive the latest Blog Posts or our Monthly Newsletter, or both, emailed directlt to your indox.

    Just fill in the form below.