Pay in installments of $77.62 with
,
and
Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 16 - Aug 21
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
COMP Cams Camshaft CS 287Qs9 .900 Base 12-473-44COMP Cams Camshafts 12 473 44 4 Pattern 234 244 IB, 236 246 OB Hydraulic Roller Cam for Chevrolet Small Block Best choice for street 383 stroker engines with good cylinder heads. Very wide power range. 2600+ Stall. 4Pt 234 244 HRlr SBC Vehicle Fitments: Year Make Model Submodel 1995 1996 AM General Hummer Base 1980 1991 Avanti II Base 1985 Avanti II GT 1980 Buick Century Sport, Estate, Limited, Base 1991 1996 Buick Commercial Chassis Base 1980 Buick
COMP Cams Camshafts 12-473-44 4-Pattern 234/244 IB, 236/246 OB Hydraulic Roller Cam for Chevrolet Small Block Best choice for street 383 stroker engines with good cylinder heads. Very wide power range. 2600+ Stall. 4Pt 234/244 HRlr SBCVehicle Fitments:
| Year | Make | Model | Submodel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 - 1996 | AM General | Hummer | Base |
| 1980 - 1991 | Avanti | II | Base |
| 1985 | Avanti | II | GT |
| 1980 | Buick | Century | Sport, Estate, Limited, Base |
| 1991 - 1996 | Buick | Commercial Chassis | Base |
| 1980 | Buick | Regal | Base, Limited, Sport |
| 1996 | Buick | Roadmaster | Collector's Edition, Limited Collector's Edition, Estate Wagon Collector's Edition |
| 1991 - 1995 | Buick | Roadmaster | Estate Wagon |
| 1992 - 1995 | Buick | Roadmaster | Limited, Base |
| 1990 - 1992 | Cadillac | Brougham | Base, d'Elegance |
| 1992 - 1996 | Cadillac | Commercial Chassis | Brougham, Base |
| 1993 - 1996 | Cadillac | Fleetwood | Brougham, Base |
| 1980 - 1982 | Checker | Marathon | Deluxe, Base |
| 1994 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Base, Silverado Sport |
| 1992 - 1993 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Cheyenne |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Custom Deluxe |
| 1991 - 1994 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Nevada |
| 1988 - 1991 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Scottsdale |
| 1987 - 1994 | Chevrolet | Blazer | Silverado |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | C10 | Big Ten, Custom Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | C10 | Cheyenne |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | C10 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C10 | Silverado, Custom, Scottsdale |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C10 Suburban | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | C10 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | C10 Suburban | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C10 Suburban | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1990 - 1993 | Chevrolet | C1500 | 454 SS |
| 1989 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C1500 | Base |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C1500 | Cheyenne, Silverado |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | C1500 | Scottsdale |
| 1990 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C1500 | WT |
| 1992 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | C1500 Suburban | LT, LS |
| 1992 - 1994 | Chevrolet | C1500 Suburban | Silverado |
| 1986 | Chevrolet | C20 | Base |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C20 | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | C20 | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | C20 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C20 | Scottsdale, Cheyenne, Silverado |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C20 Suburban | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | C20 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | C20 Suburban | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C20 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1993 | Chevrolet | C2500 | 400 SS, Custom |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C2500 | Base, Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | C2500 | Scottsdale |
| 1994 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C2500 | WT |
| 1992 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | C2500 Suburban | LS, LT |
| 1992 - 1994 | Chevrolet | C2500 Suburban | Silverado |
| 1980 - 1982 | Chevrolet | C30 | Base |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | C30 | Cheyenne |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C30 | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | C30 | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | C30 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | C30 | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1994 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C3500 | Base |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | C3500 | Scottsdale |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | C3500 | Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | Camaro | Berlinetta, Z28 |
| 1985 - 1986 | Chevrolet | Camaro | Iroc-Z |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | Camaro | Rally Sport, Base |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | Camaro | Sport |
| 1982 | Chevrolet | Camaro | Z28 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car |
| 1980 - 1992 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Base |
| 1980 - 1996 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic |
