Book cover of Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism

Book description

Three hundred years ago, intellectuals of the European Enlightenment constructed a mythology of technology. Influenced by a confluence of humanism, colonialism, and racism, this mythology ignored local wisdom and indigenous innovation, deeming it primitive. Today, we have slowly come to realize that the legacy of this mythology is haunting us.…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Lo-TEK as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lo-TEK is an abbreviation for Traditional Ecological Knowledge, something contemporary societies lack.

Today, sustainable design strategies often employ complex technological approaches—such as double-glazed facades with automated shading devices. And yet such methods are typically energy- and material-intensive.

For millennia before industrialization, indigenous societies developed sophisticated material practices based on multigenerational wisdom about local ecosystems and climate. In this book, the author investigates remarkable indigenous approaches in 18 countries that are still practiced today. The living root bridges in Northern India are not to be missed.

From Blaine's list on the world of materials.

If you love Lo-TEK...

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like Lo-TEK?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Lo-TEK.

Browse books like Lo-TEK

Book cover of Material World: A Global Family Portrait
Book cover of Concrete Planet: The Strange and Fascinating Story of the World's Most Common Man-Made Material
Book cover of Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,395

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Lo-TEK, you might also like...

Book cover of Ramón Ramirez's Dog: Reflections on Then and Now

Ramón Ramirez's Dog by David J. Dunford,

Ramon Ramirez’s Dog is a collection of essays written over the years about the adventures and misadventures, mostly outside but occasionally inside the diplomatic career of a U.S. ambassador. Common threads weaving the stories together are a desire for a life well-lived, balancing career with family and friends, keeping physically…

Book cover of I, Robot Alien

I, Robot Alien by Joel R. Dennstedt,

“Intelligent, unique, and tremendously entertaining.” - Readers' Favorite 2025

BOOKLIFE EDITOR’S PICK!

EARTH… CENTURIES AFTER THE FALL!

I was created by beings who couldn’t touch this world... only watch it crumble. Every twenty years, a new tribe... a new hope... a new failure.

I was told, “Do not interfere.” But…

5 book lists we think you will like!