Sheep must think - if they think at all - that the farmer works for them. He feeds them, shears them, protects them. All seems well, now and forever. Until that day when most of the lambs are herded into trucks and driven away..."Only at this point of real and immediate crisis does the consciousness of sheep expand to contemplate the wider picture. Nevertheless, there is no serious resistance. They are now so conditioned that, despite their fears, the sheep walk meekly to their deaths....Of course, we humans are more sophisticated than sheep are we not?"The Western world stands at a crossroads. Threatened by the impacts of overpopulation, climate change, environmental damage, impending energy shortages and the collapse of the global economy, we face some hard choices. Unfortunately, human psychology and neurobiology predispose us to denial where we desperately need clear, rational thought. We need to pull our heads out of the sand and take a long hard look at the looming crises that await us, together with our in-built tendency to trade our future safety for peace of mind.In The Consciousness of Sheep, sociologist Tim Watkins provides a detailed and thoroughly researched explanation of the current predicament of Western civilisation; the ways in which the crises are likely to unfold; and the progressive responses that are beginning to emerge. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in economics, the environment, and the future of the human race. The message is stark but ultimately positive - it is time for us to develop a sustainable way of life for all of humanity.