Planetary Books 4: Children of a Modest Star – Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises by Jonathan Blake and Nils Gilman
The core argument of this bold and timely book is clear: the challenges of our era demand planetary thinking—and ultimately, planetary institutions. And crucially, making that leap is not beyond our reach.
Planetary Books 3: Transformation into the Future – The Post-Local World and Finland by Matti Sarmela
Unlike the other books in this series, this one wasn’t published recently – it dates back to 1988. I originally picked it up from the Helsinki University Library’s surplus sale, probably in the 1990s. It resurfaced while I was tidying my bookshelf, and after reading just a few pages, I was hooked. The book offers an exceptionally sharp and still relevant perspective on the development of planetary culture.
Planetary Books 2: A New Survival Doctrine
Most Finns recognise Pekka Kuusi as a central figure in both defining and designing the Finnish version of the Nordic welfare state. But fewer are familiar with the direction his thinking took later in life – towards planetary questions, deeply informed by evolution theory. His book This World of Man (1982) was ahead of its time. Back then, it was rare for social scientists to examine humanity, society, and civilisation through the lens of biological evolution. Thinkers like Jared Diamond and Yuval Noah Harari would bring similar themes to global audiences only much later.
Planetary Books 1: Coexist by Jon Sundell
This past year brought to my desk four remarkable books that stretch the imagination beyond the current age of nation-states. They approach human development from the perspective of the planetary era – offering frameworks that extend beyond the structures we take for granted today. Reading such ideas has been refreshing, even energising.