It is hard to watch what we have done with our habitats and accept that there is no wilderness to return to.

By this phrase I wonder if you have read "Industrial Society and its Future"(http://editions-hache.com/essais/pdf/kaczynski2.pdf)

money is the currency of life now.

money is a mere symbol.
money is a mere fragile belief among everyone that it has value.
you cannot eat it.
you cannot drink it.
you cannot put it into your car reservoir to use it as fuel to travel.