| 1986 - 1990 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic Brougham |
| 1981 - 1982 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic Estate |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic Landau |
| 1993 - 1994 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic LS |
| 1987 - 1990 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic LS Brougham |
| 1991 - 1993 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic LTZ |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | Caprice | Classic Sport |
| 1991 - 1994 | Chevrolet | Commercial Chassis | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | Corvette | Base |
| 1982 | Chevrolet | Corvette | Collector's Edition |
| 1986 | Chevrolet | Corvette | Indianapolis 500 Pace Car |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | El Camino | Conquista |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | El Camino | Royal Knight |
| 1980 - 1987 | Chevrolet | El Camino | SS, Base |
| 1996 | Chevrolet | Express 2500 | Base, LS |
| 1983 | Chevrolet | G10 | Base |
| 1980 - 1995 | Chevrolet | G10 | Beauville, Chevy Van, Sportvan |
| 1981 - 1987 | Chevrolet | G10 | Bonaventure |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | G20 | Base |
| 1983 - 1984 | Chevrolet | G20 | Bonaventure |
| 1980 - 1995 | Chevrolet | G20 | Chevy Van, Beauville, Sportvan |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | G20 | Nomad |
| 1983 - 1984 | Chevrolet | G30 | Bonaventure |
| 1980 - 1996 | Chevrolet | G30 | Hi-Cube, Chevy Van, Sportvan, Beauville |
| 1980 - 1985 | Chevrolet | Impala | Base |
| 1981 - 1982 | Chevrolet | Impala | Estate |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | Impala | Sport |
| 1994 - 1996 | Chevrolet | Impala | SS |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | K10 | Cheyenne |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K10 | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K10 | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K10 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K10 | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K10 Suburban | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K10 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K10 Suburban | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K10 Suburban | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1994 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K1500 | Base |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K1500 | Cheyenne, Silverado |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | K1500 | Scottsdale |
| 1991 | Chevrolet | K1500 | Sport |
| 1990 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K1500 | WT |
| 1992 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | K1500 Suburban | LT, LS |
| 1992 - 1994 | Chevrolet | K1500 Suburban | Silverado |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | K20 | Cheyenne |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K20 | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K20 | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K20 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K20 | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K20 Suburban | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K20 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K20 Suburban | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K20 Suburban | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1994 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K2500 | Base, WT |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | K2500 | Scottsdale |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K2500 | Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1992 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | K2500 Suburban | LS, LT |
| 1992 - 1994 | Chevrolet | K2500 Suburban | Silverado |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | K30 | Cheyenne |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K30 | Custom |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K30 | Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K30 | Deluxe |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K30 | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1994 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K3500 | Base |
| 1988 - 1992 | Chevrolet | K3500 | Scottsdale |
| 1988 - 1995 | Chevrolet | K3500 | Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | K5 Blazer | Cheyenne, Custom Deluxe |
| 1981 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K5 Blazer | Custom |
| 1981 | Chevrolet | K5 Blazer | Deluxe |
| 1984 | Chevrolet | K5 Blazer | Scottsdale |
| 1980 - 1986 | Chevrolet | K5 Blazer | Silverado |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | Malibu | Base, Classic Landau |
| 1980 - 1983 | Chevrolet | Malibu | Classic |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | Malibu | Classic Estate, Estate, Sport, Classic Sport |
| 1981 - 1988 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | Base |
| 1983 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | CL |
| 1980 - 1981 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | Landau |
| 1986 - 1988 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | LS |
| 1980 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | Sport |
| 1983 - 1988 | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo | SS |
