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Here’s a clear overview of the book you asked about:
📘 On Natural Capital: The Value of the World Around Us
Author: Sir Partha Dasgupta
Published: Hardback July 24, 2025 (UK); Paperback April 16, 2026 — 288 pp (Penguin)
What it’s about
On Natural Capital is a landmark work by Sir Partha Dasgupta, a highly respected economist from the University of Cambridge. The book challenges traditional economic thinking by arguing that nature—our ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources—is a form of capital that has long been taken for granted and treated as “free” in economic systems. (Penguin)
Dasgupta’s core thesis is:
Current economic models focus on growth and production without properly valuing natural capital—the living systems and ecological services that support life and economies. (Penguin)
If nature were accounted for economically in the same way as manufactured or human capital, we would see a much truer picture of wealth, well‑being, and sustainability. (Kirkus Reviews)
The result of ignoring nature’s contributions is environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable economic growth. (Kirkus Reviews)
Why it matters
The book is framed as a urgent call to rethink global economics so that natural capital is properly integrated into policy, business decisions, and national accounting systems. Dasgupta argues this shift is critical if humanity is to address climate change, resource depletion, and ecological collapse. (Kirkus Reviews)
Prominent figures like Sir David Attenborough have praised the book’s approach for marrying economics and ecology in a way that could help avert environmental crises. (Penguin)
Key themes include:
Natural capital as foundational to human prosperity and survival
The limits of GDP and traditional growth metrics
Why ecosystems deserve economic recognition and protection
The links between ecology, economics, and public policy (Penguin)
Who the author is
Sir Partha Dasgupta is a distinguished economist, emeritus professor at Cambridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and recognised for his contributions to ecological economics and biodiversity. (Penguin)
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Here are Top 5 compelling quotes (paraphrased / distilled) that reflect the core ideas from On Natural Capital: The Value of the World Around Us by Sir Partha Dasgupta — followed by a powerful tagline you can use for the book: (Penguin)
📌 Top 5 Quotes (Key Ideas)
“Nature is an asset — not free or infinite — and letting our economic models ignore it creates a false picture of prosperity.”
This captures the book’s central critique of conventional economics. (Penguin)“What if we were to value nature just as we value everything else in our economy?”
A provocative challenge at the heart of Dasgupta’s argument. (Penguin)“Current economic models tell us our economies are healthy because they are growing, but they ignore that growth is driven by a resource we take for free: nature.”
A striking way of explaining why GDP is not enough. (Penguin)“A football team that measures success only by goals scored and not goals conceded could be losing — yet remain oblivious.”
An analogy used to critique economic indicators that don’t account for environmental loss. (Penguin)“It’s time our economic models show us the whole picture — including the critical value of ecosystems and their services.”
Summarises the book’s urgent call for reform. (Penguin)
🔖 Tagline (Short and Catchy)
“Redefining Wealth: Valuing Nature as the Capital It Truly Is.”
If you’d like, I can also craft a set of social media blurbs or short excerpts that would work well for sharing these ideas with different audiences (e.g., business, policy, environment lovers). Just let me know!
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