REPRINT: THE PEOPLE’S ALMANAC’S SYMPOSIUM ON UTOPIAS Originally appeared in [1978] Reprinted from , prolific popular science writer, noted for his readable texts, such as Asimov’s Guide to Science. author, lecturer, and leading spokesperson for the conservative movement. , formerly a Harvard professor named Richard Alpert, now a philosopher and author of several books, including Be Here Now. , author, editor, and Book-of-the-Month Club judge. , political activist and poet, who achieved fame in 1956 with the publication of Howl. , internationally acclaimed best-selling author, who received a Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for his first published book, Tales of the South Pacific. , social scientist and author of The American Way of Life and other books. , the late poet, author, and anthologist, whose collections include Lives of the Poets and 1,000 Years of English and American Poetry. Their answers follow. 1. What would the physical environment of your utopia be like? Asimov: On Earth, parks, farms, and wilderness in carefully balanced proportions. Industry would, for the most part, be on space stations in orbit, run by the power of the Sun. Buckley: No snakes, no government forms. Dass: Very much as it is now, though perhaps more consciously cared for. Fadiman: An environment in which technology is used only to make technology itself invisible, inaudible, unsmellable, unfeelable, untastable. One in which a quietly restrained nature dominates. Ginsberg: Gardened urbs [cities], tree crop agriculture on hills and in cities. Michener: An opportunity to work 10 hours a day in solid surroundings and with good companions, each doing his or her own work. Four hours of recreation such as tennis, hiking, fishing, photography, but
REPRINT: THE PEOPLE’S ALMANAC’S SYMPOSIUM ON UTOPIAS Originally appeared in [1978] Reprinted from , prolific popular science writer, noted for his readable texts, such as Asimov’s Guide to Science. author, lecturer, and leading spokesperson for the conservative movement. , formerly a Harvard professor named Richard Alpert, now a philosopher and author of several books, including Be Here Now. , author, editor, and Book-of-the-Month Club judge. , political activist and poet, who achieved fame in 1956 with the publication of Howl. , internationally acclaimed best-selling author, who received a Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for his first published book, Tales of the South Pacific. , social scientist and author of The American Way of Life and other books. , the late poet, author, and anthologist, whose collections include Lives of the Poets and 1,000 Years of English and American Poetry. Their answers follow. 1. What would the physical environment of your utopia be like? Asimov: On Earth, parks, farms, and wilderness in carefully balanced proportions. Industry would, for the most part, be on space stations in orbit, run by the power of the Sun. Buckley: No snakes, no government forms. Dass: Very much as it is now, though perhaps more consciously cared for. Fadiman: An environment in which technology is used only to make technology itself invisible, inaudible, unsmellable, unfeelable, untastable. One in which a quietly restrained nature dominates. Ginsberg: Gardened urbs [cities], tree crop agriculture on hills and in cities. Michener: An opportunity to work 10 hours a day in solid surroundings and with good companions, each doing his or her own work. Four hours of recreation such as tennis, hiking, fishing, photography, but
people's-almanac.docx