| 1980 - 1989 | Chevrolet | P20 | Step-Van, Base |
| 1980 - 1998 | Chevrolet | P30 | Base |
| 1980 - 1990 | Chevrolet | P30 | Step-Van |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | R10 | Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | R10 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | R10 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | R1500 Suburban | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1988 | Chevrolet | R20 | Cheyenne |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | R20 | Scottsdale, Silverado, Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | R20 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | R20 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1989 | Chevrolet | R2500 | Silverado, Cheyenne, Scottsdale |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | R2500 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1988 | Chevrolet | R30 | Cheyenne |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | R30 | Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1989 - 1990 | Chevrolet | R3500 | Scottsdale |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | R3500 | Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1995 | Chevrolet | Tahoe | LT, Base, LS |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | V10 | Silverado, Scottsdale, Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | V10 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | V10 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | V1500 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | V20 | Silverado, Scottsdale, Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 | Chevrolet | V20 Suburban | Custom Deluxe |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | V20 Suburban | Scottsdale, Silverado |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | V2500 Suburban | Silverado, Scottsdale |
| 1988 | Chevrolet | V30 | Cheyenne |
| 1987 - 1988 | Chevrolet | V30 | Silverado, Scottsdale, Custom Deluxe |
| 1989 - 1990 | Chevrolet | V3500 | Scottsdale |
| 1989 - 1991 | Chevrolet | V3500 | Silverado, Cheyenne |
| 1993 | Excalibur | Limited | Base |
| 1985 | Excalibur | Phaeton | Anniversary |
| 1980 - 1989 | Excalibur | Phaeton | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | C1500 | Base, Sierra Classic, High Sierra |
| 1980 | GMC | C1500 | Heavy Half |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | C1500 | Sierra Grande, Street Coupe |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | C1500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | C1500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | C1500 | Sierra Special, Sierra SL, Sierra SLT |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | C1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | C1500 Suburban | High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | C1500 Suburban | Sierra Grande |
| 1992 - 1995 | GMC | C1500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1995 | GMC | C1500 Suburban | SLT |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | C2500 | Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | C2500 | Sierra Grande |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | C2500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | C2500 | Sierra SLT, Sierra SL |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | C2500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | C2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | C2500 Suburban | High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | C2500 Suburban | Sierra Grande |
| 1992 - 1995 | GMC | C2500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1995 | GMC | C2500 Suburban | SLT |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | C3500 | High Sierra, Base, Sierra Classic |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | C3500 | Sierra Grande |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | C3500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | C3500 | Sierra SLT, Sierra SL |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | C3500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1981 - 1986 | GMC | Caballero | Amarillo |
| 1980 - 1987 | GMC | Caballero | Diablo, Base |
| 1980 | GMC | Caballero | Laredo |
| 1981 | GMC | Caballero | Royal Knight, Conquista |
| 1983 - 1984 | GMC | G1500 | Rally Custom |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | G1500 | Vandura, Rally STX, Rally |
| 1983 - 1984 | GMC | G2500 | Rally Custom |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | G2500 | Rally STX, Vandura, Rally |
| 1981 - 1988 | GMC | G3500 | Rally Custom |
| 1980 - 1996 | GMC | G3500 | Vandura, Rally, Vandura Special, Magnavan, Rally STX, Rally Camper Special |
| 1980 - 1991 | GMC | Jimmy | Base |
| 1980 - 1985 | GMC | Jimmy | High Sierra |
| 1980 - 1990 | GMC | Jimmy | Sierra Classic |
| 1986 | GMC | Jimmy | Silverado |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | Jimmy | Street Coupe, Sierra Grande |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | K1500 | Base, Sierra Classic, High Sierra |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra Grande |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra SL, Sierra Special, Sierra SLT |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1995 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra SLS |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1993 | GMC | K1500 | Sierra Sport |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | K1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | K1500 Suburban | High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | K1500 Suburban | Sierra Grande |
