With the holiday shopping season about to shift into high gear (I’m sure I’m not the only one who heard Christmas carols prior to Halloween… what’s that all about anyways?) here’s an early tip for that thoughtful, philosophical type on your list, the newest book by our esteemed, super-smart pal Charles Hugh Smith, Why Things Are Falling Apart and What We Can Do About It:

Things are falling apart—that is obvious. But why are they falling apart? The reasons are complex and global. Our economy and society have structural problems that cannot be solved by adding debt to debt. We are becoming poorer, not just from financial over-reach, but from fundamental forces that are not easy to identify or understand. We will cover the five core reasons why things are falling apart:

1. Debt and financialization
2. Crony capitalism and the elimination of accountability
3. Diminishing returns
4. Centralization
5. Technological, financial and demographic changes in our economy

Complex systems weakened by diminishing returns collapse under their own weight and are replaced by systems that are simpler, faster and affordable. If we cling to the old ways, our system will disintegrate. If we want sustainable prosperity rather than collapse, we must embrace a new model that is Decentralized, Adaptive, Transparent and Accountable (DATA).

We are not powerless. Not accepting responsibility and being powerless are two sides of the same coin: once we accept responsibility, we become powerful.

This week only there is a 20% discount on the Kindle edition: $7.95 (normal retail $9.95). There is also a print edition of Why Things Are Falling Apart and What We Can Do About It.

Read daily essays from Charles Hugh Smith at his Of Two Minds blog.