From the Publisher
Praise for Creative Destruction
“I applaud Creative Destruction for its sharp dissection of ESG mandates and their unexpected impacts on America’s farmers and rural landscape. The book reveals how these well-meaning policies often backfire, undermining the farms and food systems they seek to protect. Prescott and Ashley’s insights are a wake-up call for anyone dedicated to food production, advocating for a more balanced and realistic approach to environmental, social, and governance standards in agriculture. This compelling narrative is a must-read for those invested in the future of American farming.”
—Dr. Matt Garner, Executive Director, The RANGE (Texas Panhandle’s Regional Accelerator & New Growth Engine)
“ESG is a political strategy disguised as an investment strategy, ingeniously designed to fleece investors of their money and freedom at the same time. Creative Destruction provides us with the intellectual armaments to fight back.”
—John Carney, Finance and Economics Editor, Breitbart News
“This book is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of American capitalism and energy independence. It’s time we embrace policies that foster true growth and resilience, rather than those that hinder progress under the guise of corporate virtue signaling. Creative Destruction brilliantly makes this case, and I wholeheartedly endorse its message.”
—Leif Savage, CEO, Tall City Brine; former Wall Street Senior Market Strategist
“Coauthors David Prescott and Michael Ashley conjure the storytelling power of satirists like Jonathan Swift and George Orwell in this compelling, desperately needed book. They bravely shine a light on the grave dangers our nation faces, especially our armed forces. This should be required reading, especially for anyone in the military.”
—Blaine D. Holt, Brigadier General (ret), Deputy Representative to NATO
“Want to know who the real loser is when it comes to ESG? The everyday investor, especially retirees who require financial vehicles that actually perform when they leave the workforce. It’s past time a book like this reveals the dangers behind this toxic ideology. Put simply, Creative Destruction shows the emperor really has no clothes when it comes to this form of investing.”
—Leigh Dundas, Human Rights Attorney
“From my vantage point as an elected leader, ESG is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its adherents zealously profess to care about the environment using this dubious corporate rating score. Instead, as this book so expertly reveals, these policies do nothing to save our planet. They simply give more power to bureaucrats, undermining our ability to produce the energy and resources that make America such a productive world leader. Say no to the delusion and say yes to investing in the real people who keep our country going.”
—Lora Reinbold, former Alaska State Senator
“Creative Destruction is a crucial and timely work that exposes the fallacies of ESG investments and highlights the need for pragmatic energy policies. In an era where ESG mandates threaten to undermine the very foundations of capitalism, this book stands as a beacon of rationality and foresight. W. David Prescott and Michael Ashley’s arguments resonate deeply with my experience in the energy sector, where the emphasis on genuine, productive investment is paramount. Creative Destruction eloquently and expertly lays out the dangers of ESG to any free society. This book should be required reading in high schools and colleges around the country.”
—Darin Gaub, Lieutenant Colonel (ret), US Army; Cofounder/National Spokesman, Restore Liberty
“ESG metrics are one of the biggest threats to freedom in America today. These social credit scores are fundamentally transforming our economy, culture, and society. Unfortunately, most Americans still don’t understand them. That’s why Creative Destruction is such a powerful book. It clearly explains how ESG works and, more importantly, shows readers the dark future that’s ahead if ESG is allowed to thrive. If you care about fixing America’s broken economy and saving our country, this book is a must-read.”
—Justin Haskins, Director, Socialism Research Center, The Heartland Institute
“Creative Destruction is an essential read for anyone who values freedom, prosperity, civilization, or common sense. Aside from offering a devastating critique of the ‘ESG’ scam and the enormous danger it poses, Creative Destruction offers desperately needed solutions. This book should be required reading. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Alex Newman, CEO, Liberty Sentinel Media
“David Prescott and Michael Ashley provide a piercing revelation of the dystopian result of the force-feeding of the ‘ESG Religion’ upon the US military. The purpose of America’s armed forces is to protect and defend our Constitution and the Republic against all enemies both foreign and domestic. Rather than promoting that sacred duty, ESG, by design, seeks to break down and weaken our military—‘engineered ineffectiveness.’”
—M.S. Meck, USMC (ret)
“Creative Destruction is a compelling and timely work that delves into the critical challenges facing independent energy production in Texas and the United States. As the CEO of Pantera Energy and the current Chairman of the Board for the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, I strongly believe in the necessity of maintaining our nation’s energy independence. This book highlights the pressing issue of ESG mandates, which not only threaten our economic stability but also pose a significant risk to our national security. W. David Prescott and Michael Ashley provide an insightful analysis that every energy producer and policymaker should heed.”
—Jason Herrick, President, Pantera Energy Company; Chairman of the Board, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers
“David Prescott and Michael Ashley hit the mark with ESG in the military. As a young non-commissioned officer, I learned quickly that morale in military ranks comes from maintaining standards across the board. Allowing ESG in the military wastes time, money, and resources needed to maintain the standards and will reduce its war fighting capabilities overall, therefore destroying morale. No service member signs up for that!”
—John Bonville, Sergeant (ret), USMC
“I spent the last two years fighting to stop the World Health Organization from declaring and then taking control of public health emergencies—globally. I learned that elites are trying to centralize control over the entire world under the guise of making the world a better, fairer place. David Prescott and Michael Ashley explain our peculiar era, in which central control of information enabled the imposition of bizarre business practices in service to a future One World Corporation. Read it and weep. Then fight back.”
—Dr. Meryl Nass, Physician and Researcher, Children’s Health Defense
“Creative Destruction exposes ESG as a trojan horse, weaponizing the natural interest in ‘doing good’ against us. A cabal of self-interested elites are quietly wrecking America, its industries, and yes, even the environment they pretend to care so much about. If you want to understand the ESG problem and its solution, read this book.”
—Theo Wold, Director, Administrative State Project, Claremont Institute
“Creative Destruction masterfully unveils how ESG mandates have stealthily crept into our industry, threatening the livelihood of oil and gas professionals like me. As an upstream oil and gas operator, I've seen firsthand how this misguided agenda undermines our ability to responsibly harness America’s abundant natural resources. Prescott and Ashley provide a meticulously researched exposé that peels back the curtain on ESG’s hidden agenda, exposing how these mandates stifle energy resilience, starve established capital sources, and restrain economic prosperity while masquerading as moral imperatives. Their thought-provoking narrative and powerful fictional allegories make a compelling case for protecting our industry from these destructive policies. If you value the future of American energy and economic freedom, this book is a must-read!”
—J.D. Smith, CEO and Founder, EnCore Permian
“Creative Destruction is an eye-opening analysis of the detrimental effects ESG mandates have on global manufacturing and US industries. W. David Prescott and Michael Ashley highlight how these policies are not only stifling innovation but also threatening our energy independence. As someone deeply passionate about maintaining America’s energy autonomy, I see firsthand how the Permian Basin serves as the economic lifeblood of our nation’s energy dominance and prosperity. This book is a vital resource for understanding the real-world consequences of ESG and is a must-read for anyone invested in preserving the strength and competitiveness of American manufacturing and energy sectors.”
—Erik Powell, President, Elite Tubular