| 1992 - 1995 | GMC | K1500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1995 | GMC | K1500 Suburban | SLT |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | K2500 | High Sierra, Sierra Classic, Base |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | K2500 | Sierra Grande |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | K2500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | K2500 | Sierra SLT, Sierra SL |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | K2500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1980 - 1995 | GMC | K2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | K2500 Suburban | High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | K2500 Suburban | Sierra Grande |
| 1992 - 1995 | GMC | K2500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1995 | GMC | K2500 Suburban | SLT |
| 1980 - 1986 | GMC | K3500 | Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra |
| 1980 - 1982 | GMC | K3500 | Sierra Grande |
| 1994 - 1995 | GMC | K3500 | Sierra SL, Sierra SLT |
| 1988 - 1995 | GMC | K3500 | Sierra SLE |
| 1988 - 1993 | GMC | K3500 | Sierra SLX, Sierra |
| 1980 - 1989 | GMC | P2500 | Base, Value Van |
| 1980 - 1996 | GMC | P3500 | Base |
| 1980 - 1990 | GMC | P3500 | Value Van |
| 1987 | GMC | R1500 | High Sierra, Base, Sierra Classic |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | R1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1987 | GMC | R1500 Suburban | High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | R1500 Suburban | Sierra Classic |
| 1990 | GMC | R1500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | R2500 | Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | R2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1987 | GMC | R2500 Suburban | High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | R2500 Suburban | Sierra Classic |
| 1990 | GMC | R2500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | R3500 | Base |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | R3500 | Sierra Classic, High Sierra |
| 1990 - 1991 | GMC | R3500 | SLE |
| 1987 | GMC | V1500 | Sierra Classic, Base, High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | V1500 Suburban | Base |
| 1987 | GMC | V1500 Suburban | High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | V1500 Suburban | Sierra Classic |
| 1990 | GMC | V1500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1987 | GMC | V2500 | Base, High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | V2500 Suburban | Base |
| 1987 | GMC | V2500 Suburban | High Sierra |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | V2500 Suburban | Sierra Classic |
| 1990 | GMC | V2500 Suburban | SLE |
| 1987 - 1991 | GMC | V3500 | Base |
| 1987 - 1989 | GMC | V3500 | High Sierra, Sierra Classic |
| 1990 - 1991 | GMC | V3500 | SLE |
| 1992 - 1995 | GMC | Yukon | Base, SLE |
| 1993 | GMC | Yukon | GT |
| 1995 | GMC | Yukon | SLT |
| 1992 - 1994 | GMC | Yukon | Sport |
| 1991 - 1992 | Oldsmobile | Custom Cruiser | Base |
| 1980 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass | Brougham, LS, Base |
| 1980 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass Calais | Base |
| 1980 - 1982 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass Cruiser | Base |
| 1980 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass Cruiser | Brougham |
| 1980 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass Salon | Base, Brougham |
| 1980 | Oldsmobile | Cutlass Supreme | Brougham, Base |
| 1983 - 1986 | Pontiac | Bonneville | Base, Brougham |
| 1984 - 1986 | Pontiac | Bonneville | LE |
| 1980 - 1981 | Pontiac | Firebird | Esprit |
| 1982 - 1986 | Pontiac | Firebird | S/E |
| 1994 | Pontiac | Firebird | Trans Am GT |
| 1989 - 1992 | Pontiac | Firebird | Trans Am GTA |
| 1989 | Pontiac | Firebird | Trans Am GTA SE |
| 1980 - 1997 | Pontiac | Firebird | Trans Am, Base, Formula |
| 1980 | Pontiac | Grand Am | Base |
| 1980 | Pontiac | Grand LeMans | LE, Base, Safari |
| 1980 - 1987 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | Base |
| 1983 - 1987 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | Brougham |
| 1984 - 1987 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | LE |
| 1980 - 1983 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | LJ |
| 1980 | Pontiac | Grand Prix | SJ |
| 1980 | Pontiac | LeMans | Safari, Base |
| 1983 - 1986 | Pontiac | Parisienne | Brougham, Base |
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 25 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 4
Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up
What is the difference between our 21st century global civilization, the ancient Sumerians, the Easter Islanders of Cook's day, empirical Rome, or the Maya civilization. Answer, not much. The last four are all societies that had their heyday, become stuck in a paradigm, and then brought ecological disaster on themselves via overpopulation and over exploitation of natural resources. "Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up", Wrights quotes from some pertinent graffiti. The cost this time could be in the billions of souls.
