Routledge Handbook of Degrowth

"The pluriverse of degrowth is beautifully synthesized in this book. A must-have."

Kohei Saito, Professor of Philosophy, University of Tokyo, author of bestseller Down: How Degrowth Communism Can Save the Earth (2024)

"We stand at a crossroads. Or to be honest, a little farther, on the path to chaos. But we still have choice. Embracing strategy and practice, this handbook on degrowth comes just in time to open horizons. I can't wait for it to be translated into French!"

Corinne Morel Darleux, essayist - Être heureux avec moins (2023)

"The Routledge Handbook of Degrowth is an essential and inspiring resource for anyone seeking to understand the history, diversity, and transformative potential of the degrowth movement. Anitra Nelson and Vincent Liegey have assembled a groundbreaking collection that will guide researchers, activists, and policymakers alike."

Giorgos Kallis, ICREA professor at ICTA, Autonomous University of Barcelona, author of degrowth classics, such as In Defence of Degrowth (2017) Degrowth (2018), Limits (2019)

"As glaciers are melting and Los Angeles is destroyed by raging fires, struggling for a world beyond capitalist development and growth has never been more urgent. The Routledge Handbook of Degrowth is a rich, enlightening, comprehensive guide towards it. Definitely a must read."

Silvia Federici, Hofstra University (New York), author of classic Caliban and the Witch (2004)

"The Routledge Handbook of Degrowth deftly diagnoses the disease of global growthism, and brims with a plenitude of inspiring living examples, challenges, complexities and possibilities for a future of convivial, relational joy that we know is possible."

Helena Norberg-Hodge, esteemed author, filmmaker and founding director of Local Futures

"Routledge Handbook of Degrowth is a landmark publication. It not only consolidates degrowth's status as a serious intellectual and political project but also expands its horizons by engaging with decolonial, feminist, and ecological justice perspectives. For pedagogy, the book offers rich material for courses in environmental studies, political economy, and sustainability transitions. For policymakers, it provides conceptual tools to rethink well-being beyond GDP. For researchers, it opens avenues for comparative studies of degrowth practices and imaginaries. Most importantly, it challenges readers to reimagine futures rooted not in accumulation but in sufficiency, solidarity, and conviviality."

Sarkar, R. & Goyal, E., (2025) "Review of Anitra Nelson, with editorial adviser Vincent Liegey. 2025. Routledge Handbook of Degrowth", Journal of Political Ecology 32(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/jpe.10133

"In a world where growth has become a prison rather than a promise, the Routledge Handbook of Degrowth offers something increasingly rare: hope grounded in analysis, vision tempered by realism, and a roadmap drawn by those already walking the path.

Whether that path leads to transformation or remains a marginal alternative depends not on this handbook alone, but on the movements, communities, and individuals willing to ask: What if enough is actually enough?"

Illuminem Book Reviews

"The Routledge Handbook of Degrowth is an essential resource for anyone beginning to engage with degrowth theories and practices, as well as for readers who remain skeptical of the concept's validity and relevance (with Chap. 26 on poverty reduction offering particularly valuable responses to common critiques). It also serves as an accessible resource for undergraduate and graduate courses, with several chapters in Part I working well as standalone class readings. The volume is equally useful for readers already familiar with degrowth who wish to delve deeper into its nuances and explore its applications across various fields. Taken together, these chapters provide a comprehensive view of how degrowth manifests in practice and how its ideas connect across sectors and geographies to envision and articulate cohesive, alternative futures."

Giulia Belotti & Holly Caggiano (09 Dec 2025): The Routledge Handbook of degrowth,, Urban Research & Practice, DOI: 10.1080/17535069.2025.2602026

"More than 20 years after the term 'degrowth' was coined, this book represents a clear effort to provide an insight into the numerous discussions revolving around it, as well as their translations into various prefigurative practices around the world. What stands out is the editors' ability to orchestrate an indirect dialogue between different authors and ultimately integrate them into an overview of possible future directions for the movement, research, and politics, reflecting on the complex and hostile context in which they operate ..."

Anna Pagani, Buildings and Cities