This a short book 132 pages of actual text with another 68 or so of footnotes at the end. It is a mad rush through human history exploring the collapse of those civilizations and a couple that have been more sustainable.
Wright also explores the traps of progress. That is mankind becomes so good at hunting he drives his food source into extinction. Then we become so proficient at an irrigation technology we ruin the land. We become so good at weapons we create bombs that could ruin the whole world. As a race, he contends, we seem to push every technology to the brink, to our collective woe.
I read with highlighter in hand. I had to restrain myself for marking whole long sections. As it is, the book now has a pink glow. Several pages have yellow tabs so I can find passages easily again. One such passage from the book summarizes it for me:
"The human inability to foresee - or to watch out for - long-range consequences may be inherent to our kind, shaped by the millions of years when we lived from hand to mouth by hunting and gathering. It may also be little more than a mix of inertia, greed, and foolishness encouraged by the shape of the social pyramid. The concentration of power at the top of large-scale societies gives the elite a vested interest in the status quo; they continue to prosper in darkening times long after the environment and general populace begin to suffer."
I remember as a biology major we studied the boom and bust cycle of animal populations. It was suggested in class that the human animal could follow the same cycle. The professor dismissed the idea, but not so Wright. He sees us at the high point in a few years, then the collapse unless we act now.
One other passage really struck home with me: "The idea that the world must be run by the stock market is as mad as any other fundamentalist delusion, Islamic, Christian, or Marxist." That tears at the very sand we have our society built on.
The sheer pace of Wright's march through history mirrors the author's urgency about how long we have to act to save our society. The countdown has already begun. The question remains, do we have the gumption to take the necessary action.
The book is at its heart liberal, and rightly so. Any possible solution to forestall the potential social collapse will not be from the top of the pyramid. They long ago seemed to have forgotten the concept of usufruct; we are just borrowing this planet from our children and grandchildren. Wright holds out a glimmer of hope, but the candle is flickering.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2010
★★★★★ 5
A short book loaded with sharp insights
Every year, Canadians eagerly huddle around their radios to listen to the Massey Lectures, broadcast by the CBC. For the 2004 season, Ronald Wright was the honored speaker. He presented a series of five lectures, titled A Short History of Progress. In 2005, Wright's presentation was published as a short book, and it became a bestseller. Martin Scorsese's movie, Surviving Progress, was based on the book.
It was an amazing success for a story contrary to our most holy cultural myths. Wright believed that the benefits of progress were highly overrated, because of their huge costs. Indeed, progress was approaching the point of becoming a serious threat to the existence of humankind. "This new century will not grow very old before we enter an age of chaos and collapse that will dwarf all the dark ages in our past."
He pointed out that the world was dotted with the ruins of ancient crash sites, civilizations that self-destructed. At each of these wrecks, modern science can, in essence, retrieve the "black box," and discover why the mighty society crashed and burned. There is a clear pattern. Each one crashed because it destroyed what it depended on for its survival.
Wright takes us on a quick tour of the collapse of Sumer, Easter Island, the Roman Empire, and the Mayans. He explains why the two oddballs, China and Egypt, are taking longer than average to self-destruct. The fatal defects of agriculture and civilization are old news for the folks who have been paying attention. It has become customary for these folks to believe that "The Fall" took place when humans began to domesticate plants and animals.
Wright thinks the truth is more complicated. What makes this book unique and provocative is his notion of progress traps. The benefits of innovation often encourage society to live in a new way, while burning the bridges behind them as they advance. Society can find itself trapped in an unsustainable way of living, and it's no longer possible to just turn around and painlessly return to a simpler mode. Like today, we know that the temporary bubble of cheap energy is about over, and our entire way of life is dependent on cheap energy. We're trapped.
Some types of progress do not disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, like using a rock to crack nuts. But our ability to stand upright freed our hands for working with tools and weapons, which launched a million year process of experimentation and innovation that gradually snowballed over time.
We tend to assume that during the long era of hunting and gathering our ancestors were as mindful as the few hunting cultures that managed to survive on the fringes into the twentieth century. But in earlier eras, when big game was abundant, wise stewardship was not mandatory. Sloppy tribes could survive -- for a while.
Before they got horses, Indians of the American west would drive herds of buffalo off cliffs, killing many at a time. They took what they needed, and left the rest for legions of scavengers. One site in Colorado contained the carcasses of 152 buffalo. A trader in the northern Rockies witnessed about 250 buffalo being killed at one time. Wright mentioned two Upper Paleolithic sites I had not heard of -- 1,000 mammoth skeletons were found at Piedmont in the Czech Republic, and the remains of over 100,000 horses were found at Solutré in France.
Over time, progress perfected our hunting systems. Our supply of high-quality food seemed to be infinite. It was our first experience of prosperity and leisure. Folks had time to take their paint sets into caves and do gorgeous portraits of the animals they lived with, venerated, killed, and ate.
Naturally, our population grew. More babies grew up to be hunters, and the availability of game eventually decreased. The grand era of cave painting ended, and we began hunting rabbits. We depleted species after species, unconsciously gliding into our first serious progress trap.
Some groups scrambled to find alternatives, foraging around beaches, estuaries, wetlands, and bogs. Some learned how to reap the tiny seeds of wild grasses. By and by, the end of the hunting way of life came into view, about 10,000 years ago. "They lived high for a while, then starved."
Having destroyed the abundant game, it was impossible to return to simpler living. This was a progress trap, and it led directly into a far more dangerous progress trap, the domestication of plants and animals. Agriculture and civilization were accidents, and they threw open the gateway to 10,000 years of monotony, drudgery, misery, and ecocide. Wright says that civilization is a pyramid scheme; we live today at the expense of those who come after us.
For most of human history, the rate of progress was so slow that it was usually invisible. But the last six or seven generations have been blindsided by a typhoon of explosive change. Progress had a habit of giving birth to problems that could only be solved by more progress. Progress was the most diabolically wicked curse that you could ever imagine. Maybe we should turn it into an insulting obscenity: "progress you!"
Climate scientists have created models showing weather trends over the last 250,000 years, based on ice cores. Agriculture probably didn't start earlier because climate trends were unstable. Big swings could take place over the course of decades. In the last 10,000 years, the climate has been unusually stable. A return to instability will make civilization impossible.
Joseph Tainter studied how civilizations collapse, and he described three highways to disaster: the Runaway Train (out-of-control problems), the Dinosaur (indifference to dangers), and the House of Cards (irreversible disintegration). He predicted that the next collapse would be global in scale.
Finally, the solution: "The reform that is needed is... simply the transition from short-term thinking to long-term." Can we do it?
We are quite clever, but seldom wise, according to Wright. Ordinary animals, like our ancestors, had no need for long-term thinking, because life was always lived in the here and now. "Free Beer Tomorrow" reads the flashing neon sign on the tavern, but we never exist in tomorrow.
The great news is that we now possess a mountain of black boxes. For the first time in the human journey, a growing number of people comprehend our great mistakes, and are capable of envisioning a new path that eventually abandons our embarrassing boo-boos forever. All the old barriers to wisdom and healing have been swept away (in theory).
Everywhere you look these days; people are stumbling around staring at tiny screens and furiously typing -- eagerly communicating with world experts, engaging in profound discussions, watching videos rich with illuminating information, and reading the works of green visionaries. It's a magnificent sight to behold -- the best is yet to come!
Richard Adrian Reese
Author of What Is Sustainable
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2013
★★★★★ 5
Wright is right
The fact Wright attacks popular concepts of progress is enough to merit five stars.
Until 1955, when I was 25, I naively believed progress was inevitable, natural, and simply a part of human nature and society. I attended the Earl Lectures that year. Swiss Theologian Emil Brunner presented three addresses on "Faith, Hope, and Love" at Berkeley, California. Westminster Press published his series in a book given the same title. I shall quote a few remarks.
Brunner traced the burgioning faith in progress to the nineteenth century, when "Darwin's theory of evolution seemed so to support and enlarge this optimistic evaluation of progress as to see it in a cosmic perspective." But the doctrine of progress is not the same as evolution.
"Although this idea of progress had a success for which the word 'triumph' is hardly an exaggeration, there were warning voices raised against it, voices of men of weight and importance who were not willng to accept the new doctrine," he said. "It was a new doctrine because it was not known to antiquity, it was not known in the time of the Reformation, it was unknown in all Asiatic culture. It was a new thing! The idea of progress became an axiomatic conviction which needed no proof and could not be disproved."
At one point, Brunner said, "Since Hiroshima the world does not believe in progress anymore." The end of WWII was still fresh in our memories, and I suppose that's why he said it. We know, today, that it didn't take long for much of the world to revive and renew its faith in progress. And now it's stronger--and more dangerous--than ever.
I'm not opposed to every aspect of progress. Progress, when it moves in wholesome and healthy directions, is a blessing. I'm glad my dentist is able to fill--and save--my teeth without pain. And when it came time for my doctor to pull my cataracts and replace them with implanted lenses, I marveled at the miracle. It was a quick and painless operation, and now I have wonderful vision.
It's that dogmatic idea of progress based on greed and cold indifference to global warming that concerns me. It's that ongoing waste of limited resources, whether they be animal, vegetable or mineral, that concerns me. We are pulling the carpet from beneath our feet, and the king is pulling hardest of all. And who is the king? Ignorance! Ignorance is king!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2008
★★★★★ 5
My favorite book, in any genre
Ronald Wright is an amazing scholar and writer. His style is fun and easy to read while delivering impeccable historical research. I have listed to this book several times over the years and I appreciate it more each time. I recommend the audio version more than the print version because of the compelling way Mr. Wright delivers this 4-Part lecture series to his audience (now in book form).
Note to Amazon: Please make this book available on Audible, CDs are cumbersome.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2018
★★★★★ 4
How many trees do we have left?
In this book, the author takes a look at the downfall of civilizations. Yes, that's plural. There are several models of how civilization is progressing. One is that we're getting better and better as time goes by. Another, less popular one states that we are actually in decline, going down from some sort of golden age. You'll find many of these proponents in the old age homes and such. For them, the only disagreement is when we are declining from.
Wright takes a look at the cyclical nature of the rise and fall of civilizations, taking examples from several once- prospering civilizations. This book stands as a call to action that something must be done to grow smartly and be careful on how we allocate the scant resources we have left. While he doesn't hit an anything new, this book's strength is its concise nature. The several examples are familiar and in that have more impact.
The strongest example is one he visits several times to show an analogy of current times: Easter Island. This isolated speck in the Pacific was once a thriving mini-civilization with culture and art. And a lot of trees. These trees helped the islanders fish and raise their ceremonial head sculptures. However, these trees also were a poorly cultivated resource. Someone not too long ago cut down the last tree, and the island is now a wasteland and anthropological curiosity. We are doing the same thing. How many trees do we have left to cut?
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2009
recommand products
AJUSA CYLINDER HEAD GASKET SET TO SUIT ALFA ROMEO 166 AR34301 932A000 AR36101 3.0L 3.2L V6
74.00
AJUSA CYLINDER HEAD GASKET SET TO SUIT ALFA ROMEO GT 936A6 3.2L V6
74.00
Galaksi Collection, Omelet 22 cm
25.00
AJUSA CYLINDER HEAD GASKET TO SUIT NISSAN PULSAR FB QG18DE 1.8L I4 FROM 09/2002
71.95
LHS CYLINDER HEAD GASKET TO SUIT DODGE JOURNEY JC EER 2.7L V6
100.00